Dr Jayabasavanand Swamiji of the Vishwadharma Peetha in Chikkamagaluru called on citizens to strive for the uplift of humanity in line with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad at a public event in Mangaluru on Friday. The address marked the closing of Yunivef Karnataka’s campaign titled ‘Know the Prophet of Humanity’ and took place at the city’s Purabhavana.
Prophet Muhammad message India
Delivering the main speech, Dr Jayabasavanand praised the Prophet as a progressive social reformer who championed good governance, dignity for the oppressed, and equality for women. He said the Prophet lived simply among ordinary people and consistently preached peace. “He sought a society free from alcohol, gambling, usury and crime,” the speaker said, urging contemporary society to recall those values and work towards similar transformational change.
Speakers at the event warned that such change cannot be expected without public awareness. Dr Jayabasavanand expressed concern about groups who attack the Prophet’s legacy or reject the ideals of figures such as Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. He urged citizens to be vigilant against rising intolerance and to support social harmony.
Rev. Dr Dominic Vas, president of C.R.I. and parish priest, drew on the philosophy of Gabriel Marcel to argue that modern society has become disjointed. He noted that despite technological proximity, human relations and systems have been strained, and he described recent global attacks on minority communities as evidence of that strain. “Attacks on Christians during the Christmas season in more than 700 places worldwide, violence in Bangladesh, clashes in Nigeria and the war in Ukraine all threaten our shared humanity,” he said.
Former minister B. Ramanath Rai highlighted how charitable acts undertaken within religious frameworks are sometimes viewed with suspicion. He warned against growing hatred towards other faiths and called for a renewed commitment to equality, secularism and global peace. “We need universal peace. To achieve that, we must practise interfaith coordination and reject those who divide society in the name of religion,” he said.
Yunivef Karnataka president Rafiuddin Kudroli said the Prophet Muhammad was not only a guide for Muslims but a prophet for humanity. He explained that Yunivef has spent the past 20 years clarifying the facts about Islam to counter misconceptions. The event was chaired by Abdussalam Puttige, editor-in-chief of Varthabharati.
Other attendees and speakers included Jeppu Sadvhaavana Vedike president and yoga teacher Divan Keshav Bhatt, SDPI Mangalore rural district vice-president Inas Rodrigues, former Rajya Sabha MP B. Ibrahim, campaign co-convenors Saifuddin and Mohammad Asif Kudroli, campaign convener U.K. Khalid and others. Junaid performed a qirat, and Ubaidulla Bantwal and Hudhaif Kudroli offered formal greetings and hosted the programme.
The gathering combined spiritual reflection with a clear social message: educating communities about religious teachings, opposing hatred, and reinforcing shared values are essential to protect human dignity. Organisers said such dialogue is necessary to build tolerance and to address the fractures that recent global incidents have exposed.
By calling for social uplift and mutual respect, the speakers aimed to renew public commitment to peaceful coexistence and to remind people that the core principles attributed to the Prophet can still inform efforts to build a just and compassionate society.
Key Takeaways:
- Dr Jayabasavanand Swamiji of Vishwadharma Peetha urged society to work for humanity’s uplift following the Prophet’s teachings, advocating equality and social reform.
- The event in Mangaluru closed Yunivef Karnataka’s ‘Know the Prophet of Humanity’ campaign and called for interfaith solidarity amid rising intolerance.
- Speakers, including Rev. Dr Dominic Vas and former minister B. Ramanath Rai, warned about global communal violence and the need for universal peace.
- Organisers emphasised educating the public about Islam and unity across religions — key themes of the Prophet Muhammad message India.
