Egypt’s Grand Mufti Shawki Ibrahim asks Muslims to become ambassadors of peace in polarised world

The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, on Tuesday exhorted Muslims to become ambassadors of peace and bridge differences, noting that it is the shared responsibility of the community to reclaim Islam from those who interpret it in the “wrong way”.

He said Muslims across the world should take the lead in ushering in a new era of peace and understanding in a deeply-polarised world living in the shadow of dangerous conflicts.

''There is a need to grasp and understand the true spirit of Islam that is engaging and dealing with people of all faiths, civilisations and philosophies by seeking common grounds and recognising the diversities and differences, which are a divine gift and blessing from God,'' Allam said, addressing a large gathering of teachers, students and officials at Kennedy Auditorium at the Aligarh Muslim University here.

Delivering a speech on “Dialogue among Civilisations', he said, ''Building bridges and engaging with followers of different faiths is a basic tenet of the Islamic ethos.'' Quoting from the Quran, the Grand Mufti of Egypt said Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was an epitome of mercy and compassion and he is a role model, particularly for Muslims with respect to their conduct and behaviour towards neighbours, friends, relatives and humanity at large.

Warning Muslims against the “crooked understanding of faith” he said, ''It is our shared responsibility to reclaim Islam from those who interpret it in the wrong way and become ambassadors of peace and bridge-building in the world.'' Allam expressed his gratitude to the AMU administration for inviting him to the institute.

“Established by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, a great visionary, this institution is historic and it has a role to play in peace-building measures,'' he said.

The Grand Mufti of Egypt arrived in India on Monday on a four-day visit to the country, with an aim to enhance the cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Allam's trip to India comes more than three months after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi visited New Delhi and graced the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.

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