The hurt over the verdict felt by many Muslims was, at least in part, salved by the strong sentiments in favour of maintaining peace sent out by imams in their sermons.
During the first Friday prayers after the Ayodhya verdict, the message that went around at the city’s mosques was of peace and compromise. The hurt over the verdict felt by many Muslims was, at least in part, salved by the strong sentiments in favour of maintaining peace sent out by imams in their sermons.
At the city’s most important mosque, Jama Masjid near Crawford Market, the khutba or sermons were about Prophet Mohammad’s teachings on good deeds as imam Maulana Zubair Parkar quoted verses from the Hadith, the book describing the teachings and deeds of the prophet.
“The message was about peace and not speaking ill of others,” said namaz-goer Farid Shaikh of Mumbai Aman Committee, a group promoting inter-religious dialogue.
A similar message was sent across to believers at Hamidiya Masjid in Pydhonie. Dawood Khan, a perfume vendor at Pydhonie who attended prayers there, said that the focus of the imam’s sermon was on being a good Muslim and a better human being.
“A truly religious person avoids conflict in any form. He does not use force or violence to put his point across. The imam pointed out that peaceful co-existence with people of other faiths was the need of the hour,” said Khan.
“We were told that no religion propagates hatred or violence. The imam urged Muslims to show tolerance and restraint in these uncertain times,” said kite merchant Abdullah Kazi who offered namaz at Zakaria Masjid near Mohammed Ali Road.
The mood at the Pakeezah Masjid in Behram Baug, Jogeshwari, was that of introspection. “Our imam asked us to look within ourselves for answers and then turn to Allah if we were unable to let go of the feeling of disharmony or pettiness,” said Imtiaz Ahmed, an autorickshaw driver who prayed there.
But not everyone who gathered for prayers on Friday felt the intractable issue had been solved. Toy wholesaler Sohail Rokadia, who prayed at the Khatri Masjid at Pydhonie, said, “The imam avoided criticising anyone for the verdict and his message was worded very carefully so as not to blame anyone for it. But many people in the congregation were not happy with the order.”
Chartered accountant Shabbir Ebrahim summed up the feeling among Muslims in the city when he said, “I spoke to many people who said the verdict made no difference to their lives. The verdict was long overdue and people want to move on. Besides, the mosque was not being used for a long time. In Islam, a mosque that is not used for worship achieves ‘shahdat’ or martyrdom.”
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