Finding Pathways in Amman to Inclusive Dialogue,
Hosted by HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan
By Dr AminehHoti
ED, Centre for Dialogue and Action
Islamabad, Pakistan
When I watch the news and I see our world on fire, with refugee crises, xenophobia, terrorism, war, and extreme poverty tearing lives apart, I worry. I worry about the future. I worry for our children. I also dream. I dream of seeing a better world. A peaceful world. A more harmonious world for us and for our children, built upon a deeper understanding of, and mutual respect for, one another.
To put balm on my wounded hopes, I was honored to be invited by HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal to Jordan’s Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS) in Amman, Jordan for a round table discussion titled, “Religions and the Dignity of Life: Christian and Muslim Viewpoints”. RIIFS is directed by my dear friend, DrMajeda Omer, and is under the patronage of HRH Prince Hassan.
Participants in the dialogue included such senior scholars as Professor HichemGrissa, President of EzZitouna University, Tunis, which was first established in the year 737, making it the oldest university in the Muslim world, and from which great social scientists like Ibn Khaldun emanated. Other Muslim leaders present included His Eminence Sheikh HuseinKavazovic, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Professor Jabber Al Refae, Director of the Center for the Study of the Philosophy of Religion in Baghdad; Professor Mohammad Ali Azar from the University of Tehran, Iran; His Excellency Dr Khalil bin Abdullah from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman Gulf Embassy for Studies and Consultations in Education and Development; Professor Dr Mehmet Aydin, the former Minister of State from Turkey;Dr Youssef Kellam from Morocco, Professor of Comparative Religions at the famous Al Qarawiyyin University in Morocco and Dr Abdul Rahman Al Kilani, Dean of the School of Sharia, at the University of Jordan, amongst distinguished others.
A number of senior Catholic leaders were also invited for the dialogue. These figures included: The Most Reverend Miguel Ayuso, head of Catholic Delegation, who joined us from the Vatican; Monsignor Khaled Akasheh, Bureau Chief for Islam, both from the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; Mons. Mauro Lalli, Apostolic Nunciature, Jordan; Msgr. Bernard Munono from the Vatican to promote Human Development;Dr Paola Bernardini, Professor Department of Philosophy and Global Perspectives, Notre Dame, USA;Dr Youssef Kamal El-Hage, Professor of Physics from Notre Dame University Lebanon; Most Reverend William Shomali, the Latin Patriarchal Vicar from Jordan; Rev. Rif’at Bader Director, Catholic Center for Studies and Media, Amman, Jordan;DrRamezGhali, representative of the Catholic Church in Egypt and lovely MrsAbeerAmmari, a smart Jordanian Christian lawyer who became my very good friend, along with the others.
Over two days of intense meetings in Amman, we talked about the challenges we each face in our own faith communities and discussed the need for working together and for joining efforts for common action for the sustainability of human dignity, mutual respect and citizenship in an interconnected world. Additionally, in light of the ongoing refugee crises as well as those of human trafficking and global warming, we discussed a need for an ethic of reunification of human beings and a strategy to implement such an ethic. We also discussed the need to welcome, protect, promote and integrate. How can we make a recommendation to global leaders to help protect the dignity and lives of children, women and men?
We also discussed the pathways to Rahma (mercy) and how they can help heal families. After all, God is Rehman and Rahim, His Prophets are Rehmat al Alamin – mercy to all of humanity, and He loves those who show mercy to others. How do we then serve and empathize with all of humanity, not just our own kind and our own community causes, at the expense of other human beings and their dignity? How do we cultivate a culture of diversity appreciation, extending dignity, even to the enemy?
From a pragmatic perspective, we also asked ourselves, how do we turn to inclusive policy? To social cohesion? We reflected too on the need to embrace intellectual diversity, as humans will always disagree by nature on various matters, including sacred texts. It was put forward that a principle of our survival is to study the other, as the Qur’an calls on Muslims “to know” the other on the basis of knowledge and compassion. The Qur’an also states that if you want peace, work for universal justice.
Importantly, we also must work to support our young people if we are to foster dialogue and understanding in this world, as the future rests in their hands. With current political leaders leading the world in a direction that confuses and angers young people, we all need to seek out and promote positive role models in order to give young people hope and clear moral leadership.
From within the context of this conference, there are two leaders whom I would point out are leading examples of figures who embody compassion and mercy. One is Pope Francis, who showed great humility when he washed the feet of female Muslim refugees and whose name is inspired by St Francis of Assisi, who walked in the footsteps of Jesus – St Francis is a profoundly caring saint who gave up his wealth and family to love and care for humanity and the earth. The other, HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan, whom I have had the privilege of knowing for the last two decades and who is from the Hashemite family, who trace their descent from the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). HRH Prince Hassan has always boldly encouraged bridge building and deeper understanding between peoples locked in conflict. His work has led to the bridging of many divides. Both believe that we should all stand with the persecuted beyond our own religious affiliations because they are our brothers and sisters in humanity. This, they have said, is our present-day challenge.
I was very moved by an act of compassion and humor displayed by Prince Hassan when at lunch on the final day I was asked to sit between him and the Most Reverend Miguel Ayuso from the Vatican. HRH Prince Hassan whose wife, Princess Sarvat, has Pakistani roots, specially ordered biryani and chicken makhani for me, despite the fresh Jordanian foods available to everyone else. With his warm humor Prince Hassan said to me, “This is specially for my Pakistani in-laws and family,” he laughed hospitably. Later, HRH asked if the Jordanian Pakistani biryani was better than the actual one.
To conclude the conference, an MoU was signed by RIIFS with the Vatican, the EzZaitouna University and with the Centre for Dialogue and Action (CD&A), Pakistan, in order to work towards the Declaration that we need to maximize responsibility towards the new generations and the environment. The Declaration stated: “The young generations need to be educated on the respect of the Creation and the dignity of life…the idea of an ethical code to be taught at schools merits thorough study.” The youth indeed are the next nexus of human security and dignity and this is one area we will all focus on together inshallah.
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