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The Fourteenth General Conference of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought (Love in the Holy Qur’an)
In the Name of God, Upon invitation from the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, its Academy held its 14th General Conference on “Love in the Holy Quran”. The participants presented 34 papers on the concept of love in the Holy Quran and the importance of highlighting it from religious, cultural and behavioral perspective, since love is the foundation for the relationships between the Creator and His creatures and among people themselves regardless of creed, race and culture. Love is also a practical translation of the human dignity, which Allah endowed the sons of Adam with. The scholars participating in the conference agreed that love in the Noble Quran is the opposite of extremism, fanaticism and hatred; love is but another foundation for accepting and co-existing with the different other in an atmosphere of amity and respect. The scholars addressed the causes underpinning extremism and fanaticism, including occupation, exploitation, tyranny and corruption; they also tackled endeavors to monopolize faith and reject differences, which are but signs from God reflecting His Grandeur. The meeting looked into how to confront and address such causes, particularly that they have become material adversely used in the campaign intended to abusing Islam, distorting its image, dealing false accusations against it and issuing prejudgemental condemnations. Scholars in this conference have found that misunderstanding of Islam by non-Muslims and misinterpretation by some Muslims of certain teachings of Islam contribute to such distortion. Hence, the noble religious values Islam advocates, need to be highlighted, particularly the value of love - being the most noble on which faith is based. The Participants stressed the need to call for a serious dialog among civilizations, cultures and faith based on the reciprocal love the Noble Quran emphasize, given the respect it shows for diversity, plurality and difference among people. The meeting pinpointed that the conflicts, seditions and turmoil the world is experiencing today can be attributed to the absence of the value of love in the relationship with God Almighty and in that among people themselves. The Conference called for upholding the principles of piety, justice, and righteousness. It also warned against being perverse, oppression, aggression, corruption, hatred, violence, extremism and fanaticism. Furthermore, the Conference called for addressing the underlying cause of the latter characteristics because they contradict the peace, moderateness, tolerance, mercy and love that Islam advocates. |