Srinagar, Mar 22 (KNO): Mirwaiz of Kashmir, Dr. Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, paid rich tribute to the Fourth Caliph, Hazrat Ali (RA), on the occasion of his martyrdom anniversary, highlighting his unparalleled sacrifices, services for Islam and the Prophet (PBUH), his commitment to justice, bravery, and exceptional knowledge.
As per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mirwaiz said that Hazrat Ali (RA), who was born in the Holy Kaaba and raised in the arms of the Prophet (PBUH), was among the first to embrace Islam and dedicated his entire life to the service of Islam and humanity.
Addressing a grand gathering at the Astana Aaliya Dastgeer Sahib, Sarai Bala, Lal Chowk, held before Asr prayers to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Ali (RA), Mirwaiz said that the book Nahjul Balagha, which contains the insightful sermons of Hazrat Ali (RA) on deep wisdom, ethics, governance, and human nature, is an intellectual masterpiece from which scholars and thinkers across ages have benefitted.
Emphasizing the need to firmly counter any attempts to disrupt Kashmir’s traditional atmosphere of sectarian and communal harmony, Mirwaiz said that our mosques, educational institutions, khanqahs, and imambarahs should be used to promote unity and sectarian harmony, not to spread division and hatred. It is unfortunate, he said, that some pulpits and religious platforms are being misused to spread sectarian discord rather than to foster a deeper connection with Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) and to uphold the torch of unity. This, he added, is highly condemnable.
He stressed that if we are one Ummah—with one Allah, one Prophet, one Book, and one Qibla—then there is no room for sectarian hatred. Any cleric, preacher, or individual who uses the pulpit to incite division must be held accountable, as it is our religious and communal responsibility.
Upon his arrival at Sarai Bala, Mirwaiz was warmly and enthusiastically received by local administration officials and a large number of people from the area, particularly the youth—(KNO)