UN Honors Muslim Leader for Interfaith Achievements
July 8, 2021
(WP) Calling him a global peacemaker, the United Nations honored interfaith leader Sheikh Mohammad Al-Issa in Geneva on Monday. Al-Issa was given honorary doctoral degree from the UN University for Peace, an academic institution within the UN system that is overseen by the UN secretary general.
Al-Issa received accolades and recognition for his "trailblazing" efforts to promote interreligious dialogue between leaders in the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities worldwide. He was hailed for his commitment to advancing cooperation and counterextremism and his "outstanding efforts in supporting international diplomacy, promoting friendship and cooperation, and effective endeavors in combatting hate."
"It is the sacred duty of all of us to promote peace and harmony in this world. I'm greatly appreciative to receive this honor, and we must all continue striving with all our effort to build coexistence and true partnerships among the peoples of this world, for today and the next generations," Al-Issa said at the event.
Among the list of interfaith achievements Al-Issa was recognized for include:
Convening more than 1,200 Islamic scholars for the Charter of Makkah in May 2019 to advance the principles of moderate Islam and interfaith partnership;
Leading the most senior Islamic delegation ever to Auschwitz in January 2020;
Guiding Buddhist and Muslim religious leaders in Sri Lanka to promote healing and integration in the wake of the country's deadly Easter attacks;
Finalizing an unprecedented partnership between MWL and the Holy See, which led to the most senior Vatican official visit ever to Saudi Arabia
Forging a peace and solidarity agreement among representatives of the Abrahamic religions in France
And, most recently, spearheading the Declaration of Peace by Afghan and Pakistani scholars and government representatives that provides a roadmap toward stability in Afghanistan
While pro-global governmental organizations and entities generally support interfaith efforts, some persons of faith disagree with the movement's ecumenical underpinnings. For example, Christians believe in Jesus Christ, Muslims in Allah, and Jews in Yahweh. True followers of all three faiths adhere to strict beliefs that their god is the one and only true god. Those who oppose interfaith activities fear that mixing and mingling among religions will lead to watered down faith and ultimately to lost souls and condemned souls.
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