Mumbai Muslims to Celebrate Birth Anniversary of Imam Ali as Anti-Terror Day

Shiite Muslims in Mumbai will celebrate the birth anniversary of Imam Ali, the first Shia imam, as a day decrying terrorism and promoting global peace.

Shia scholars, intellectuals and activists said terrorist outfits like ISIS posed a grave danger to humanity and teachings of pious religious leaders like Imam Ali would help fight the menace of terrorism.

“Yaum-e-Ali (Imam Ali’s birthday) is on April 21 but we will mark it on April 20 evening at Masjid-e-Iranian or Mughal Masjid in Dongri with talks of scholars and intellectuals about his teachings.

Since he was also cousin of the Prophet and his sonin-law, he had played a pivotal role in establishing the faith. We want to use the occasion as a day to commit ourselves to uphold his teachings and fight extremism,” said Mohammed Abbas Rizwan Khan, president, Muslims’ Association for Peace and Harmony which is holding the meeting.

Shaukat Bharti who heads World Wasila Front, an NGO, said the world should unite against the ISIS menace and Imam Ali’s birth anniversary is a good occasion to reiterate our resolve to uproot this vice. “Hazrat Ali’s exemplary character can be used to fight terror and extremism ideologically,” said Bharti.

Zainuddin Bandukwala, ex-president, Indo-Arab Society, a think tank, welcomed the celebrations of Hazrat Ali’s birthday as anti-terrorism day.