From Noor Bakthtiar Ahmad
MANAMA (Bahrain), Feb 20 (Bernama) -- Muslims scholars at the inaugural Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference have stressed the need to promote understanding and tolerance among sects, highlighting unity as key to addressing the challenges facing the ummah.
They emphasised the pivotal role of scholars and religious authorities in overcoming barriers to dialogue and fostering connections between different sects.
A member of the Muslim Council of Elders, Sayyed Ali Al Amin, said that differences in scholarly opinions have never caused division among their followers.
Instead, he stressed that political exploitation of diversity is what leads to sharp divisions.
“Reinforcing the values of citizenship, justice, and equality within the Muslim world and establishing joint religious institutions among sects will strengthen unity and mutual respect,” he said.
The two-day conference, organised by Al Azhar Al Sharif, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) in Bahrain, and the Muslim Council of Elders, gathered over 400 Islamic scholars, religious leaders, intellectuals, and experts from across the Islamic world under the theme “One Nation, One Shared Destiny”.
Meanwhile, the Grand Mufti of Egypt and President of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, Dr Nazir Ayyad, affirmed that the concept of citizenship aligns with Islamic principles and does not conflict with religious identity.
He pointed to the Madina Charter as a historical example of coexistence, where diverse communities lived under a unified state while maintaining their distinct identities.
A member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al Azhar Al Sharif and the Muslim Council of Elders, Professor Hassan Al Shafei, identified misinformation and a lack of mutual knowledge as key obstacles to unity.
He underscored the need for awareness-building and constructive dialogue based on shared fundamentals, such as the unity of the Quran, the direction of prayer (Qibla), and the core tenets of faith.
Egypt’s Minister of Awqaf, Professor Osama Al Azhari, stated that theological diversity is a natural part of religious thought and should never lead to discord.
-- BERNAMA
