Al-Azhar Grand Imam: Human Fraternity Document... Sign of Hope out of Humanitarian Crises

Al-Azhar Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb said that Human challenges were the reason behind the birth of the. "

The "Human Fraternity Document" is a sign of hope out of the humanitarian crises.

The way to achieve "Human Fraternity" is to subject its theme to research, critique and reflection, and to bring it close to decision-making circles

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar said that Human fraternity materializes when representatives of religions shoulder their moral and historical responsibility towards promoting peace and brotherhood

He added that The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is a glimmer of hope and a source of encouragement for all those who love goodness and peace. The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has become a global platform for presenting luminous models that join the march of human fraternity.

He added that the birth of the Human Fraternity Document was induced by the waves of anxiety and tension sweeping human societies in the East and West, the struggle of fanaticism and hatred, and people’s contempt of their fellow humans due to difference in culture, religion, color and race, and the wars raging between peoples and countries, and other humanitarian challenges.

His Eminence, the Grand Imam, stressed, during his speech at the celebration of the International Day of Human Fraternity, that the Human Fraternity Document is still, and will remain, a sign of hope, out of the humanitarian "crisis" of today’s world. It reminds of the need to return to bounds of belief in Allah and religious teachings brought by the messengers and prophets to all mankind. These teachings rest on the meanings of tolerance, coexistence and peace, and underpin interfaith dialogue and openness and cross-fertilization of cultures, in a purely human context that establishes the right to difference at the level of the individual and in the context of human interest, and his right to freedom and safe and decent living.

The Grand Imam also expressed his hope that the Human Fraternity Document will keep bearing fruit day after day and achieve its noble goal. He explained that the way to achieve this goal is through subjecting the document research, reflection and critique in schools, universities, and educational and political institutions, regionally and internationally. He added that it can be achieved when the document is brought to decision-making circles, being one of the tools of modern diplomacy, and when representatives of religions and leading figures and scholars assume their moral and historical responsibility towards promoting peace, brotherhood and coexistence among people. He lauded the model of the state of East Timor, which adopted the Human Fraternity Document as a national charter and assigned it as integral to educational curricula in all its schools and universities.

His Eminence, the Grand Imam then pointed out that although the march of human fraternity is fraught with challenges and difficulties, the good intentions and hard work embodied today by the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity represent a glimmer of hope and a source of encouragement for all those who love goodness and peace. He extended thanks to all those who contributed to this award that has become a global platform that presents luminous models joining the march of human fraternity. It sustains their efforts towards alleviating the sufferings of the vulnerable, the oppressed and the poor in their quest for a more peaceful and just life.