About 600,000 Muslims to take pledge against terrorism

MALAPPURAM (Kerala): About 600,000 Muslims will take a pledge against terrorism on Friday night at an annual prayer meet here, an organiser said.

The prayer is organised by Ma'dinu Saquafathil Islamiyya that runs a number of institutions, including schools, in Kerala.

According to the organisers, the prayer meet is considered to be one of the largest spiritual congregations of Muslims in the world, after those in Mecca and Madeena.

According to Sayyid Ibrahimul Khaleelul Bukhari, the chairman of the society and a spiritual leader, the oath was necessitated by the "recent happenings in New Delhi, Jaipur and Ahmedabad".

The oath asks Muslims to respect other religions and not to associate with any activities that pose a threat to the unity and integrity of the country.

He said the terrorist activities committed by a miniscule section among Muslims are bringing a bad image for the entire community.

Bukhari said: "The reason for terrorism here is the deviations from the spirituality preached by Sufi saints like Khwaja Moinduddin Chisti and Nizamuddin Auliya."