By M. Nirmala, The Straits Times, 10 Jun 2014
Drawing on his deep knowledge of Islamic teachings, he emphasised the need for dialogue between members of different faiths, saying this must be done sincerely and with the utmost respect for the views of all.
"Inter-faith dialogue need not conclude with a winner or loser," he said, adding that as a Muslim, he was particularly sensitive to what he called the "weaknesses and flaws of Muslims themselves".
"Indeed, all Muslims must engage in serious and honest self- examination if they are sincere about bettering themselves, and returning to the Creator with a sound heart and clear conscience," he said.
One of the most respected religious authorities in the Muslim world, Sheikh Gomaa, 62, held his audience of 550 spellbound as he delivered a 35-minute speech in Arabic, which was translated into English.
The well-known advocate of religious moderation was Egypt's grand mufti between 2003 and last year. He was the distinguished speaker at the launch of the Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies Programme yesterday at the Marina Mandarin Singapore.
In his address titled Reclaiming Our Common Humanity - The Role Of Religion Amidst Pluralism, Sheikh Gomaa shared his insights into how trust among those from different religions needs to be continuously built.
He urged his audience to approach inter-faith dialogue in an atmosphere of respect. Dialogue, he said, was not about competition.
The need for dialogue and respect for other religious beliefs is taught in the Quran, he added.
"The Quran states, 'God has created us into nations and tribes so that we may learn about each other'," he said. The world's beauty, he added, lies in its pluralism.
"The Quran states, 'God has created us into nations and tribes so that we may learn about each other'," he said. The world's beauty, he added, lies in its pluralism.
He said dialogue is not for the elite alone, but must reach the common man.
Sheikh Gomaa participates in inter-faith dialogues with the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church's Archbishop of Canterbury. With the Bishop of London Richard Chartres, he co-chairs the C-1 World Dialogue, a body that aims to improve ties between the Islamic and Western worlds.
Tensions between the two worlds have intensified over the past few years, said Sheikh Gomaa. The terrorist attacks against the West since 2001, the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan and religious conflicts in the Middle East have led to rising sentiment against Islam, he said.
There has also been growing suspicion among Arabs and Muslims in engaging the West to develop their own societies, he noted.
But no matter how pessimistic the landscape seems, people must ensure that these events do not end in the proverbial clash of civilisations, he said.
"The world is in dire need of forums which facilitate genuine dialogue in a shrinking world," he said.
Also needed are religious leaders who have carefully studied religious texts. They have to re-establish their authority in a world where a small but highly visible group of religious extremists are creating havoc.
"It is very important to note that none of these extremists has been educated in Islam in genuine centres of Islamic learning," he said, concluding that the most powerful weapon against extremism is correct education.
Former Anglican bishop of Singapore John Chew played a significant role in arranging for Sheikh Gomaa's visit. The original plan was to invite a speaker from the West but Dr Chew persuaded the organisers to invite someone from the Middle East.
"There is nothing wrong with inviting someone from the West but many of them don't have the traction and the ability to speak with such confidence. What he said would have put him at risk in some places in the world," said Dr Chew.
"His speech will have a lot of meaning for Muslims and it will also make the Christians learn to listen."
PEOPLE living in multi-religious societies must all be considered as equal citizens and given the legal right to hold diverse ethical and religious views, said the Anglican Archbishop of Egypt, Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis, yesterday.
The seminar inaugurated the Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies Programme (SRP).
Egypt's former grand mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa says the Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram ought to be called "book haram" for being anti-education.
People in multi-religious societies 'must be equal'
Egypt's Anglican Archbishop urges legal right to hold diverse opinions
By M. Nirmala, The Straits Times, 11 Jun 2014
Egypt's Anglican Archbishop urges legal right to hold diverse opinions
By M. Nirmala, The Straits Times, 11 Jun 2014
Only then can the cultural foundations be built for strong inter- religious ties, he said at the end of a two-day seminar on inter-religious relations in plural societies.
He warned that there could be a tendency for different ethnic and religious groups simply to tolerate the presence of each other but not to engage and work together for the common good of society. "In such cases, tolerance replaces both harmony and celebrating diversity," he told his audience of 450 at the Marina Mandarin Singapore.
Located at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), the new programme will study how religious communities develop their teachings in multi-religious societies.
Archbishop Mouneer, 64, who looks after the Anglicans in Egypt, North Africa, Jerusalem and the Middle East, gave two examples of inter-religious work in Egypt.
One is the partnership between the Anglican Church and the Misr el Kheir Foundation, set up in 2007 by the former Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheik Ali Gomaa.
The foundation provides education, health services and programmes to promote the arts to people of any faith.
