Sheikh Dr Saleh bin Abdullah bin Hamid, Imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah has urged people to live peacefully stressing on coexistence and harmony. He was speaking at an event organised by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, at the State Mosque, Imam Mohamad bin Abdulwahab mosque in Dafna.
"Coexistence is very important these days. Islam gave special focus on it and was it very clearly featured in social life in holy city of Madina, during Prophet Muhammed's (PBUH) era and also during the times of Rashidun Caliphs (Rightly Guided Caliphs)," he said.
"Islam focuses on coexistence with forgiveness as its basic element. The Madina society during the period of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was like our society where Muslims, Jews and Christians and polytheists among others were living together. Coexistence is living together with different situations and purposes. It does not mean to ignore others but to share livelihood among the people. Coexistence should be come from within so that a positive relation is established among the people of the community," he said at the lecture attended by senior ministry officials and members of the public. The Imam argued in the light of verses of Holy Quran and Prophetic traditions that differences is natural that human purpose is to achieve an integrated society.
"Difference can be dealt through the ideology of openness because narrow minds can not put forward any options. Understanding others does not necessarily mean to be convinced with other's opinions, but respecting other's views."
The existence of sects, schools of thought, people, and tribes is inborn with human nature. Coexistence can be achieved only through principle of brotherhood, self reforms, equality, love, mercy and patience," he stressed.
GCC countries show an ideal example of cooperation and harmony, despite the unrest in the region, according to Dr Hamid. They have stayed together supporting each others security and stability.
At the end of lecture, Imam called upon the Imams of mosques, orators and preachers for practising coexistence and harmony in their life.
"We should coexist as individuals, family, community and country for the interest all else the humanity is set to loose everything," he said at the lecture.
