Delhi to host first World Sufi Forum from March 17-20

New Delhi: The national capital will host the first World Sufi Forum from March 17-20 where leading Sufi scholars, intellectuals and academicians will discuss ways to spread the message of peace advocated by Islam.

To be organised by the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) and inaugurated at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan where Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is likely to be one of the speakers, the conference will seek “finding constructive ways to spread the Islamic message of peace and tolerance as a counterpoint on the ever-rising global violent extremism”.

Hazrat Syed Mohammad Ashraf, the founder president of AIUMB, said that the conference will underline the moderate face of Islam and promote peace, unity and Sufi teachings. The event will be a platform for national and international Muslim Scholars to put their views against terrorism and extremism, he said.“The Indian Muslims will be appealed to practice the ancient Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (culture) that is the fusion of Hindu and Muslim values,”said Ashraf.

Around 200 scholars from across 20 countries will converge during the event that will conclude at the historic Ramlila Maidan.

“India should be the centre of moderate Islamic ideology. This event is aimed at promoting our country as one. Islam’s image has come under scanner for terror as seen in Syria and other parts of world. We have to change this impression. And India needs to take the lead. We are home to rich values of unity and peace. Indian culture compliments Sufism which too has a rich history of spreading peace,” he said.

The Sufi Congress will be an occasion to showcase Indian and Sufi Islam's tradition of multi cultural faith. It will underline the responsibility of a good Muslim to counter impressions which have somehow gone wrong."

``We will not let our country to burn in the name of religion and spread the same message for Muslims all over the world, " said Ashraf adding that Sufism's formula lies in "tolerance, acceptance and unconditional love".