Although an Islamic body, the foundation works with the Harpur Memorial Hospital, set up by the Anglican Church in 1910, to provide free services such as paediatrics, gynaecology and surgery.
The second project, the Arkan cultural centre in Alexandria set up by the Anglican Church, offers a place for artistically talented Muslim and non-Muslim youth to study acting, photography or calligraphy.
Said the Archbishop: "As the lives of youth from many different backgrounds intersect, we see bridges of peace and friendship gradually replace walls of intolerance and fear."
The Archbishop and Sheikh Gomaa, who also spoke at the seminar on Monday, have agreed to join a new SRP international advisory panel.
The invitation to the two leaders to speak at the seminar and join the panel is part of ongoing efforts by the RSIS think-tank to support renowned religious scholars who can counter the narratives of extremists, said Mr Mohammad Alami Musa, who heads the SRP.
Speakers from the Buddhist and Taoist faiths yesterday highlighted the need for people of different faiths to do more to learn about the religious beliefs of others.
Master Chung Kwang Tong, secretary-general of the Taoist Federation Youth Group, said one can rise above the average person if one can embrace and accept the beliefs of others.
"I understand Taoism better when I learn from other religious teachings," he said.
Buddhist leader Venerable Chuan Guan said Buddhism does not subscribe to the belief that there is a Creator.
"But we are pretty okay with people who have this belief," he said.
Responding to the speakers' views, Mr Ding Shi Ren, 47, a Muslim academic from China, said: "What the speakers have highlighted is easy to say but difficult to practise.
"But the seeds need to be planted and we must give them time to grow."
Different faiths, but same belief
Religious harmony is the goal for Egypt's ex-grand mufti and Anglican archbishop
By M. Nirmala, The Sunday Times, 15 Jun 2014
Religious harmony is the goal for Egypt's ex-grand mufti and Anglican archbishop
By M. Nirmala, The Sunday Times, 15 Jun 2014
Media reports out of Egypt present a bleak picture of a nation in crisis on many fronts, but former Grand Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Ali Gomaa and Anglican Archbishop of Egypt Mouneer Hanna Anis dust aside that grim image.
Instead they describe how they walk the talk of religious harmony, guided by faith and a belief in the power of dialogue and bridge-building between Muslims and Christians in their country.
At their first meeting in 2003, when the Muslim leader was appointed grand mufti, the two men sensed that they were both open-minded and ready to cooperate with others in order to push the message of peace in Egypt and the rest of the world.
They set about to do exactly that.
Last year, Sheikh Gomaa, 62, broke fast and led Muslim prayers during the month of Ramadan at Cairo's Anglican All Saints' Cathedral.
Archbishop Mouneer, 64, who was present at the service, has since 2007 worked with Sheikh Gomaa's charity foundation Misr El Kheir which aims to advance education and eradicate poverty.
A health-care programme held in mosques sees doctors from an Anglican hospital - Harpur Memorial Hospital - volunteering their expertise in surgery, paediatrics and ophthalmology to this Muslim-Christian project.
The archbishop explains that an ideal pluralistic society is one where influences are drawn from many different sources, "like a field of wild flowers full of colours and smells".
"To create strong and positive inter-relations in a plural society, citizens must be encouraged to work together to enhance national unity," he says.
Sheikh Gomaa, a well-known advocate of religious moderation, was Egypt's grand mufti between 2003 and last year, making him the official interpreter of Islamic law based on the Quran and teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
Archbishop Mouneer is leader of the Anglican community in Egypt, the Middle East, North Africa and Jerusalem.
The Sunday Times caught up with the two men during their six-day visit to Singapore, which included a meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long, delivery of keynote speeches at the launch of a new programme on inter-religious studies and meetings with the leaders of different faiths.
Their mutual respect was palpable as they constantly referred to each other as "brothers".They stressed that while religious extremism had indeed divided communities, religion had also brought people of different faiths together.
For over a decade they have stood by each other's side delivering their powerful message of how men from different faiths can work together on projects to benefit people, regardless of their religious affiliations.
When asked how religious harmony could be promoted in Egypt, which had been affected by unrest stirred by the Muslim Brotherhood - now an outlawed terrorist organisation - Sheikh Gomaa retorts swiftly in Arabic: "Our Egyptian society is not broken. We have been together as a society for thousands of years and our genes are compatible.
"Whatever happens in our society happens as a crisis and does not come out from the roots of our deeply united society. Even if the mafia terrorise our people, they will not be able to destroy our society."
He adds that he and other religious leaders are working on problems that have erupted by focusing on education and relying on laws to punish wrongdoers.
Archbishop Mouneer discloses that the threat to social unity in Egypt came in the 1970s when the ideology of the ultra-conservative Wahhabi branch of Islam seeped into Egypt from the Middle East. Its teachings have fuelled the ideology of Islamic extremists and terrorists around the world.
