Anwar meets India’s Grand Mufti, discusses interfaith understanding and harmony

KERALAM, India — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met with India's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, at Jamia Markaz in Calicut on September 14. This came after Anwar's participation in the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. During their one-hour meeting, the two discussed community development, educational empowerment, and interfaith harmony.

Anwar, who is on a five-day visit to India, was accompanied by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani. He arrived at Jamia Markaz at 5:50 pm local time, where he was greeted by Jamia Markaz General Secretary Muhammad Abdul Hakkim Kandi, C.P. Ubaidullah Saquafi, Director, and Rector Roshan Nurani. Before the meeting, Anwar participated in a prayer and a religious education session at the institution, which is a prominent Islamic center in India.

Sheikh Abubakr, the 10th Grand Mufti of India, was born in Kerala and educated in the region's Sunni-Sufi academic tradition. He is recognized for his belief that Islamic scholarship should tackle contemporary societal issues like poverty, limited educational opportunities, orphanhood, unemployment, and social marginalization. Anwar's aircraft touched down at the Calicut International Airport at 4:56 pm local time (7:26 pm Malaysian time) earlier that day.