Abu Dhabi, 25 Aug. 2009 (WAM) - General H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces attended last night a religious lecture held as part of his Ramadan Majlis.
The lecture, entitled "Thoughts on rejecting excommunication", was delivered by the renowned Shi'i scholar Sayyed Ali Al Amin. It was attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, H.E. Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Ghurair, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), H.H. Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Lt. General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Brigadier Dr Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Deputy Inspector General at the Interior Ministry, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, H.E. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works, Sheikh Mohammed bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, H.E. Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health, H.E. Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education, members of the FNC, scholars and senior officials. In his lecture, Al Amin stressed the need for rapprochement among Muslims, regardless of their different ways of interpretation. "The differences in ways of interpretation led the (Islamic) scholars to call for a dialogue to close the gaps. They always relied on the Holy Quran as a base for their calls."He cited Quarn verses and Hadith of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) that call for the unity of Muslims and rejection of disintegration into small groups. "Takfir (excommunication and accusation of blasphemy) contradicts with the concept of Umma (Islamic nation) unity. It represents a great challenge that plays into shaking harmony among believers," he said. Al Amin urged concerted efforts to dismiss thoughts of Takfir on the basis of Kitab and Sunnah and the consensus of Imams and reformers. "It is not allowed to brand a Muslim as blasphemous unless he accepted things deemed impermissible by Allah the Almighty and the Prophet (PBUH), as permissible," he added.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.
