Strong show of unity by Muslims ahead of Malegaon youth's release

Strong show of unity by Muslims ahead of Malegaon youth's release Wednesday November 16, 2011 09:58:00 AM, Aleem Faizee, ummid.com

Malegaon: If not impossible, it is uncommon indeed to see a Muslim cleric from one sect leading prayers and delivering religious discourses in a mosque belonging to other sect. However, this rare but pleasant happening is witnessed in a Mumbai mosque where Muslims from Malegaon are camping while in the metropolis to seek bail for the local youths who are holed up in jail for the last five years after being arrested in the 2006 Malegaon blast case.    A group of about 30 Muslims from Malegaon comprising relatives, close friends, guarantors and lawyers of the seven accused are staying at Jama Masjid Ahle Hadees in Central Mumbai since Monday. Led by the Kul Jamaati Tanzeem leaders, they are in Mumbai waiting for the release of the accused from jail. The accused were granted bail by the Special MCOCA Court on November 05 and are expected to be released any moment. As the procedure for checking and verifying the bail documents is taking time longer than expected, the trustees of the Jama Masjid Ahl-e-Hadees are leaving no stone unturned to provide them relief and comfort. At the same time, their extended stay in the mosque has given birth to some extraordinary and rare scenes.   "While people from other Muslim sects find it comfortable to offer prayers in different mosques belonging to different sects, it is normally a tradition that prayers are led and religious discourses are delivered by the clerics from the same sect to which the mosque belongs. However, it is heartening to see the way the trustees of the Jama Masjid Ahl-e-Hadees are offering their services to the fellow brothers from Malegaon", Imtiyaz Khaleel, a Mumbai-based documentary film producer says while speaking to ummid.com.   "They are not only extending remarkable hospitality to provide them utmost comfort, but going beyond the prevalent traditions are also requesting the Kul Jamaati Tanzeem leaders to deliver the religious discourses in the mosque", he adds.   Kul Jamaat Tanzeem which comprises clerics from all Muslim sects was formed immediately after the 2006 Malegaon blast. Their campaign which began in 2006 to seek justice for the local youth arrested in the case and arrest of the actual perpetrators is perhaps one of the longest in the history of Malegaon.   Interestingly, the immediate motive behind the formation of the Kul Jamaati Tanzeem was to reject the investigation theory floated after the 2006 Malegaon blast suggesting that the sectarian differences among the Muslims could be the reason behind the blast.   The series of blasts that had rocked Malegaon on September 08, 2006 was conspired ahead of Shab-e-Barat, a Muslim festival when thousands of people were busy offering Friday prayers at the Hamidia Masjid in Malegaon Qabristan. Another blast had occurred at nearby Mushawerat Chowk few minutes later. 37 people were killed and more than 300 were injured in the blasts, most of them being children - all Muslims. Investigations were of the view that the Muslims who are against celebrating Shab-e-Barat were behind the attack.   "It was a deliberate and cleverly hatched theory to nab the Muslim youth and save the real perpetrators of a clear attack on a Muslim mosque", Maulana Abdul Hameed Azhari, one of the founders and front leader of the Kul Jamaati Tanzeem says.   The leaders by forming the Kul Jamaati Tanzeem not only shattered to pieces the investigation theory but also provided the country a model to fight and stand against injustice. Incidentally, efforts were also on ever since the formation of this unique group to crumble its extraordinary unity. But the group not only kept its rank and file intact but also became stronger with every passing day.   "Ittehad zindagi hai aur Inteshar maut", another Kul Jamaati Tanzeem leader Sufi Ghulam Rasool Qadri would exhort his colleagues to make them realise the importance of unity. He adds that what is seen in the Mumbai mosque in the last three days is a glimpse and result of their efforts taken in last five years.   "Differences among Muslims are a fact. But it does not mean that we bomb each other. No way. This is what we wanted to show to the world. And, also to show very clearly that when time demands we are one and united despite our differences and can pray under one roof and in same mosque", he says.   Interestingly, impressed by the strong show of unity by the Kul Jamaati Tanzeem leaders of Malegaon, community leaders from Mumbai are contemplating the idea of experiencing the same in other parts of the state and the country.   "Today, the Kul Jamaati Tanzeem leaders, their unity and struggle for justice have become a model for the entire country. We would definitely like to see this experience emulated in other parts", Ameer Jamat-e-Islami Hind Maharashtra Nazar Mohammad Mud'oo says after meeting the Muslim leaders of Malegaon yesterday at Jama Masjid Ahl-e-Hadees, Mominpura in Mumbai.    http://ummid.com/news/2011/November/15.11.2011/show_of_unity.htm