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raushan
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
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 Topic initiated on Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 12:53 PM 
Saudi king set to lead rare interfaith talks
The 200 invitees included vocal critics of Islam, notably the Rev. Franklin Graham, a conservative Evangelical who has called Islam an "evil and wicked" religion. He cannot attend because he is preparing for a trip to North Korea, a Graham spokesman said.
Former Vice President Al Gore and the Archbishop of Canterbury were also invited, but declined because of prior engagements, their offices said.
Spain was chosen as the conference site, Saudi officials said, because of its historical symbolism as a place where Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived in relative peace under Islamic rule from the 8th to the 13th centuries.
Given the Saudi religious community's suspicions toward non-Muslims and deep hostility toward Israel, it would have been extremely difficult to hold the event in Saudi Arabia.
Nihad Awad, founding executive director of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, says the venue demonstrates that the Saudis are willing to meet Western religious leaders on their home turf.
"It's good to bring people in [to Saudi Arabia]; however, we want more Muslim scholars and leaders to go and interact with Western intellectuals, and Spain is a good choice to start with as it represents a place of interfaith tolerance historically," says Mr. Awad, who recently met Abdullah. "The fact that the king is going is a powerful statement that he's investing in this personally and wants it to succeed."
Rabbi Rosen, who also serves as chairman of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, had a different view, writing that holding the conference in Saudi Arabia would have given it "far greater significance both in the Muslim world and in the 'West.' "
Abdullah first disclosed his plans for an interfaith dialogue during a meeting with visiting Japanese scholars last March, describing it as something that had "obsessed [him] since two years ago." He said he was preparing an initiative in which "believers of the three main religions: the Torah, Bible, and Koran will be of priority."
But all religions would be invited, he added, because "we all believe in the same God."
The goal would be "to agree on something that would maintain humanity against those who tamper [with] religions, ethics, and family systems." He said he was distressed by disintegrating family ties, a rise in atheism, and "an imbalance of reason, ethics, and humanity" in today's world.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0708/p01s03-wome.htm |
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hkhan
UNITED KINGDOM
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Posted - Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 8:42 PM 
i think R; its a v positive initiative from muslim rulers/leaders if any.
only today whilst walking down the high street i saw a couple with a child in push chair calling people over a mike. they were simply reminding people who were busy in shopping and rushing for their saturday agendas to spend a few mins and think that life was gonna end soon. to think of their dead relatives & friends and to think of the heaven 'n the hell-the Eternity to come.
however, being Christians, they were adding the story of Jesus Christ(peace be upon him) as the saviour and who sacrificed himself to take away his people's sins-but we talked on the common topic of coming to God. we agreed that calling to one God must be the priority in today's growing godless culture. arguements about the differences in further beliefs i.e.which prophets and which books, can be dealt with later. and God does not leave those to go astray who sincerely start their journey towards him- i tld the lady with a smile that i did envy them standing in the middle of th ecrowd and calling people to God-...i wish i cud do that ; (she said before coming to the town, they do special prayers for bravery 'n courage in order to go out 'n call people to God ) and i said that if muslims came out and started calling people to God & Muhammad(peace be upon him) over a mike like that, surely they have excellent chances of ending up behind the bars as 'terrorists' in today's muddled up reputation that media has gifted to muslims   |
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raushan
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
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Posted - Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 12:57 PM
The Qur’an discusses the concept of unity at three levels. Foremost is the unity of humanity. The Qur’an in Sura Al-Hujurat (The Inner Apartments) says: “O, Mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is the one who has piety.” (49:13). The Qur’an nowhere addresses the Muslims. Either it addresses the believers (momineen) or the people (Annas).
The Qur’an at second level refers to the unity of the people of the books: the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims - in Sura Al-e-Imran the Qur’an says:” O, people of the Book! Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with him, and that none of us will take others as lords besides Allah. Then if they turn away, say; Bear witness that we are Muslims” (3:64).
The fifth verse of the Sura The Clear Evidence and the forty-eighth verse of Sura The Table Spread also shed light on the unity of the people of the Book. Then the third level the Qur’an stresses unity among the Muslims. In Sura Al-e-Imran the Qur’an says: “And hold fast, all of you together to the rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves.” (3:103). |
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hkhan
UNITED KINGDOM
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 Posted - Monday, July 14, 2008 - 6:12 AM
thx for the references R;
(also i was thinking really if we preached on a high street over a mike saying the words as they were saying like'think of your friends & relatives who are dead ' etc, what can stop for us to be judged as suiside bombers..again in the light of whatever has been happening lately.
its high time we muslims seriously sat down and reviewed our ways of communication & action |
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aboosait
INDIA
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Posted - Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 11:34 AM
quote:
........................its a v positive initiative from muslim rulers/leaders if any.................]
Thanks for that info.
At the Madrid conference, delegates discussed dialogue within the Islamic world and with other denominations, chiefly Christianity and Judaism. Other topics debated were the need to protect the family, the role of women in religion and ways to protect the environment.
In a final declaration, participants urged the United Nations to play a role, saying they hope to follow up "recommendations in enhancing dialogue among the followers of religions, civilizations and cultures through conducting a special U.N. session on dialogue."
For details please visit:http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/18/europe/EU-Spain-Interfaith-Conference.php
Edited by: aboosait on Sunday, October 12, 2008 11:44 AM |
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