Moment of Truth.. Message From Grand Imam, Vatican Pope

By: Elham Aboul Fateh

The meeting between AlAzhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb and Vatican Pope Francis Benedict XVI is one of the most significant meetings that underscores concepts of peace, security, fraternity as an alternative to violence, ideological conflicts and racism.. But also to stress upon the human conception of citizenship, as recognized in religions and human charters, which prioritize nations and dignities.

I say this as I’m closely following-up the caucuses, work committees and panel discussions at the World Humanitarian Brothers Conference, which is currently held in Abu Dhabi, UAE,  under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The conference is attended by Pope Benedict XVI, who is visiting the Gulf region for the first time, as well as AlAzhar Imam, president of the Council of Muslim Elders.

Also, invited are more than 700 leaders of humanitarian action in the world, and this is not the first time that the grand imam meets with his holiness, as they met in Cairo at “AlAzhar International Peace Conference ", and before this, they met in the Vatican ..

Here I recall the concept by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, during the press conference with French President Macaron in Cairo, when he described the coexistence between the Egyptians this simple: it is no more acceptable to us to describe someone as  a Muslim or Christian, but now, they are all Egyptians without discrimination. He also said that ‘human rights’ with its comprehensive understanding transcends the right of blogging, but it is also about right to provide adequate housing, noting that the success of the state in providing housing for more than 250 thousand families were living in housing not suitable for human beings, and the success in the treatment of 120 thousand citizens were on waiting lists for major surgeries,  is one of the most important rights of the citizen in health .. In addition to fighting terrorism alone, Egypt is successfully pursuing an economic reform and social reform program that is already being implemented by the government. It is an inspiring experience for all countries in the region to understand human rights in the comprehensive sense of citizenship, co-existence and brotherhood among people.

From Egypt's concept of statehood to humans to the concept adopted by the ongoing conference, which I consider the hope of every human being. Human fraternity in Islam is based on two types. The first is the relation between the inpidual and God.. which anyone should never interfere in.. the second type is the relations among humans.. we learn it from prophets and their tales. These days, we find some people who are seizing religion for their own interests, they categorize people according to religion and and give them faith ranks. They forgot that the prophets did not do this.

In Egypt, the value of human fraternity and the relationship between the Egyptians and the Christians was deep-rooted across history. In the 1919 revolution, which we mark the 100th anniversary, it was difficult for anyone to distinguish between Muslims and Christians. No one can ever forget when the pastor gave speech in mosque and imam gave speech in church, as all had the same demands.

After 100 years, in 2019, the same scene was repeated in the opening of the Al-Fatah Al-Alim Mosque and the Church of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, in one day. This is an exceptional event that has not happened throughout Islamic history. The church and the mosque were built at the same time to stress upon feelings of fraternity between Muslims and Christians, and to feature this as strong power against all attempts to disturb stability in Egypt..

In this regard, I must emphasize the role of the leaders in activating and realizing the concept and meaning of human fraternity and to shift from reaction to action and work to spread the culture of peace through paying importance to the relevant programs.

This can be on the level of inpidual countries and through international conferences. There has to be a focus on humanitarian and interfaith similarities in religious, cultural, educational and media discourse, as well as setting laws that criminalize discrimination based on religion, color or race, and work through international institutions to criminalize discrimination.

At last, I hope that the scientists and specialists participating in the conference would correct the misconceptions and misunderstandings of the verses and prophetical sayings used by those who are working against humanity in justifying extremism, terrorism, funding these or promoting and theorizing for them.