Sunni Barelvi clerics will promote plastic ban during this year’s Urs

Bareilly: Sunni Barelvi clerics will promote the message of cleanliness and rejection of plastic during the 101th Urs-e-Razvi, which will be observed at Islamia College ground here during October 23-25. Clerics said they will ask believers who come to Bareilly, to ensure cleanliness in the area, and appeal to shopkeepers to avoid using plastic products.

Nasir Qureshi, media coordinator, Dargah Aala Hazrat, said, “In a first, Dargah head Subhan Raza Khand and sajjadansheen Mufti Ahsan Raza Qadri have initiated some activities this time. All religions have given importance to cleanliness. When our followers arrive from across the world, they will be asked to give special importance to cleanliness, including at Urs. We’ll also lend support to the ongoing national campaign against plastic, by asking shopkeepers in Urs to refrain from using plastic.”

On the occasion of the 101th Urs, clerics said camps will be held in the city in collaboration with a private hospital, to conduct free cataract surgeries on 101 patients belonging to different religions. Besides, for environmental conservation, 101 saplings will be planted and their locations tagged so that they can be taken care of in future.

The three-day event, marking the death anniversary of Mujadid Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Qadri, popularly known as Aala Hazrat — who propagated the Sunni Barelvi school of Islam — is attended by lakhs of followers from India and abroad. A meeting with clerics and volunteers took place at Dargah Aala Hazrat on Thursday to make arrangements for the event.

Meanwhile, clerics said they will give speeches on Quran and Hadith in mosques after conclusion of namaaz. Mufti Ahsan Raza Qadri said, “The triple talaq issue didn’t represent a correct picture of Muslims. For example, divorce rates are high in many other religions. We’ll ask clerics to give 15-minute-long speeches after conclusion of namaaz at the mosques to clear misconceptions related to the Quran and the Hadith.”