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KUCHING (Feb 6): Anglican Inter-Faith Commission chairman Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jute recently met Egypt’s Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Prof Dr Ahmed Muhamed Ahmed At-Tayyeb, in Cairo to promote interfaith understanding and strengthen ties between different religious communities.
The courtesy visit on Wednesday (Feb 5) provided an opportunity for the two prominent religious leaders to exchange thoughts on fostering harmony and mutual respect.
Danald, who is also the Bishop of the Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam, described the meeting as a humbling experience. He expressed his gratitude for the Grand Imam’s openness and wisdom in their discussion.
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“His Eminence is considered by many Muslims as the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought and jurisprudence. I am deeply moved by his commitment to fostering understanding and strengthening relations between people of different faiths,” said Danald.
He added that their shared mission is to promote peace and justice for all, a commitment that aligns with his role as chairman of the worldwide Anglican Inter-Faith Commission.
During the discussion, the Grand Imam highlighted two key points: the importance of keeping religion free from political manipulation and the right of every individual to practise their faith freely.
“In the Malaysian context, His Eminence also mentioned that Christians in Egypt and other Arab countries are free to use the word ‘Allah’. He opined that there should be no restriction on the use of the word in Malaysia,” said Danald.
Danald was accompanied by Archbishop Emeritus of the Anglican Province of Alexandria, Most Reverend Dr Mouneer Anis, during the visit. This meeting marks another milestone in the ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and understanding between different religious communities.