LAHORE, Oct 12: The first phase of Raiwind religious congregation concluded on Sunday with a call to the Muslims to spread the Islamic message of love and peace to the world and to dispel misconceptions about Islam.

Tablighi Jamaat central amir Maulana Zubairul Hassan offered the grand prayer (dua) before concluding the congregation, which was attended by about half a million people from different parts of the country and thousands of missionaries from over 30 countries.

A large number of people from Lahore and its suburbs attended the prayer, which continued for one hour. Before dispersing the congregation the central amir bade farewell to thousands of missionaries who volunteered themselves to join the tablighi groups assigned to visit various places of Pakistan and abroad for a period ranging from 40 days to one year.

For three days starting from Friday, religious scholars from Pakistan and India addressed the congregation held in between five-time prayers. They impressed upon the Muslims to follow the message of the holy Quran and Sunnah in letter and spirit and devote all efforts to dissemination of the message to the world dispelling the misconceptions about Islam and vicious propaganda against the religion.

Separate sessions were also held for students.Elaborate arrangements had been made for smooth and uninterrupted flow of vehicular traffic after the dispersal of the congregation. All roads were closed for two-way traffic and only one-way traffic was allowed from Raiwind to Multan Road for some hours for the convenience of the participants.

The second phase of the Ijtima will be held from Oct 16 to 19 at the same venue, which will be attended by the people of the remaining parts of the country, including Karachi and other districts of the four provinces, tribal areas and Azad Kashmir. — Reporter