Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Calls on Muslims to Foster Interfaith Tolerance

Harun Nasution Auditorium,UIN News Online - The Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar University, Professor Ahmed Al Tayeb, visited and delivered a scholarly lecture titled “Strengthening Religious Moderation to Build Tolerance and Harmony” during a public lecture held at the Harun Nasution Auditorium on Tuesday (09/07/2024).

In his speech, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar emphasized the importance of building good relationships and tolerance among followers of different religions, as taught by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He also questioned why Muslims continue to debate the appropriateness of extending holiday greetings to followers of other faiths.

“Isn’t a Muslim allowed to marry a woman of the People of the Book, who are not Muslims? Didn’t the Prophet say that we should show kindness to everyone? If so, why do we keep arguing about the legality of greeting people of other religions on their holidays?” he asked.

Religious Moderation means understanding and practicing a balanced approach to religion, avoiding extremism and excessiveness. The goal is to prevent fanaticism that can damage interfaith relationships.

During this forum, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar also discussed how Muslims should interact with people of other faiths, emphasizing that social interactions should not be limited by religious differences. He believes there is no prohibition against doing good to fellow humans, regardless of their beliefs.

“Allah never forbids doing good to non-Muslims. In fact, the Quran states that Muslims should not fight the People of the Book or non-believers, except in self-defense,” said the Professor from Al-Azhar University, Cairo.

Adopting a moderate stance in religion can help prevent conflicts and violence rooted in religious differences. Therefore, religious leaders have a significant responsibility to promote moderation and tolerance.

(Nadhira Rahmah/Fauziah M./Raihan Lail/Faadhilati Idris/Photo: Indra Aldiyansyah)