Grand Imam Tantawy addresses Pope John Paul II and his delegation from the Vatican
Al-Azhar, Cairo - February 24, 2000
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His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantawy received His Holiness Pope John Paul II and his delegation at Al-Azhar where, the Grand Sheikh made the following speech.
Your Holiness Pope John Paul II, President of the State of the Vatican, Prime Minister of the State of the Vatican, and honorable delegation members. I welcome each and every one of you, and wish you good health. Al-Azhar al-Sharif, with more than a thousand years of history, is delighted by this esteemed visit, the visit of His Holiness the Pope and his accompanying delegation.
In the name of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, I am happy to announce, in this historic religious gathering, the following facts:
Fact one: God created all humans from a single father and a single mother. As God said in the Sacred Book:
“O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a Watcher over you.“
Women (Surat 4:1)
Fact two: All the monotheistic religions, revealed by God to his honorable Prophets, are in accordance on two essential matters. First, the devotion of worship of the One and Only, as God said:
“He hath ordained for you that religion which He commended unto Noah, and that which We inspire in thee (Muhammad), and that which we commended unto Abraham and Moses and Jesus, saying; Establish the religion, and be not divided therein. Dreadful for the idolaters is that unto which thou callest them. Allah chooseth for Himself whom He will, and guideth unto Himself he who turneth (towards Him).“
Counsel (Surat 42:13)
Second, Allah revealed the monotheistic religions for the happiness of mankind. They all preach honesty, justice, peace and prosperity, as well as cooperation between all people for benevolence and piety, not for offense and aggression.
Fact three: God created us in this life to become acquainted with one another. As He said:
“O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! The noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.“
The Private Apartments (Surat 49:13)
In order to fulfill this, Al-Azhar established a Committee for Dialogue; presided by Wakil of Al-Azhar, meeting at least once a year with the Vatican’s Committee presided by Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
Fact four: All the monotheistic religions preach that humankind supports right and justice, giving the authority to its legitimate possessors. On this occasion, Al-Azhar al-Sharif has the pleasure to acknowledge the state of the Vatican for its honorable stand with the Palestinian people.
Fact five: Under the leadership of President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, in Egypt, with its ancient civilization, Muslims and Christians have lived as brothers for 14 centuries - under the same sky, on the same land, breathing the same air, united by common interests, equal in rights and responsibilities.
Concerning belief, everyone is entitled to his own. The Holy Quran says:
“There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower.“
The Cow (Surat 2:256)
Once again, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Sheikh and Ulama welcome this visit, this meeting with his Holiness Pope John Paul II and the accompanying delegation.
We pray to Allah Almighty to make these meetings beneficial to humankind and its happiness.”
Translation of the Quranic verses is taken from Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall’s “The Meaning of the Glorious Quran”.
Your Holiness Pope John Paul II, President of the State of the Vatican, Prime Minister of the State of the Vatican, and honorable delegation members. I welcome each and every one of you, and wish you good health. Al-Azhar al-Sharif, with more than a thousand years of history, is delighted by this esteemed visit, the visit of His Holiness the Pope and his accompanying delegation.
In the name of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, I am happy to announce, in this historic religious gathering, the following facts:
Fact one: God created all humans from a single father and a single mother. As God said in the Sacred Book:
“O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a Watcher over you.“
Women (Surat 4:1)
Fact two: All the monotheistic religions, revealed by God to his honorable Prophets, are in accordance on two essential matters. First, the devotion of worship of the One and Only, as God said:
“He hath ordained for you that religion which He commended unto Noah, and that which We inspire in thee (Muhammad), and that which we commended unto Abraham and Moses and Jesus, saying; Establish the religion, and be not divided therein. Dreadful for the idolaters is that unto which thou callest them. Allah chooseth for Himself whom He will, and guideth unto Himself he who turneth (towards Him).“
Counsel (Surat 42:13)
Second, Allah revealed the monotheistic religions for the happiness of mankind. They all preach honesty, justice, peace and prosperity, as well as cooperation between all people for benevolence and piety, not for offense and aggression.
Fact three: God created us in this life to become acquainted with one another. As He said:
“O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! The noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.“
The Private Apartments (Surat 49:13)
In order to fulfill this, Al-Azhar established a Committee for Dialogue; presided by Wakil of Al-Azhar, meeting at least once a year with the Vatican’s Committee presided by Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
Fact four: All the monotheistic religions preach that humankind supports right and justice, giving the authority to its legitimate possessors. On this occasion, Al-Azhar al-Sharif has the pleasure to acknowledge the state of the Vatican for its honorable stand with the Palestinian people.
Fact five: Under the leadership of President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, in Egypt, with its ancient civilization, Muslims and Christians have lived as brothers for 14 centuries - under the same sky, on the same land, breathing the same air, united by common interests, equal in rights and responsibilities.
Concerning belief, everyone is entitled to his own. The Holy Quran says:
“There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower.“
The Cow (Surat 2:256)
Once again, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Sheikh and Ulama welcome this visit, this meeting with his Holiness Pope John Paul II and the accompanying delegation.
We pray to Allah Almighty to make these meetings beneficial to humankind and its happiness.”
Translation of the Quranic verses is taken from Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall’s “The Meaning of the Glorious Quran”.