Prof. Salma Dawood, Vice-President of the World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates and President of al-Azhar University, stressed that Islam cares for achieving peace, as the Islamic approach is defined as being wise, moderate and aligns with the human instinct and nature. He stated that Islam aimed to bring together all humanity on worshiping and cultivation whenever it is possible, due to nature of human variation that Allah Almighty has created us according to, adding that Islam renounces corruption in all of its forms.
This came during the lecture of “Islam and Peace” organized within the framework of “Peace and Humanity…. Between Reality and Expectancy” Program convened by the Organization, represented by al-Azhar Ambassadors Project and in cooperation with Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The lecture witnessed the participation of a number of faculty members and international students.
In the same context, Prof. Salama Dawood highlighted that upon looking up the word “Peace” (Salam) in the Holy Quran and Prophetic Sunnah, it appears to be repeated several times. This signifies that our most esteemed religion of Islam always focuses on spreading peace and strongly establishes its principles. Indeed, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) warned that someone may point to another with an iron rod, even in jest.
Further, Prof. Salama Dawood underlined that the secret of the peaceful coexistence, preceding Muslims had enjoyed with other nations, lies in their commitment to a bundle of peaceful and humane values endorsed by Islam, such as the general human dignity separated from the religious convictions, as Allah Almighty says: “And verily We have honored the Children of Adam” [Q:17:70]. This is besides other cherished values such as tolerance, freedom, charity and human fraternity, as Allah Almighty states: “Help one another to righteousness and piety; do not help one another to sin and enmity” [Q:5:2].
Prof. Dawood concluded the lecture by answering the attendees’ queries, where he advised them to read frequently to gain as much knowledge as they could, which may help them in their mission; that is to deliver the tolerant message if Islam.
