Hyderabad: The international conference “Peace and Harmony: A Religious Perspective” opened on Wednesday at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU). Speakers at the event urged unity, mutual respect, and interfaith love in a world increasingly divided by sectarian tensions.
Organised by the Department of Islamic Studies at MANUU in collaboration with the Henry Martyn Institute, the two-day event brought together academics, religious scholars, and researchers from India and abroad.
Delivering the keynote, historian Prof. Ram Puniyani said the life of Prophet Muhammad embodied love and compassion. “We should not spread hatred today over what kings did in the past,” he warned, calling for religious leaders to promote healing over division.
Religious voices call for unity and ethics in dialogue
Vice Chancellor Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan presided over the session and urged academic unity beyond sectarian lines. “Let knowledge—not prejudice—guide research and dialogue,” he stated.
Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, highlighted Islam’s recognition of every individual’s dignity. He stressed that the country urgently needs stronger relations between Hindus and Muslims built on shared moral values.
Book releases and institutional collaboration
Prof. Muhammad Habib, seminar director and Head of Islamic Studies, welcomed participants and highlighted the global need for tolerance. Dr. Packiam T. Samuel, Director of the Henry Martyn Institute, added that such gatherings foster practical frameworks for social harmony.
Two publications were released during the session. One was Research Methodology and Publication Ethics by Prof. Habib and scholars Zareena Yasmeen, Mohammad Salahuddin, and Danish Reyaz. The other was Perspectives on Interfaith Dialogue in India, a collection of papers from a previous conference.
The session concluded with coordination by Dr. Atif Imran and a vote of thanks from Assistant Professor Ms. Zeeshan Sarah.
