The concluding session of the Interfaith Dialogue discussed the fundamentals of dialogue in Islam on Friday. The session was held in the presence of Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Aal Al-Sheikh and MWL Secretary-General Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdul-Mohsen Al-Turki, and chaired by Field Marshal Abdul-Rahman Bin Mohammed Swar-Udahab, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Da'awa Organization in Sudan. Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Mahi, President of King Faisal University in Chad, underlined some of the principals of a successful dialogue in Islam, which included the subject of discussion and desired objectives. He said the main elements of dialogue must include a positive and friendly environment, use of a scientific method, convincing arguments, and more importantly mutual respect amongst the people discussing. “All prophets and messengers of Allah came with one message: unity of mankind and human dignity, which was confirmed in the Holy Qur'an,” he said. He also noted that dialogue with others requires a wide margine of free thinking devoid of fear. Dr. Mahmud Ahmad Ghazi, Professor of Islamic studies at Qatar University, played down the theory of clash of civilizations, emphasizing that there should be a peaceful dialogue among civilizations. He said scientific monopoly and the increasing militarization in an attempt to dominate the world by today's superpowers have blocked the path to a more peacful world. Dr. Mustafa Zabbach, Director of the General Secretariat of the Universities of the Muslim World Union, said, “We must find a meaningful dialogue to promote the values of peace and righteousness between man and his environment.” Dr. Ali Ozawak, President of the Islamic studies and sciences, highlighted the importance of the family in an Islamic point of view and talked about the rights and responsibility of it in Islam. __
