ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Speakers at an interfaith harmony ceremony on Tuesday called upon followers of different religions to respect each others’ beliefs and replace hatred with love in their hearts so that the whole world becomes a peaceful haven through promotion of interfaith harmony.
They stated this at the celebration of 9th anniversary of ‘A Common Word Movement’ by Universal Interfaith Peace Mission (UIPM), recipient of World Interfaith Harmony Week gold medal. The UIPM organized ‘Eminent Abraham Conference’ at Islamabad Hotel to celebrate the occasion, says a press release.
State Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah, Pakistan Muslim League (Z) President Ijazul Haq, Dialogue and Action, Islamabad, Director Amna Hoti, FC College Lahore Professor Dr Charles Ramsey, One Family Community Chairman Jaramiya Pervez, Pastor Pervez Sohail, Bishop Aftab Anwar and other members from minorities attended the conference in large numbers.
In his welcome address, Universal Interfaith Peace Mission Chairman Dr. Allama GR Chishti expressed his gratitude to all the participants for joining him on this auspicious occasion. He highlighted the mission of Universal Interfaith Peace Mission in the past 18 years and the path, the non-governmental organisation has treaded till achieving the gold medal in World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) organised by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan which was bestowed upon his organization by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan on April 21, 2015.
Speaking on the occasion, he stressed the need of promoting the message of interfaith harmony through conferences, symposiums and seminars. “Today we are celebrating 9th Anniversary of ‘A Common Word Movement’ because in the existing times, nations around the world are facing numerous problems, which have endangered global peace altogether. Today when we are facing grave problems, there is no better time for promoting interfaith harmony than ever before and the people who have some sort of conscience for humanity are working for global peace and prosperity in their respective fields,” he added.
Dr Chishti said that ‘A Common Word Movement’ has worldwide support as it is nothing but ‘Love of God’ and ‘Love of Humanity’ which in other words is also duty towards mankind and duty towards God.
This year, he said the reason behind organising ‘Eminent Abraham Conference’ on 9th Anniversary of ‘A Common Word Movement’ was because this movement was based on verse 3/64 of the Holy Quran which calls all monotheistic religions to follow God’s path.
He shed light on life and dealings of Prophet Abraham (AS) and its references in teachings of the three monotheistic religions including Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
In the end he appealed to all religious scholars from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to pay their attention to the commonalities in Holy Scriptures of past instead of looking upon those aspects which create differences among humanity. “It will allow us or I would say enable us to promote interfaith harmony and turn this world into a heaven,” he added.
By looking upon this, he said it proves that the message of ‘A Common Word Movement’ is for the entire humanity as it is essence of three monotheistic religions, which is ‘Love of God and Love of Humanity’.
The other speakers also shed light on promotion of interfaith harmony for greater benefit of humanity.
