AN INTERVIEW

With the help of digital media, CPS reached out to millions carrying out the message of well-wishing, positivity, helping people understand the creation plan of God, introducing humankind to their Creator and explainig what is His expectation from us. All this was well received because they had a receiving mind after the shock of Covid-19. We realize now that today there are only opportunities and no difficulties if one does not adopt a confrontational approach. There is a verse in the Quran (41: 34) which says ‘Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once your enemy has become your dearest friend.’ So, choice is not between enemy and friend, but between friend and potential friend. Yet another vector of this study is to explore the role of inter-religious/ interfaith partnerships amid the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this pandemic, many faith-based organizations and houses of worship have joined hands across religious boundaries to create strength through joint action. Would you please share some stories in this regard? How did CPS battle the challenges of the pandemic, while strengthening community relations? Were any new initiatives taken in this regard? CPS members worldwide started using more technology as the physical movement was completely restricted. We converted our English magazine Spirit of Islam, and Urdu magazine Al-Risala into digital magazines. We undertook more translations of Maulana’s work, and started participating in online meetings, launching women’s WhatsApp groups, requesting all Muslims to join the peace initiatives and to follow the government directives strictly, appealing to them to know the true Islam from the scriptures. We broadcast strong recommendations to follow social distancing and staying away from the hot-spots. People were asked not to move away from the place of an epidemic and stay put. There is a saying of the Prophet in this regard: If you hear about an outbreak of plague in a land, do not go to it, but if the plague breaks out in a country where you are staying, do not run away from it. During the time of Umar Farooq, the second Righteous Caliph of Islam, there was an outbreak of Bubonic plague in which thousands of Muslims died.