Grand Imam Calls for “Muslim-Muslim” Talks for Rapprochement and Discarding Division
I appeal to our Shii brothers to overcome historical conflicts, leave the past behind and strengthen the Islamic issue.
Grand Imam Calls on Shii Muslims for Dialog
His Eminence Grand Imam of al-Azhar and Head of the Council of Muslim Elders, Prof. Ahmad at-Tayyeb, appealed to the Muslim scholars across the world of every doctrine, sect, and school of thought to urgently hold a Muslim-Muslim dialog around unity, rapprochement, and acquaintance, a dialog for religious and human fraternity, void of division, discord and, particularly, sectarian strife.
In the closing session of Bahrain Forum for Dialog held at Al-Fida’ Square of Sakhir Royal Palace in the capital Manama, attended by Bahrain King Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa and Vatican Pope Francis, Grand Imam stressed the importance of the golden rule that provides for: ‘We excuse each other for what we differ about. Let us together chase away any talk of hate, provocation, and accusing others of blasphemy, while stressing the need to overcome historical and contemporary conflicts with all their problems and deep-rooted misconceptions.
Furthermore, the Grand Imam invited the Shiite Muslims to this dialog, saying I am ready, along with the senior religious scholars and the Muslim Council of Elders, to hold such a meeting with open hearts and extended hands to sit together at one table in an attempt to transcend the page of the past and promote the Islamic cause and the unity of Islamic stances that should be characterized by realism, meet the purposes of Islam and its Sharia, and forbid Muslims to listen to the calls of discord and schism. Muslims should beware of falling into the trap of compromising nations with the stability of homelands, exploitation of religion to stir up national and sectarian strife, and interfering in the affairs of states to undermine their sovereignty or usurp their lands.
It is worth mentioning that the Bahraini capital Manama hosts ‘The Bahrain Dialog Forum: East and The West for Human Coexistence’ under the auspices of Bahrain King Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa, with the participation of His Eminence Grand Imam of al-Azhar and Head of the Council of Muslim Elders, Prof. Ahmad at-Tayyeb, His Holiness Vatican Pope Francis, and about 200 prominent figures of religions representatives across the world. Besides, the Forum was attended by distinguished intellectual and media figures. Moreover, the Forum was organized by the Muslim Council of Elders, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence.
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