But despite its entry into Egypt, many Muslims have disobeyed the decrees issued by its extremist clerics, he says.
He recounts an event two years ago when ordinary Muslims defied a decree from a cleric not to greet Christians at Christmas and Easter.
"Our Muslim brothers and sisters came into our churches and attended service on Christmas and Easter," he recalled.
"When another decree was given to attack churches, Muslims formed a human shield around our churches to protect us. It was a beautiful spirit that touched our hearts.
"In Egypt, we have lived for centuries together and we will never allow anyone to break this unity."
Both religious leaders believe that when a crisis occurs, common ground must be identified for the healing process to begin.
Courageous leaders must also step forward and lead by example.
The archbishop cites a period of bad blood and ugly attacks between Anglicans and Catholics in Liverpool, England, in the 1970s.
It took the leaders of the two churches to bring about change, he said. They chose to make a very public statement by being at each other's side at all times - they walked, prayed and ate together. When their faithful saw their acts of unity, the fighting died out.
"We need brave people who are ready to engage with others who are different from them," says Archbishop Mouneer.
Sheikh Gomaa and Archbishop Mouneer believe that their efforts at demonstrating fellowship and brotherhood are worth pursuing even if there are those who would prefer them to stop.
Asked if they ever worry about being targeted by religious extremists, Sheikh Gomaa throws back his head and laughs.
"We are not afraid of what man does because our lives are not in their hands," he says. "Whatever happens will happen as it has been written. But you need to be trained for many years to have this belief and it is not easy to do this work."
Archbishop Mouneer says he believes God will protect him and even if tragedy strikes, it is not the end.
He says: "I look for eternal life. So if it ended today or in a month or a year, it doesn't matter. I'm not afraid."
Long history of unity
"Our Egyptian society is not broken. We have been together as a society for thousands of years and our genes are compatible. Whatever happens in our society happens as a crisis and does not come out from the roots of our deeply united society. Even if the mafia terrorise our people, they will not be able to destroy our society."
FORMER GRAND MUFTI OF EGYPT SHEIKH ALI GOMAA, when asked how religious harmony could be promoted in Egypt, which has been affected by unrest stirred by the Muslim Brotherhood, now an outlawed terrorist organisation
FORMER GRAND MUFTI OF EGYPT SHEIKH ALI GOMAA, when asked how religious harmony could be promoted in Egypt, which has been affected by unrest stirred by the Muslim Brotherhood, now an outlawed terrorist organisation
RELIGION WITHOUT BARRIERS
Allahu Akbar ("God is Great")
Living in Cairo, Egypt's Anglican Archbishop Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis hears the Muslim call to prayer - "Allahu Akbar" - five times daily.
And every time he hears it, he says, he is reminded of this: "God is greater than anyone else.''
He adds: "This is indeed the core of our faiths.''
Accepting this theological principle humbles people as they engage with those of other faiths, he says.
Equals in the eyes of God Islam is not a religion that seeks to erect barriers between Muslims and non-Muslims, says the former Grand Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Dr Ali Gomaa.
Quoting from the Quran, he says: "There is no compulsion in religion." And also: "Whosoever wants, let them believe; and whosoever wants, let them disbelieve."
He adds: "We are proud of our Islamic civilisation, but we do not reject other people."
ISLAM IS NOT AGAINST EDUCATING WOMEN
One of the foremost Islamic scholars in the world rattles off examples of educated Muslim women who have been religious teachers and teachers of men.
He points out that even during Prophet Muhammad's time, Muslim women attained very high levels in education.
Many women also educated male Muslim scholars. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, a leading Muslim scholar in the mediaeval era, was educated by 52 female Muslim teachers, says Sheikh Gomaa. And Ibn Hajar's student Al-Sakhawi was taught by 50 female religious teachers.
Sheikh Gomaa says that while he did not have a female Muslim teacher, his male teachers had been taught by a woman from India, Waliyyatullah Dahlawiyah.
"So where did the Boko Haram or the Taleban get their ideology that women are not allowed to study?" he asks.
Boko Haram promotes a version of Islam which forbids Muslims to participate in political or social activities associated with Western society. It also forbids people to vote in elections, wear shirts and trousers or receive a secular education.
In March and April, Boko Haram militants attacked two boarding schools in Nigeria and abducted more than 200 schoolgirls, who have yet to be found.
Says Sheikh Gomaa: "The Boko Haram are not just stopping women from learning. They are stopping knowledge from reaching both men and women."
The militants are burning schools and books, including texts on science and mathematics.
"The Boko Haram say books came from the West and therefore are haram or forbidden," he says. "Islam is a religion that advocates that women have to be educated so that mankind can be educated."
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