Mumbai: The second day of the three-day “Protection of Sunnah and Greatness of the Companions Conference,” organized by Anjuman Ahle Sunnah wal-Jama’ah at YMCA Ground, witnessed powerful addresses by prominent scholars.
Mufti Rashid Azmi, Deputy Rector and Hadith Instructor at Darul Uloom Deoband, said, “Wherever there is doubt or disagreement—whether about the path of faith or self-purification, let people say whatever they wish; the true path of faith and purification is the path of the Companions. The Companions embodied every aspect of the Prophet’s ﷺ life; collectively, they reflect all of his teachings. While different Companions adopted different aspects, together, they preserved the complete way of the Prophet ﷺ. The Companions are the mirror, reflection, model, and identity of the Prophet ﷺ and his religion. The true religion is only that which follows the way of the Companions. The Mu’tazilites and the Khawarij are not upon the way of the Companions, and whoever does not follow the path of the Companions is not upon the path of the Prophet ﷺ.”
Mufti Affan Mansoorpuri, Sheikh al-Hadith at Jamia Islamia Arabia, Amroha, underlined the significance of sound belief and consciousness in Islam. He warned against ideological deviations, particularly the false claims of Bihar’s Shakil bin Hanif as the Mahdi and Messiah. He pointed out how Shakil bin Hanif and his followers mislead people by interpreting the signs of the Dajjal incorrectly. They claim that the Dajjal has already emerged and identify America and France as the Dajjal, arguing that the Arabic letters in “America” and “France” spell Kafir (disbeliever). Using this deception, they assert that the Mahdi must also have appeared, paving the way for the false claim that Shakil bin Hanif is the Mahdi. Initially, they indoctrinate followers gradually before introducing them to Shakil bin Hanif for allegiance. Mufti Afan Mansoorpuri lamented that many people blindly accept such falsehoods despite clear evidence in Islamic scriptures. He prayed for Allah’s protection from misguidance and falsehood.
Mufti Junaid Motorwala, in his introductory remarks, stressed that the Companions preserved the Sunnah in its purest form. He cautioned against Western-backed efforts to distance Muslims from their traditions, urging steadfastness in faith.
