A 'Softer' Islam, For A Moderate Modi

DESPITE BEING UNDERRATED and under editorialised by the Indian media, there is nothing that anyone can really take away from the importance of the event organised by the Indian Islamic and Cultural Centre (IICC) to provide a forum for the visiting King of Jordan, His Majesty, King Abdullah II, to expound his views on the moderate nature of Islam and the imperative to fight radical Islam.

Interestingly, King Abdullah was given precedence over Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to give out a message of peace and inclusion to the Muslim World. President Rouhani gave a similar message from Hyderabad, which has old links with Iran.

King Abdullah’s words carry enormous weight in the Islamic World and even India. He is the descendant of Prophet Muhammad and his Hashemite kingdom ruled the holy shrine of Mecca before they were thrown out by the Saudis in the early 20th century. King Abdullah is also the guardian of the Christian Sites in the Holy City of Jerusalem. Extremely articulate, he chose Delhi to highlight the qualities of the Indian version of Islam and how its adherents have stayed away from violent extremism that was sweeping much of the Arab World and Europe. He spoke with great verve in this conference on “Islamic Heritage: Promoting understanding and moderation.”