INTERVIEW WITH MAULANA WAHIDUDDIN KHAN

CPS NEWSLETTER CPS INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE A Report by Mohammad Usman (sub-editor SOI) “Humiliation in obedience is far better than honour and prestige in disobedience.” These moving words were uttered by Dr Rajat Malhotra during the welcome speech of CPS International Peace Conference. The Peace Conference was held at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, New Delhi from April 29-30, 2023. CPS members from across India and from many countries participated in the conference to renew their pledge to carry forward the legacy of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan’s peaceful and universal message derived from the Quran and the exemplary model of the Prophet Muhammad. The conference had long been in the planning. Originally planned as a biennial event, and being held since 2012, the coronavirus pandemic halted the continuation. This also marked the first CPS International Conference after the demise of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan in 2021. The conference was opened by award-winning children’s author Dr Saniyasnain Khan followed by Dr Rajat Malhotra’s welcome note. Both emphasized on the unity of the team, staying true to the core values of CPS mission which are peace and spirituality, and introducing the peaceful message of the Word of God, i.e., the Quran. Prof Farida Khanam, the chairperson of the CPS International, in her talk mentioned and acknowledged the role of all those people who had played important role in the journey of the CPS mission which had started in the 1970s. A panel discussion between Islamic scholars discussed the importance, means and the purposes of God-realization and peaceful coexistence. It is mentioned in the Quran: The recitation (of the Quran) at dawn is indeed witnessed. (17: 78) Explaining this verse, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan writes: ‘People have always believed that morning time is the best time because one’s mind is most fresh at this time of the day. Several research corroborate to the fact that morning is the most productive time of the day. Therefore, one prayer should be said in the morning, the special feature of which should be a longer recitation from the Quran.’ Keeping this special mention in the Quran in mind, the Fajr (dawn) prayer was followed by a Quran lecture.