Image courtesy: Bhaskar.com
Israeli Ambassador to New Delhi Mark Sofer has visited the shrine of 12th century Sufi mystic Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in the town of Ajmer, where Muslim leaders told him that Israel should "vacate the Gaza Strip" to ensure better Muslim-Jewish relations, according to a Hindi-language website.
The 12th century Sufi mystic, who is known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz or Benefactor of the Poor, is extremely popular among all religious communities in India and Pakistan, and millions of Muslim and Hindu devout visit his shrine every year.
The Muslim leaders' demand for "vacating" the Gaza Strip reflects a prevailing misconception in the Islamic world that Gaza continues to be occupied by Israel. In 2005, the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, had evacuated all Jewish settlements and Israeli troops from Gaza.
Taking advantage of the Israeli Ambassador's visit, a delegation of the Khadims (caretakers) of the shrine impressed upon him that better Muslim-Jewish relations depend on Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
"It was the first visit of a Jew to the Muslim Sufi shrine," according to a report on the website of the Hindi-language daily Dainik Bhaskar.
Lighting the evening candle at the shrine, Syed Sarwar Chishti, a Khadim, told Mark Sofer, "If Israel leaves the Gaza Strip, the 1,400 years of gulf between Jews and Muslims could be bridged."
Sarwar thanked him for visiting the sacred Muslim place, adding, "If you want to improve the relation of love between the two religions, Israel must stop opposing Muslims."
Mark Sofer, however, did not make any direct comments in response to the Muslim leaders' statements but said, "From this place, I want to give the message that Sufism is the only tool which could retain peace and harmony in the world."
"At this time, when talks between Israel and Palestinians are moving ahead in Washington, I want to clear our stand of cooperation and harmony," he added.
According to the report, Syed Sarwar Chishti, a Khadim in-charge of the shrine, surprised him by saying to the visiting Israeli ambassador, "You are welcome at a place which expresses the true face of Islam."
Source: www.dainikbhaskar.com, India, September 3, 2010
