Pak's first sect-free mosque calls for end to discrimination

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News Bharati English    19-Jul-2013
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undefinedIslamabad, July 19: A businessman in the Pakistani capital has built a mosque that is calling on its followers to stop discriminating along Shia-Sunni sectarian lines and start praying together, in whichever way they like, under the same roof.

The Darul Iman Jamia Masjid Qurtuba mosque has been built in the foothills of the Margalla range, the Dawn reported.

Darul Iman Jamia Masjid Qurtuba’s story is as dramatic as the sectarian history of Pakistan. The newly-built mosque in Islamabad’s Margalla foothills is calling upon its followers to stop discriminating along sectarian lines and to start praying together – in whichever way they like – under the same roof.

undefinedZahid Iqbal, a local businessman, conceptualised the idea of a sect-free mosque in 2010. He bought a plot for the mosque, but the authorities refused to register it as a sect-free mosque under Islamabad's local development rules.

To bypass the strict rules, Iqbal registered a trust, and then sub-registered the mosque under the trust's banner: The Al-Kitaab Foundation Trust.

With support from other businessmen and overseas Pakistanis, the mosque was built at a cost of Rs. 30 million.

Iqbal has found an imam, currently studying for his Master's degree from the Islamic University. The coordinator of the mosque is doing his MBA from Preston University. Both are young men in their 20s.

The Imam and Khateeb are both from different sects – and the mosque administration says it will have no problem if a Shia Imam leads prayers.

The mosque administration says it will have no problem if a Shia Imam leads prayers.

Iqbal says there is a simple philosophy behind his idea.

undefined"By branding ourselves along sectarian lines, we have even put non-believers to shame through violence and unruly conduct," the businessman told Dawn.

He believes that mullahs have turned religion into business ventures for petty personal gains.

Calling his prayer hall a ‘model mosque’, Iqbal added, “This is God’s house. Even non-Muslims are allowed to come and seek the light.”

The mosque is also funding at least ten students’ completion of their Bachelor’s degree, which they could otherwise not have afforded.

In addition, the mosque, not only invites all sects, but also has a separate section for women, and a library filled with religious books from all sects. With the support of other businessmen and overseas Pakistanis, the 2-kanal compound has been built at a cost of Rs. 30 million.

So far, Iqbal is thrilled by the reaction he has received from people. “There has been individual criticism but overall a collective acceptance amongst the community is settling in,” he said, adding that people from different sects are already praying there together, although the number is not yet big enough to cover the 350-people prayer hall.