Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said that the credit for spreading the light of Islam in the subcontinent goes to the great saints and Sufis, who disseminated the message of Islam and peace through their teachings and preaching.
Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani addressed the 8th International Maulana Rumi and Hazrat Sultan Bahoo Conference as the chief guest. This important academic and intellectual conference was organized by the Muslim Institute, in which national and international scholars, poets, writers, and intellectuals participated. In his address, Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani appreciated the academic and research contributions of the Muslim Institute, stating that the institution is playing a commendable role in familiarizing the younger generation with the teachings of Sufi saints.
While addressing, the Chairman Senate said that we are gathered here to pay tribute to great Sufi poets and saints like Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi and Hazrat Sultan Bahoo. The saints played a vital role in spreading the light of Islam in the subcontinent, who conveyed the message of Islam based on peace, love, brotherhood, and ethics. The Chairman Senate emphasized that the Sufi saints not only served the religion through their teachings and character but also delivered the message of Allah into every heart through poetry and oration in local languages. He observed that in today’s era, extremism and intolerance have affected social harmony.
In his address, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani paid tribute to the organizers of this international conference, especially Mr. Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali, Chairman of the Muslim Institute, and Mr. Saleem Mazhar.
By following the teachings of Hazrat Sultan Bahoo, Maulana Rumi, and other saints, challenges like Islamophobia can be tackled with ease. The world views us differently. The religion of Islam teaches love, brotherhood, and peace. By acting upon the message of Hazrat Sultan Bahoo and Maulana Rumi, we can overcome present-day difficulties. He said that the saints and Sufis rejected intolerance. Intolerance and sectarianism stem from detachment from Sufism. The role of the Sufi community is of utmost importance for patience, tolerance, brotherhood, and harmony.
The Chairman Senate further stated that the youth should stay connected to traditions along with modern knowledge. The youth should promote peace and love in society through the message of the Sufi saints. Serving religion is the real service.
The participants appreciated the speech of Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and applauded him wholeheartedly. The conference was attended by national and international scholars, writers, poets, and intellectuals.
