Teduh Grand Syekh's Message: Religious Differences Are Missions Of Love For Humans

Grand Syekh Al Azhar, Ahmed Al Tayyeb, in the Interfaith and Intercivilization Reception forum in Jakarta, Wednesday (10/7/2024). ANTARA/HO-PBNU

JAKARTA - Grand Syekh Al Azhar, Ahmed Al Tayyeb, said that all kinds of differences, including religious differences, are a mission of affection for fellow humans. "God wants us to have different ethnic groups, races, languages. If you want, Allah will make a human of one type. But Allah does not want that and even makes humans live with different sharia," said Grand Syekh at the Interfaith and Intercivilization Reception forum in Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, July 10. According to him, the existing differences clearly show that different human creation is the basic principle of mutual respect for each other among mankind. Grand Syekh El Tayeb quoted the letter Al-Hujuat verse 13 which means: "O human beings, we have actually created you from a man and a woman. Then, We make you nations and tribes so that you know each other. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious person. Indeed, Allah is the Most Knowing and the Most Careful." Through this verse, Sheikh Al Tayeb revealed that diversity can be created through ta'aruf (introduction). After getting to know each other, humans can live in harmony and tolerate in differences because Islam is a free religion. The freedom referred to in Islamic civilization is that Muslims give freedom for others to embrace their beliefs without any coercion to follow Islam. "Islam views adherents of other religions with a view of affection, not fighting each other or killing each other," said Sheikh El Tayeb. In addition, he said, the fact that Islam is not only a message given to the Prophet Muhammad shows Islam as a blessing of heaven for mankind that invites the sake of God, moral glory, and rejects injustice. Grand Syekh Al-Azhar also said that Muslims need to actively show the world the image of Islam as a religion that is open to dialogue and understanding. According to him, there are many wrong perceptions from several parties who think Muslims are rigid and radical. This perception is motivated by the existence of a gap in dividing ideas between the West and the East where there has been no serious effort to bridge this.

For this reason, Syekh advised that activities that open space for dialogue and understanding continue to be carried out massively. This aims so that the West and East nations can meet in the middle with the view of loving and respecting each other.