More than 14 centuries after his passing away, celebrations reverberated throughout the city marking the birth anniversary of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam.
The ‘fatwa' by Jamia Nizamia, south India's famous seminary, notwithstanding the celebrations were both ostentatious and unIslamic. At many places in Moghalpura, Bibi ka Bazar, Moosabowli and Itebarchowk youth were seen gyrating to the ditty “Marhaba ya Mustafa” tune.
Bike-borne youth holding flags, zipped through while rallies from different parts of city were taken out to mark the occasion. The biggest rally was organised by the Sunni United Forum of India from Qaudri Chaman, Falaknuma, to Moghalpura ground. The loud celebrations continued through the night much against the spirit of ‘Shariah'. Though it was a Sunday, the roads in old city were crowded as ever.
The 62nd ‘Rahmatul-lil-Alameen' day celebrated by All India Majlise Tameer-e-Millat at Nizam College grounds drew good response. American guest speaker, Shaik Alauddin Al Bakri, urged Muslims to live up to the ideals of the Prophet by adhering to his traditions in word and deed.
In his English address, Al Bakri traced the trials and tribulations faced by the Prophet and said there was a lesson for the community in it. The messenger of Allah lost his parents at an early age and faced persecution from the Quraysh of Makkah when he started preaching Islam. Yet he remained steadfast in his mission. He also lost his two sons and three daughters during his lifetime. “But he never played the victim card,” Al Bakri said and asked Muslims not to make excuses of being ‘helpless'.
The community was going through a bad time as it had made its role model movie stars, sportspersons and singers. There was a perfect role model in the Prophet for everyone – be one poor or weak.
Abdul Rahim Quraishi, president, Tameer-e-Millat, stressed the need to acquire both secular and religious instructions. He regretted the deviation from Islamic principles and said this was the reason for the community's troubles. A book on ‘Seerat-e-Rasool' written by A. Rahman and another by Ahmed Ali of Salarjung Museum was released on the occasion.
