Bangalore Archdiocese creates history with Iftar get-together
Bangalore, July 27, 2013: Befitting the novel and perhaps historic initiative from
the Archdiocese of Bangalore under the enlightened leadership of Dr Bernard Moras,
Muslim leaders and political leaders cutting across party lines joined the Iftar party
at the Archdiocesan Paalana Bhavan. The dignitaries included Union Minorities Minister
K Rehman Khan, who specially flew down from Delhi, senior Congress leaders and former
union ministers C K Jaffer Sharief and C M Ibrahim, former BJP minister Mumtaz Ali
Khan, former ministers Roshan Baig, T John, Congress MLAs N A Harris, J R Lobo, former
MP H T Sangliana, ex-MLAs Obaidulla Ahmed Sharief, Ivan Negli, Wakf Board Chairman
Abdul Riaz Khan, State Youth Congress President Rizwan Arshad, former BBMP Corporator
Pradeep Kumar Reddy, A B Khader Haji, General Secretary, Malabar Muslim Association,
and several other prominent Muslim leaders including Dr Taha Mateen, Chairman Accuna
Hospital and President of Zamaat-e-Islami Hind Karnataka.
Though Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah had promised to attend the Ifar party and the State police had made elaborate
security arrangements for the chief minister’s arrival, he failed to turn as the legislature
session went on till late night and was followed by a cabinet meeting. However, two
ministers – Home Minister K J George and Health Minister U T Khader – turned up as
the participants were having dinner.
Christianity and Islam are perhaps
the two biggest and most organized religions in the world, which share similar dogma,
beliefs and spiritual content besides the adherence to prayer, fasting, upholding
human rights and dignity besides service and fighting for justice, especially in helping
the poor and needy, said the Archbishop emphasizing that both the religions believed
in one almighty God, the creator of living being.
''Human life with God is
like the sky without sun,” Dr Moras said and asserting that Christians and Muslims
were true brothers and sisters in faith. ''It is God, who has created all human beings
as members of one family as brothers and sisters to worship and obey the almighty.
It is our bounden duty to protect nature and live in peace and harmony as God’s chosen
people,” he said emphasizing the need for eradicating poverty, violence, exploitation
and injustice, which was still very predominant in the world and especially India,
despite the enormous progress in science and technology.
The Archbishop underscored
the necessity of Muslims and Christians and all those believing in God living like
a family and solving all problems in a spirit of unity, give and take, cooperation,
peace and justice for all. All religions must take it upon themselves to make an in-depth
study of other religions and remove any misgivings or prejudices that they may have
against each other as all problems and obstacles could be overcome through mutual
dialogue, cooperation and tolerance.
The Archbishop said the Vatican in
its much acclaimed ''Declaration on the relationship of the Church to non-Christian
Religions” of 1965 had held that ''Upon the Muslims too, the Church looks with esteem.
They adore one God, living and enduring, merciful and all powerful, maker of heaven
and earth and speaker to men. They strive to submit wholeheartedly even to His inscrutable
decrees, just as did Abraham, with whom the Islamic faith is pleased to associate
itself. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as Prophet. They
also honour Mary, His Virgin Mother: at times they call on her too with devotion.
In addition, they await the day of judgement when God will give each man his due after
raising him up. Consequently they prize the moral life and give worship to God, especially
through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.”
''Although in the course of centuries
may quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Muslims, this most
sacred Synod urges all to forget the past, and to strive sincerely for mutual understanding
on behalf of all mankind, let them make common cause of safeguarding and fostering
social justice, moral values, peace and freedom,” the Archbishop said quoting the
Vatican Declaration.
Dr Moras said the Church is always ready to lend its hand
friendship, help and service to its Muslim friends and people of other religions willing
to accept this offer of friendship, help and service for the larger good of society
and welfare of mankind. ''Our offer of friendship, cooperation and dialogue is permanently
available at all times,” he said to a thunderous applause from the audience.
The
Archbishop also offered the Idd Mubharak greetings in advance on behalf of the entire
Christian community to the Muslim brethren on the occasion of the Id-ul-Fitr festival
to be celebrated towards the month-end after the end of the 40-day fasting for the
Holy Ramadan month.
Union Minister Rehaman Khan, who spoke on behalf of
the entire Muslim community, expressed his heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the Archbishop
for his wonderful initiative for the first time in the history of Christian-Muslim
brotherly ties in the State. ''The objective of all religions is reforming and guiding
their faithful and society. We owe a duty to entire society and mankind to work together
for peace and harmony in society and help the needy,” he said.
Senior Congress
leader and former Union minister C M Ibrahim echoed the sentiments expressed by Rehaman
Khan hoped that the doors of the Archdiocese opened to the Muslim brethren must always
remain open. ''The wonderful and praiseworthy initiative taken by the Archbishop is
a watershed in the annals of Muslim-Christian relations in Karnataka,” Ibrahim said
lauding the service of the Christian missionaries in the education, healthcare and
social service sectors and said they were ''simply unparalleled.’’
''The spirit
of brotherhood and love through the novel initiative of organizing the Iftar get-together
in the Archdiocese marked the beginning of a long-lasting and closer relationship
this year, when all the dams in Karnataka were full and overflowing,” he said assured
the Christian community that the Muslims will stand united behind Christians whenever
they faced any threats and challenges.
However, the most erudite, scholarly
and apt response from the Muslims came from Dr Taha Mateen, President of Jamaat-e-Islami
Hind, Karnataka, when he quoted verses from Quran to state the similarities between
Islam and Christianity. Even Prophet Mohammed had said Christians were the nearest
that adherents of Islam would find in terms of love and affection. Both religions
believed in one almighty God, who created the entire universe and all living beings,
Dr Mateen said.
Dr Mateen said both the religious minority communtieis
of Muslims and Christianity shared common problems and threats. Apart from the dangers
of saffronisation of educational text books and culture, he said it was unfortunate
that the country was sought to be converted into religious intolerance and even forced
uniformity as against the lofty ideals of unity in diversity. He also voiced concern
over the attacks against Christians in Gujarat, Kandhamal and even Mangalore.
''Islam
respects and reveres Jesus as a prophet and also the long and flowing beard of Jesus,”
he said Muslims also shared the same sentimentality regarding beard. ''We respect
and honour the real Madonna, the Mother Mary, who is always depicted with head-covering.
He hoped that the openness and broad-mindedness shown by Archbishop was followed by
priests and sisters running Christian educational institutions in Mangalore and elsewhere.
Fr
Ronnie Prabhu, Public Relations Officer of Bangalore Archdiocese and Karnataka Region
Council of Catholic Bishops, welcomed. Fr Faustine Lobo, National Director of Pontifical
Misison Socieity, India, compered the entire programme and former MLA Ivan Negli proposed
a vote of thanks. (Source: Daijiworld News)