The spreading of terrorist waves has given rise to the need for achieving peace nowadays. Through peace, humanity enjoys quietude and safety. Thus, they work and produce. Yet, in the absence of peace, the world becomes a jungle, and humans monsters that lost the gift of humanity. In effect, we have to cooperate in order to achieve the desired peace.
Last week, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), especially that of Abu Dhabi, hosted the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies which theme was, “Global Peace and Fear of Islam: Cutting the Road to Extremism” in which 700 Christian and Muslim scholars from various parts of the world took part. I was cordially invited to that annual forum which was full of tolerance, peace, and fraternity.
Imam Hassan bin Ali Award for Peace
The Egyptian Family House was given the “International Imam Hassan bin Ali Award for Peace” this year. His Eminence, Dr. Mohammed Hamdy Zakzouk, member of the grand scholars’ assembly, member of the Muslim Council of Elders, and Secretary General of the Egyptian Family House received the award, together with Bishop Ermia, Assistant Secretary General of the Egyptian Family House. The award was given by his Highness, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan, U.A.E. Foreign Minister, his Highness Nahayan bin Mubarak al-Nahayan, Emirati Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development and Sheikh Abdallah Bin Bayyah, President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies and member of the Muslim Council of Elders.
Imam Hassan bin Ali International Award for Peace was launched in the second Annual Forum of Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies in 2015. It was dedicated to honoring thinkers and scholars who had scientific endeavors and initiatives, and attempt rooting the culture of peace and its values in Muslim societies.
Goals of the Award
– Encouraging the scientific rooting of correcting the concepts of peace and human fraternity.
– Rooting awareness of the purpose of peace and the importance of achieving it through dialogue and ideology.
– Honoring persona and organizations which have achievements in spreading the culture of peace.
– Connecting Muslim youth with the ideology that promotes the peace culture and joyful coexistence.
– Updating the tools and methods of convincing Muslim youth not to fall in the pit of violence.
Peace and Pluralism
Our current reality either articulates or insinuates the immediate renunciation of fanaticism and terrorism which the world is about to fall into. As I mentioned in a speech, peace is a core teaching of religions. In Islam, it is one of God’s beatific names: “He is AllŒh, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Peace.” In Christianity, we call God, “The God of Peace,” “King of Peace,” and “Source of Peace to everybody.” All religions have agreed about the importance of peace for man. Peace is a strong pillar of Islamic teaching in which many chapters (Surahs) assert that, “O believers, enter into peace all.” In Christianity, we read, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” and “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace.”
Accepting pluralism in societies is a core principle for achieving the desired peace, be it among individuals in one society or among global societies with diverse creeds, ideologies, deities, and races. Pluralism is, “a concept that expresses the right of all humans to coexist in the local or international society despite their difference in opinion. Likewise, they should positively and edifyingly participate… Mutual Coexistence or acceptance of others does not mean imposing one’s ideas on them. Nor does it mean renouncing one’s principles and creeds or adopting the others’ religion. Rather, it simply means leading a good life together.
Thus, promoting the value of versatility in our societies has to manifest itself in religious teachings in accordance with core religious concepts and values which exalt love and mercy and prevent haughtiness.
In Islam
– Islam presents an image of man’s relationship with the other whoever he might be as one that is based on peace. We read, “O people! We have created you males and females, and made you tribes and peoples that you might know one another that the best of you is the most pious.” The phrase, “that you might know one another” has a deep significance. God wants people to know one another and live with love and affection.
– Also, “If Allah wants, He could make you one nation. But you are different.”
– We read still, “If your God wants, all on earth will be faithful. Do you compel people to become believers?”
– In effect, killing is legitimized to resist attacking: “God does not forbid you from those who do not fight you in religion nor get you out of your homes except if you do not be good and just to them.” Meanwhile, God forbids killing an innocent soul: “Whoever kills a soul without a soul or corruption in earth, it is as if he killed all people. Whoever makes it live, it is as if he made all people live.”
– Moreover, “You shall not kill the soul that God forbade killing, except justly, and whoever kills a wronged man We make his friend authorized: but he should not kill excessively as he is victorious.”
In Christianity
Christ presented acceptance of the Pluralist ideology through His dealing with all people despite their difference in ideologies and creed. He dealt with all Jewish sects. Likewise, He healed whoever resorted to Him, be he a Jew, Gentile, or Roman. Also, He offered His teachings to everybody. So, He went to Samaria, accepted tax collectors’ invitations, and presented the parable of the “good Samaritan” which is expressive of the loftiest human values, namely, love and service without differentiation.
– Christianity teaches love for all, and prohibits hatred, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” It calls for loving, even one’s enemies, “… love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you..”
– Likewise, it forbids killing. One of the ten commandments reads, “You shall not kill.”
In Judaism
God commanded the people to accept strangers, and not to persecute or mistreat them. This stranger is one who holds a culture or ideology different from a Jew’s:
Preventing Persecution or Annoyance:
“You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Loving Strangers:
“Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
The Law Itself:
“You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country”
Works of Mercy:
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest.”
Justice:
“And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you…”
Implanting the concept of Pluralism and coexistence for peace and edification of homelands cannot be achieved through words, but by hard work for rooting this ideology that seeks the development of societies and nations, as well as presenting the core of religion that respects man’s humanity through deeds that make us steadfastly strive for peace, edification, and happiness in life. What a great story! Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
