Muslim World League Holds Forum on Common Values among Religious Followers
It kicked off Wednesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulwahab Al-Shehri, the league’s undersecretary-general of corporate communications, said that the forum is in line with the goals of the MWL to consolidate its global role as an independent, international nongovernmental organization that works to raise awareness of the values of Islam, which include cooperation to enhance common values and build a better and more peaceful world and harmonious societies.
The founding of the forum is based on Islamic teachings that call for dialogue and working together, he said, based on the common values that help to ensure peaceful coexistence in a diverse world. It was in such a context, Al-Shehri added, that the modern international system was established under the auspices of the UN, comprising international organizations, groups and programs around which all peoples can converge. They include the UN Alliance of Civilizations, in which Islamic countries, through their scholars and thinkers, play an active role, he said.
“Among the main themes of this forum is the clarification of the facts of Islam that came as a mercy to the worlds, and our noble Prophet conveyed its values to all people,” Al-Shehri said.
On the other hand, “extremism and counter-extremism (around the world) tried to distort those Islamic values but with their positive openness they have reached the world, eliminated the attempts of distortion and quenched them in their infancy.”
He added: “Today, we are witnessing those attempts resuming, from one place to another, which unfortunately resulted in concepts, theories and slogans of Islamophobia.”
Al-Shehri also highlighted the solid foundation upon which the forum has been founded.
“The forum is also based on the guidance of the Constitution of Medina, which our Prophet established in Medina with religious diversity, highlighting the noble meanings of the wisdom of Islamic legislation in dealing with everyone,” he said.
“Islam was positively open to followers of religions to clarify its message calling for the good of humanity and to address any wrong concept, method or practice that does not serve understanding and coexistence of all in peace.”
By encouraging people of all faiths to communicate with each other, the forum is building bridges to help all participants achieve common goals, he added.
Source: Arab News
