Principles – “Together… Towards Peace” – Saturday, 27th of January, 2018

   In the previous article, we discussed “working together” as one of the secrets needed for any work success, while for the other half, it is “terrorism”, which waves have broken throughout the world to an extent pushing humanity into a dark tunnel, in a serious challenge for all human and religious values and traditions which elevate and appreciate man’s value and dignity. This requires all people to stand together in order to confront and eradicate it.

   Terrorism roots are found in negative thoughts about life meaning and others’ eligibility for it on one side, and rejecting the other from another side, which pushed some towards shedding blood without any fault or guilt committed, our days thus are filled with non stopping blood.

   Terrorism is a danger carrying nothing but devastation features; human devastation that plunders humanity features, a devastation for home, about which Imam Muhammad Abduh spoke: “When sects dispute, and each is occupied with what belittles the other, all their endeavors then are harmful to their homelands.”  a devastation for religious teachings, which have never sought one day save for adopting peace for humanity, rejecting all means of extremism and terrorism; Religions have urged for lofty virtues:

   – They called for love, toleration and brotherhood, as the Bible says:

“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you”,

and in Quran: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you”.

   – They urged for peace, as the Bible says: “Blessed are the peacemakers”,

while the Quran makes peace one of the names attributed to Allah:

“Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god;- the Sovereign,

the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection)”

   – They demanded mercy and kindness, as the Bible says: “Let not mercy and truth forsake you”, and in Quran: “And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy”

   – As for justice, the Bible says: “Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion”, and Quran states: “Allah enjoineth justice and kindness”

   – Freedom of Religion as well is a personal relationship between God – blessed be His name – and man, who will be judged on that by Allah, the sole who has the right to judge man, the Bible says: “that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live”, while in Quran: “There shall be no compulsion in the religion”, “And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wouldst thou compel men until they are believers”

   While on souls killing, the Bible says: “You shall not murder”, and in Quran:

   “Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly”

The construction which we desire to be attached to “working together”: establishing peace, which became a pursued goal in the entire world, and defusing terrorism.

The General Bishop

Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center