Grand Imam of Al Azhar and Head of the Council of Muslim Elders Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb has warned against falling into the trap of compromising homelands’ stability and exploiting religion to stoke the fires of sedition, sectarianism and nationalistic and ideological sentiments, not to mention interference with countries and their sovereignty or stealing their lands.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence” in its first session held at the Memorial Square in the presence of Bahraini King Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa and Vatican Pope Francis, Al Azhar Imam said: “I call for hoisting the flag of peace, not of victory, and for sitting down for dialogue and negotiation. In fact, I call for an end to all ongoing fighting on Earth or at the least for an extended truce, to rebuild bridges of dialogue, understanding and trust, and to establish peace in a world full of wounds. The alternative is graver consequences for the people of the East and the West alike.”

“On this important occasion for hosting dialogue between East and West for the sake of human coexistence, I lend my voice to all those seeking peace and good. I also call for the end of the Russian-Ukrainian war to spare the lives of innocents who have no hand in this violent tragedy,” the Grand Imam added.

Sheikh Tayeb commended and praised the title of this important forum for dialogue between East and West and its significance for human coexistence.

However, he said: “I recognize the difficult conditions facing our modern world and the threats to human existence and nations’ stability.”

“Because of my recognition and appreciation, as a human being, due to the severity of these complex crises, I call first on religious scholars and thinkers to put more effort into the education of youth about indisputable facts about religious commonalities,” he added.

“They should be adapted into modern academic programmes for teaching and convincing young people that there is room in life in the eyes of religious philosophy for those of different faiths, races, colors and languages, and that cultural diversity enriches the human civilization and establishes the peace that is lacking,” Sheikh Tayeb said.

“I furthermore call on my brothers, Muslim scholars, across the world of every doctrine, sect and school of thought to hold an Islamic dialogue, a dialogue around unity, cohesion and reproachment, a dialogue for Islamic fraternity, void of division, discord and, more especially, sectarian strife,” the Grand Imam noted.

“I do not think we need to repeat the talk about the conflict that humanity is experiencing today, either in the East or the West, nor to search for the causes of such conflict, its tragedies or its bitter repercussions that plague twenty-first century man,” he said.

“As you all know too well, it is all about wars, bloodshed, destruction, turmoil, orphaned infants, widowhood, poverty, bereavement, migration, displacement, and the fear of an unknown future where uncertainty and constant worrying prevail,” he added.

“Let us not forget what it requires to make the arms business flourish, fuelling sectarian and racial strife and provoking sedition and conflict, which result in the instability of once safe and secure nations,” he asserted.

“In fact, the accounts of our pains and sufferings are so many that one can easily give in to pessimism, disappointment, and a lack of hope for a world where peace and coexistence should prevail; a world where cooperation and goodwill should be the most prominent features; a world where war should be an exception. How can such a hope be fulfilled on our planet where only one per cent of the population possesses half the world’s wealth, with only 100 people possessing more wealth than 4 billion of their fellow human beings?” the Grand Imam wondered.

“The majority of the fears of Easterners today about the West are equally shared by distinguished, elite Western thinkers, rulers and prominent leaders. Some realise that Western policy has become ineffective in dealing with international crises. This is because displays of military might are a threat to genuine politics,” Sheikh Tayeb said.

“I advocate for replacing politics with culture in the sphere of international relations. The latter has the capacity for human understanding and encompassing its different aspects, whether physical, spiritual, intellectual or emotional,” he concluded.

Source: State Information Service Egypt