A high-level delegation from al-Azhar ash-Sharif, including His Eminence Prof. Abbas Shouman, President of the World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates and Secretary-General of al-Azhar Council of Senior Scholars; His Eminence Prof. Mohammad El-Gendy, Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy; and Prof. Hassan Khalil, Assistant Secretary-General for Islamic Culture at the Islamic Research Academy, attended the international scholarly conference organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences under the title “Religious Tolerance and Combating Discrimination within the Framework of the Global Civilization Initiative.” The event was notably attended by a distinguished group of scholars and researchers from several countries worldwide.
In his speech at the conference, Prof. Shouman stressed that differences in people’s religions and sects are a matter of divine will, intended by Allah, and that Islam calls for national unity despite this diversity. He affirmed that true distinction among people is based on piety, not race, color, or lineage. He emphasized that dialogue and mutual understanding are the best means of addressing differences, citing Quranic verses and Prophetic Hadiths that urge dialogue and coexistence, and rejecting the notion of a “clash of civilizations.”
Furthermore, the Secretary-General of al-Azhar Council of Senior Scholars explained that al-Azhar exerts great efforts, both domestically and internationally, to consolidate the culture of dialogue and establish the foundations of positive coexistence. He noted that al-Azhar’s adoption of dialogue does not mean abandoning its religious identity or dissolving into the other; rather, it is based on cooperation while preserving the distinctiveness of belief and affiliation. He added that this correct understanding has enabled al-Azhar to combine openness to others with the preservation of the principles and foundations of Islam. Likewise, he called on the world and the forces of peace to pressure decision-makers to stop fueling conflicts and plundering the wealth of peoples, urging urgent action to end wars, foremost of which is the Zionist aggression against Gaza.
For his part, His Eminence the Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy explained that religious tolerance is a cornerstone in building civilizations, not merely a moral luxury mentioned on special occasions. It is a pillar of every self-respecting nation that seeks to endure. He noted that the global tours of the Grand Imam of al-Azhar have contributed to promoting dialogue between peoples, rejecting discrimination and racism, and confronting policies of bloodshed, intimidation, and exclusion.
It is worth mentioning that the Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy stressed that the world today is in dire need of reviving the values derived from divine teachings to confront the conflicts and wars that threaten humanity. He added that al-Azhar will remain an impregnable fortress against extremism and isolationism, steadfast in its commitment to moderation and to spreading the values of justice, charity, and respect for cultural and religious diversity. He affirmed that al-Azhar will continue to play its historic role in promoting peace, preserving human fraternity, and engaging with various cultures based on mutual respect and shared human values.
For his part, the Assistant Secretary-General for Islamic Culture at the Islamic Research Academy, in his speech at the session entitled “Overcoming the Clash of Civilizations: Building a Community with a Shared Future through Civilizational Interaction,” stressed that al-Azhar carries a message of peace, love, and a civilizational vision that views diversity as a mercy, difference as wisdom, and humanity as the most precious element in existence. He noted that al-Azhar has undertaken the mission of defending moderation, championing justice and the vulnerable, calling for dialogue, and rejecting all forms of discrimination, believing that religions came as a mercy to the worlds, not as a cause of conflict or division, and that human dignity is indivisible and non-discriminatory.
