Al-Azhar at the World Economic Forum
Speech by Sheikh Fawzi Al-Zafzaf
New York City - February 3, 2002
The Permanent Committee of Al-Azhar for Dialogue with the Monotheistic Religions was represented at this year’s World Economic Forum in New York City, January 31 through February 4.
His Eminence Sheikh Fawzi Al-Zafzaf, the Permanent Committee’s president; and Dr. Aly Elsamman, vice-president and advisor to the Grand Imam, attended the five-day annual meeting attended by business leaders and politicians.
This was the second year that the Permanent Committee had been invited, along with other religious leaders around the world, to provide a platform to present a powerful message of “unity in diversity” around the world.
Searching for Links among Religion, Economy and Politics: Speech by Sheikh Fawzi Al-Zafzaf
Mr. President, Attendees,
I salute you with the salute of Islam – Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatu.
First of all I’d like to express my thanks and appreciation to the organizers of this forum for giving me the chance to participate in its works.
Peoples of the world realized that conflicts and wars did not solve their problems and were not decisive in tackling their issues, on the contrary fighting and confrontation resulted in hatred that generated envy and led to the desire of revenge….
Consequently, the peoples of the world will always be sunk in bloodbaths as a result of wars and confrontations and will suffer, more and more, from ruin and destruction.
So, what is the alternative way through which the peoples of the world can solve their problems and put an end to their conflict?
Peoples of the world found out that Dialogue is the most proper and rational way towards solving their problems.
Our meeting here today, under the umbrella of the World Economic Forum, is a live applied example for the usage of the language of dialogue in solving the world’s economic problems.
In this respect I’m concerned to reply to Mr. President’s question of how far religious dialogue could serve in ending the religious conflicts in the different unstable spots of the world?
I say: Yes, a proper religious dialogue could contribute effectively in solving the religious conflicts and problems occurring in various sites of the world, and I would like to stress the fact that Dialogue is the fundamental method and first language adopted by Islam to achieve mutual understanding …whether among Muslims together or between Muslims and non Muslims of those who follow other religious traditions.
In order to make a religious dialogue a successful and a fruitful one, it is a must for all leaders and prominent figures of other religions to pay concern towards two important issues:
First: The issue concerning the followers of each religion separately:
Religious leaders of all religions should be keen to teach, educate and graduate new generations of open-minded preachers who reject religious fanaticism within the same religion. These preachers shouldn’t be hasty in rejecting any other contradicting opinions just because of being different to their thoughts, beliefs or sects.
Second: The issue concerned with the leaders and prominent figures of different religions:
They should have a serious intention and desire to cooperate together so as to solve and put an end to these conflicts. They should also direct the preachers and scholars of their religion, towards the right way to be adopted in order to spread love, tolerance, and cooperation in order to live in a peaceful co-existence with the followers of other religions, they should also implant the principle of freedom of religious thoughts and beliefs and that there’s no obligation in this respect.
Suggestion:
On this occasion, as we gather here today upon the initiative and invitation of those who are responsible for the World Economic Forum, I would like to offer you a suggestion:
I suggest that this forum could take charge of holding a meeting for those who represent the religious figures of various religions in order to give them the chance to discuss together the way to put an end to the religious conflicts and different confrontations that take place in many sites and spots all over the world.
The Permanent Committee of Al-Azhar for Dialogue with the Monotheistic Religions was represented at this year’s World Economic Forum in New York City, January 31 through February 4.
His Eminence Sheikh Fawzi Al-Zafzaf, the Permanent Committee’s president; and Dr. Aly Elsamman, vice-president and advisor to the Grand Imam, attended the five-day annual meeting attended by business leaders and politicians.
This was the second year that the Permanent Committee had been invited, along with other religious leaders around the world, to provide a platform to present a powerful message of “unity in diversity” around the world.
Searching for Links among Religion, Economy and Politics: Speech by Sheikh Fawzi Al-Zafzaf
Mr. President, Attendees,
I salute you with the salute of Islam – Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatu.
First of all I’d like to express my thanks and appreciation to the organizers of this forum for giving me the chance to participate in its works.
Peoples of the world realized that conflicts and wars did not solve their problems and were not decisive in tackling their issues, on the contrary fighting and confrontation resulted in hatred that generated envy and led to the desire of revenge….
Consequently, the peoples of the world will always be sunk in bloodbaths as a result of wars and confrontations and will suffer, more and more, from ruin and destruction.
So, what is the alternative way through which the peoples of the world can solve their problems and put an end to their conflict?
Peoples of the world found out that Dialogue is the most proper and rational way towards solving their problems.
Our meeting here today, under the umbrella of the World Economic Forum, is a live applied example for the usage of the language of dialogue in solving the world’s economic problems.
In this respect I’m concerned to reply to Mr. President’s question of how far religious dialogue could serve in ending the religious conflicts in the different unstable spots of the world?
I say: Yes, a proper religious dialogue could contribute effectively in solving the religious conflicts and problems occurring in various sites of the world, and I would like to stress the fact that Dialogue is the fundamental method and first language adopted by Islam to achieve mutual understanding …whether among Muslims together or between Muslims and non Muslims of those who follow other religious traditions.
In order to make a religious dialogue a successful and a fruitful one, it is a must for all leaders and prominent figures of other religions to pay concern towards two important issues:
First: The issue concerning the followers of each religion separately:
Religious leaders of all religions should be keen to teach, educate and graduate new generations of open-minded preachers who reject religious fanaticism within the same religion. These preachers shouldn’t be hasty in rejecting any other contradicting opinions just because of being different to their thoughts, beliefs or sects.
Second: The issue concerned with the leaders and prominent figures of different religions:
They should have a serious intention and desire to cooperate together so as to solve and put an end to these conflicts. They should also direct the preachers and scholars of their religion, towards the right way to be adopted in order to spread love, tolerance, and cooperation in order to live in a peaceful co-existence with the followers of other religions, they should also implant the principle of freedom of religious thoughts and beliefs and that there’s no obligation in this respect.
Suggestion:
On this occasion, as we gather here today upon the initiative and invitation of those who are responsible for the World Economic Forum, I would like to offer you a suggestion:
I suggest that this forum could take charge of holding a meeting for those who represent the religious figures of various religions in order to give them the chance to discuss together the way to put an end to the religious conflicts and different confrontations that take place in many sites and spots all over the world.