As president of the All India Imam Organisation he represents around half a million imams. He is a highly revered cleric.
Despite the abusive calls, messages and threats of “sar tan se juda” from a radical section, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, the chief Indian imam, remained unfazed and asked his detractors to follow the path of piety and humaneness by Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and said that by attending Ram Lalla’s “Pran Pratishtha” (consecration) at the new Ram Mandir, he had just followed the Islamic tenet that it is one of the worst sins in Islam to hurt the human heart. The Imam’s sagacity has been hailed by the seers of all other faiths. Ilyasi believes that Allah will save him from terror mongers and the law of the land will protect him.
When Imam Ilyasi received the invite to attend the event, he took a lifetime decision to go to Ayodhya in spite of knowing that an orthodox and bigoted section of his community would be after him. But then he believes in India’s plurality, interfaith bonding and cultural nationalism.
Imam Ilyasi, who is connected with lakhs of mosques, took the bold decision to get a positive response from the Muslim community. Significantly, the larger section of the community did not really object to his presence there, thus proving that his voice of sanity and reason has reached a vast section of Muslims. A major section of the local and global Muslim population has been commending his efforts for a peaceful interfaith dialogue. In fact, his presence at the Ram Mandir sent out the message of building bridges between communities and made him into a major global face of liberal Muslims.
His presence also confirmed that the government has positively responded to the highest level of the Muslim community. He is known for his closeness with the RSS and the belief in the present government’s ideology of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
As president of the All India Imam Organisation he represents around half a million imams. He is a highly revered cleric, who has addressed the UNHRC, the European Parliament, the Canadian Parliament, the House of Commons, the House of Lords, the Royal Institute International Affairs and many others, besides being the recipient of the highest awards of the UAE. He has been honoured by the Pope in Vatican, the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, Dalai Lama as well as by the “Imam-e-Haram” in Saudi Arabia for his efforts for world peace. His efforts to cement interfaith bonding have made him worth emulating. His major desire has been to turn this planet into “God’s spot of peace and tranquility”.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Imam Ilyasi said that the PM has reached out to every community and sent a strong message that Ram Mandir belongs to the “rashtra” (nation) and not Hindus alone. Hailing the almost prophetic words of the RSS Sarsanghchalak, with whom he has very old links, he said that on that particular occasion, all the interfaith hearts mixed like sugar and milk. The Muslim populace took the occasion on its stride, with an air of bonhomie and camaraderie, added Ilyasi.
As far as discipline, perfection and compassion are concerned, Dr Ilyasi talks highly of Adityanath Yogi, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He says that Yogi he is a go-getter and Muslims are happy with him since he believes in peace.
About Lord Ram, the Imam says that He is the legacy of India and the vision of Bharat. He further added that the Constitution of India salutes Ram’s humaneness by beginning with His portrait on the Preamble. Lord Ram was for a discrimination free society based on peace, progress and prosperity.
When asked how he felt being amongst the seers of different faiths, pat came his reply: “I was told by many seers that I have raised the stature of Muslims by attending the ceremony. Religion unites people, and to reduce differences, dialogue is the only way forward.”
He said that Hindus and Muslims have “fought a lot” and it was time to move on and work together towards nation-building.
Finally, Dr Ilyasi believes that in the historic consecration of Maryada Purushottam Ram, also lies the renewal of the spirit of compassion and camaraderie of Bharat.
Firoz Bakht Ahmed is the former Chancellor and grandnephew of Bharat Ratna Maulana Azad and may be contacted at firozbakhtahmed08@gmail.com