Srinagar July 09:(KNS)    The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday greeted the people on the annual Urs observance of Hazrat Muhammad Amin Mantaqi Bhaihaqi(RA) and Hazrat Shah Sadiq Qalander (RA), hoping the Urs observances augur well for lasting peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.

In his message, Dr Farooq said that Hazrat Mantaqi Sahib (RA) and Hazrat Shah Sadiq Qalander (RA) were known for their severity in prayers and supplications. He said the Islamic mysticism has been the cultural mainstay of Kashmiri since the advent of Islam in Kashmir and that the cultural, social and political life of the people of Kashmir has been greatly fashioned by the teachings of such towering personalities, who during the breadth of their worldly lives strived to guide people towards penance and god consciousness.

“These great men were people of great devotion, selflessness and austerity. It goes without saying that Sufimystism has been the singular controlling element that has helped Kashmiri people sale through worst of times in every century and decade and withstand worst of troubles.  Mysticism forms the very foundations of our pluralistic culture and is incorporated in our sprit. Hazrat Mantaqi (RA) and Hazrat Shah Sadiq (RA) belonged to the same tribe of great men, who took immense pains to guide the footsteps of Kashmiri towards righteousness with self example. On this auspicious eve, I pay him my earnest and rich tributes and pray to Almighty Allah that the day acts as harbinger of peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.  The youth of today and the coming generations have a lot to imbibe from the teachings of such great men.  Urs observances like these resuscitate this mainstream cultural identity of ours which has guided us all, and our past generations bounding them together with unity and companionship,” he said.(KNS)