Shaykh ul Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir ul Qadri Jihad has been hijacked by terrorists" Here is one of the most inspiring messages on the theme of Inter-Faith Harmony, delivered by one of the greatest Islamic scholars in the world. This is a video recording of the speech delivered by Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri, at the "People's SAARC: Inter-Faith Meet for Peace, Harmony and Solidarity in South Asia" held in Mumbai on January 9, 2014. No Muslim scholar, and no Pakistani leader, has spoken so passionately and authoritatively on the common ground between Islam and Hinduism, and also between Islam and other religions in the world. None has appealed so fervently for complete normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan, as a precondition for peace, progress and prosperity in the entire SAARC region. None has come out with so strong, scholarly, categorical and courageous a condemnation of terrorism and extremism in the name of Islam. "Jihad has been hijacked, and we have to take it back from the terrorists," he says in this speech. Two of his books ─ 'THE SUPREME JIHAD' and the Indian edition of 'FATWA ON TERRORISM AND SUICIDE BOMBINGS', both published by Rupa Publications ─ were released on the occasion. Both carry an Introduction by Sudheendra Kulkarni, chairman of the Observer Research Foundation Mumbai and the main organiser of the conference. 'FATWA ON TERRORISM AND SUICIDE BOMBINGS' shows, with copious references to the Holy Quran and other authoritative Islamic texts, that terrorism and all other forms of violence against innocent people, Muslim or non-Muslim, are against the basic tenets of Islam. 'THE SUPREME JIHAD' dispels many misconceptions about a quintessential Islamic concept, which has been widely misunderstood by non-Muslims and also, sadly, by some fanatical Muslims. Indeed, the violent acts committed by some misguided and bigoted Muslims have contributed to the spread of wrong understanding about Jihad and prejudice about Islam among non-Muslims. Understood in the right light, Islam is indeed a religion of peace, justice and mercy. And Jihad is a call for self-purification and performance of righteous deeds. "People's SAARC: Inter-Faith Meet for Peace, Harmony and Solidarity in South Asia" was organised by the Observer Research Foundation Mumbai and Minhaj-ul-Quran. The main participants in the conference were: 1. Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (He participated in the conference through a live video link from Canada.);

• published: 21 Jan 2014
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