World Sufi Forum: With 19 references to terror, PM Narendra Modi calls Sufism bulwark against extremism: The Economic times

ET Bureau Mar 18, 2016, NEW DELHI: With 19 references related to terror, terrorism, terrorists and extremism in his speech at the World Sufi F

ET Bureau Mar 18, 2016,

NEW DELHI: With 19 references related to terror, terrorism, terrorists and extremism in his speech at the World Sufi Forum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Sufism(considered largely an Islamic tradition) as the ‘noor’ (light of hope) against the menace of global terror and invoked the message of Holy Quran for peace.

“This is an extraordinary event of great importance to the world, at a critical time for humanity. At a time when the dark shadow of violence grows longer, you are the noor, or the light of hope … Sufism is a celebration of diversity and pluralism, expressed in the words of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, that every people has its own path of truth, beliefs and focus of reverence… when we think of the 99 names of Allah, none stand for force and violence, and that the first two names denote compassionate and merciful. Allah is Rahman and Raheem,” Modi said in his inaugural address conference in New Delhi on Thursday.

He rejected attempts to link terror and religion and called for advancing the message of Sufism as a value to “preserve and nurture diversity in our societies.” “We must reject any link between terrorism and religion. Those who spread terror in the name of religion are anti-religious.

And, we must advance the message of Sufism that stands for the principles of Islam and the highest human values,” Modi said invoking the message of Quran against violence: “Let us remember the teaching of the Holy Quran that if anyone slew one innocent person, it would be as if he slew a whole people; if anyone saved one life, it would be as if he saved a whole people.”

“Sufism became the face of Islam in India, even as it remained deeply rooted in the Holy Quran and Hadis,” Modi said suggesting that this tradition not only blossomed with an Indian ethos but also shaped Islamic heritage in India and south Asia. “Sufism blossomed in India’s openness and pluralism.

It engaged with her spiritual tradition and evolved its own Indian ethos. And, it helped shape a distinct Islamic heritage of India,” Modi said invoking the message of nonviolence.