IACAD Participates In Sheikh Zayed International Tolerance Conference

The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) recently participated in Sheikh Zayed International Tolerance Conference, which was hosted by the Jamia Saadiya Arabiya in Kerala, India. Dr. Omar Mohammed Al Khatib, Executive Director of the Islamic Affairs at IACAD was the department’s representative at the conference. The conference was organised in honor of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God have mercy upon him), who reinforced the importance of tolerance, security and stability on a global level.

Al Khatib opened his speech by speaking about tolerance in Islam. He reaffirmed that Almighty God and Prophet Mohammed – peace be upon him – called for tolerance as the core of Islam. Al Khatib further noted that tolerance is achieved by forgiveness and acknowledging the good deeds of others in order to fill our hearts with love, tolerance and hope.

Al Khatib presented the UAE as an Arab model of religious tolerance, love and brotherhood. Furthermore, be noted that the UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities from various religions, races and cultures, all living in harmony. The first Ministry of Tolerance in the Arab World was established in the UAE, as well as the first global institute of its kind for tolerance in the Middle East. Additionally, the first Human Fraternity Document worldwide was launched in the UAE, calling for a stop on the use of religion to spread hate.

The Executive Director of the Islamic Affairs at IACAD reiterated the importance of religious and intellectual tolerance on individual and national levels, mentioning that tolerance is created through stability, non-violence and spurning beliefs that legitimise killing and incite hatred and discrimination, as well as intellectual, moral and behavioral misconduct. He also stated that tolerance should be the first life lesson and incorporated in the educational curricula for students in schools and universities. This is to build a generation and a society that realises that violence has nothing to do with religion, ethics, place or time.

The conference was part of the activities organised to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Jamia Saadiya Arabiya, which was attended by scholars and thinkers from around the world, as well as diplomats from the Arab Republic of Egypt, Malaysia, and other countries.