The World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates Branch in Central Africa held a lecture entitled “importance of peaceful coexistence in Islam” at Noor al-Islam Masjid in the capital, Bangui, with 50 people in attendance. The lecture was delivered by Ahmed Barma, an imam, preacher, teacher at Islamic Dawah Azhari School, and a member of the Organization’s branch in Central Africa.
During the lecture, Barma emphasized the necessity of adhering to the moderate Islamic ethics that we learned at al-Azhar ash-Sharif, which include accepting others and rejecting violence. He stated that we must coexist with our brothers in humanity and nation with the spirit of humanity and love that the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) taught his noble companions.
Barma added that Islam affirms that differences in religion or belief should be neither a cause of hostility and conflict nor a barrier to communication, acquaintance, and coexistence in the context of human interactions. In Islam, people are brothers in faith and equals in humanity.
He stressed that our true religion does not prevent us from communicating with followers of different religions and cultures and working with them for the benefit of all. The history of the ancient Islamic civilization is full of facts and events that represent the finest examples of civilizational communication and openness between Muslims and others from different religions and civilizations.
