New Delhi, Feb 19: Veteran legalist and former Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani has thrown his weight behind the demand for minority status to Aligarh Muslim University. While supporting the demand, he appreciated the idea of education in Islam and confessed that he is a great admirer of Prophet of Islam for the same reason.
“I make no secret of the fact that I am a Hindu. I was born a Hindu. But I am a great admirer of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the founder of this great chain of institution – first school, then Anglo-Mohammadan College and which is now called Aligarh Muslim University,” said Ram Jethmalani while speaking at an event on minority status of AMU on 16th Feb here in New Delhi.
“Aligarh Muslim University was created by Muslims according to the testimony of the Governor General for the purpose of education in Muslims,” he added.
He also said that he has studied several religions but the idea of education given by Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) has appealed to him.
“Being a Hindu, I must say that I am a student of religions including Islam. And I must confess to you that I am a great admirer of the Prophet of Islam (Pbuh). Tell me another prophet of any religion who told his followers that if you walk in search of knowledge, you are walking in the path of God,” said Jethmalani while sharing the stage with former chief justice of Delhi High Court Rajendar Sachar.
“I am among those who believe that every religion has a core. That core has got to be determined – that core if it is found laudable, respectable worthy of reverence then that religion requires to be highly respected and the Prophet requires to be honoured and worshipped,” said Jethmalani and explained what is the core of Islam in his own view.
“Now the core of Islam is these two lines that I have been talking about. The two lines which are the core as I said when you walk in search of knowledge you walk in the path of God,” he said.
Jethmalani also said that every religion has some disposable waste.”Every religion has also disposable waste – every religion. Probably, in my religion, there are much greater disposable wastes than any other religion,” he said.
