INTERFAITH DIALOGUE ONE OF BEST PLATFORMS FOR UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT RELIGIONS

PETALING JAYA, May 7 (Bernama) -- The interfaith dialogue or forum could be one of the best platforms for a society to produce better mutual understanding among believers of different religions. 

President of Global Unity Network, Shah Kirit said the dialogue helps those living in diverse and multicultural countries including Malaysia to understand all the differences that they encounter.

“In order to respect one another we need to learn and understand each other. A lot of conflict that we have today is because of presumption, prejudice, misconception and misunderstanding, and to eliminate this we have to know each other. Knowledge is very important. 

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“Conflict and issues will always be there but with knowledge, we can manage this conflict and issue and as leaders of religions and faiths, it is our duty and responsibility to promote peace and harmony between the people,” he said in his remarks at the International Conference of Religious Leaders 2024 at Sunway Resort Hotel here today.

With the theme “Unity within Diversity”, the conference draws approximately 2,000 religious and intellectual figures from 57 countries.

Meanwhile, a Buddhist leader from Cambodia, Samdech Preah Buddhacariya Touch Sokvoha said the conference provided a valuable platform for interfaith exchange, promoting peace, tolerance and respect for all religions.

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Commending the efforts to organise the conference, he said witnessing such a diverse gathering dedicated to this critical value was truly inspiring.

“This conference serves as a powerful testament to the unifying power of faith. I am confident that the collaborative spirit during the event will continue to inspire positive changes on a global scale,” he said.

Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, on the other hand, invited participants from other religions to read the Quran to understand what the holy book says about Islam and Muslim civilisation.

He said Muslims have historically lived in peace and harmony with other religions, citing the golden era of Islam during the rule of the caliphate in Baghdad and Andalusia as prime examples, in contrast to the portrayal of Muslims by the Western world.

“Don't listen to Western media, read the Quran about the golden history of a Muslim government or Caliph and see what Islam has done for the community,” he said.

The mufti also denounced Western prejudice against Muslims which significantly contributes to disharmony and conflict within the Muslim world.

Emphasising the Western media's tendency to disproportionately associate terrorism with Islam and Muslims, he stressed that such a hate campaign needs to be stopped.

“What we are facing today is that perception and the agenda that they put in our mind. We cannot move forward to live in peace until we remove this kind of campaign, this bad and negative perception," he said.

-- BERNAMA