Nairobi, Kenya: Muslims believe in the unity of the faith in grappling with modern day challenges facing humanity, Muslim leaders said Thursday morning during Pope Francis' inter-religious meeting.
President of the National Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Abdulghafur H. S. El –Busaidy said Islam has continued to champion interfaith dialogue in establishing a common ground for peaceful coexistence and principled dialogue on matters of mutual concern.
Prof Busaidy expressed his deep gratitude for the meeting, saying as people of one God, they must strive to serve humanity.
"As People of one God and of this world, we must stand up and in unison, clasp hands together in all the things that are essential for our collective progress as one humanity, one world irrespective of location, culture, language, race, ethnicity, status, politics and etcetera," he said during the meeting held in Lavington.
He said the world was at a crossroads as "power is increasingly assuming centrality in the society".
The Muslim cleric said as religious leaders, they had a duty to promote justice, rightfulness, love, truthfulness, and hopefulness.’
He continued: "At the same time, we must say no to impunity, injustice, hatred, greed, malice, deceitfulness, blackmail, treachery, deaths and destruction."
Busaidy warned of "tragedy of very vast proportion for the good people of the world" should they stand aloof and watch the world "hurtle down to oblivion".
He reminded faithful that Islamic spirit, Assallaaam Allaykum, means "peace be upon you".
The leaders said Muslims constitute about 30 per cent of the country's total population and forms part of the World strive to respond to social concerns.
"SUPKEM owns and runs schools, Mosques, madrasas and other property. It has a competent management board headed by renowned and highly qualified persons and democratically elected national officials," he said.
He expressed deep concerns over what he termed as "reckless wars mired in greed, malice, treachery, self-centeredness, blackmail and we are increasingly treated to the very theatre of the most absurd".
He said the world was caught in "the mire of politics without principle, business without morality, wealth without work, education without character, science without humanity, enjoyment without conscience, religion without spirituality and professionalism without professional responsibility in which case people are preoccupied with making money even at the very peril of others", adding that the world must not continue in the unfortunate direction.
He noted that religious tolerance would mark the first and major step in managing diversity.
The leader informed the Pontiff that it had joined hands with other faith communities like the Catholic Church and other Christian denomination to establish an Environmental interfaith network to foster peace, cohesion and coexistence through environmental stewardship.
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