'Muslims must exercise tolerance'.

Byline: Samir Salama, Associate Editor

Abu Dhabi: Muslims should exercise tolerance among themselves and with others so that they can be rightful representatives for their religion, a scholar told a Ramadan majlis in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

"The culture of tolerance is an initiative based on dissemination of awareness about the necessity of exercising tolerance with ourselves and with others, and reconciliation with other human beings under the umbrella of mutual respect and mutual interests, while preserving our religious identity and values," Dr Ayedh Al Qarni, a prominent Saudi scholar said.

Al Qarni said scholars should teach Islam's tolerance and respect of life as he was delivering a lecture at the majlis of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Al Qarni said the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is a universal Prophet, just as Islam is a universal religion.

"Our message is universal, so why localise it and restrict its universality and comprehensiveness to our own understanding only? Our message is one of mercy, love, tolerance and peace, so why transform it into a message of violence, rudeness, threat and intimidation?"

Al Qarni criticised many Muslims whose "religious discourse is so exclusive and rejective of others that even in their prayer they sometimes favour themselves against all nations, sects and ideologies.

"We invoke forgiveness from Almighty Allah, yet many of us, unfortunately, do not forgive or exercise tolerance with other people." He slammed scholars who establish themselves as spokespersons of Islam. "We are neither guardians nor spokespersons of Islam. We don't have the last word and our opinions are not holy scriptures so we must respect others' points of view."

He said the Prophet "taught Muslims kindness, justice, mercy, coexistence with others, and Allah created people differently so that we can get to know one another."

"Muslims should show people the world over their tolerance, good manners, attitude of hard work, how they can succeed in these societies, their positive integration while maintaining pride in Islam - so people know how really great this religion is."

By doing this, he said, Muslims will restore the bright image of Islam that has been distorted as a result of its misuse by extremists.

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