The importance of changing mentalities and correcting concepts 

“We should cooperate because the ship is sinking and the house is burning,” said Shaykh Abdullah bin Bayyah, the president of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, in reference to the need for the cooperation of states in the cause for peace, which was the focus of his speech before the General Assembly of the United Nations, held on Tuesday in New York.

Professor Bin Bayyah stressed that “the role of scholars consists of extinguishing the fire within hearts and souls,” adding that “this is the mission of scholars involved with the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies based in Abu Dhabi.” He continued, “The issue of peace has priority over the issue of rights; this is not minimise the importance of justice, rather it is to say that peace offers the opportunity to attain more rights than those granted by war.”

“I agree with Nietzsche, who believes that civilisations get sick and philosophers are its doctors. Our civilisation is ill, and our thinkers and intellectuals must be the doctors.”

In reference to the fallacies and falsehoods held by terrorist organisations about the religion of Islam, Shaykh Bin Bayyah said, “A function of the Muslim scholars since the earliest times has been the preservation of the integrity and purity of sacred texts, along with soundness of interpretation and sincerity in their practise. Of course, the task was fraught with two dangers: the risk of tyranny, and the fanaticism of extremists.”

A call to intensify peace efforts 

“We call upon governments and especially major countries which have a particular responsibility to seek to eliminate deep-seated historical sufferings until sustainable peace is restored.”

In his closing remarks, Shaykh Bin Bayyah called for “making efforts in the search for peace by means of peace and alternatives to war. We invite you to adopt ethical approaches and intellectual programs that will attract young people and present religion not as an enemy, but rather as a way to peace. We call for a dedicated portion of defence budgets to be devoted to peace programs.” 

Reporting by: 24.ae | ???? 24 ??????????