23 April
Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Abdel-Latif Derian Sunday discussed the significance of the Al Aqsa mosque and preached interfaith unity between followers of the Abrahamic religions.
“We as Muslims care for Al Aqsa Mosque as we do for the two holy mosques in Mecca and Madina,” Derian Sunday said in a televised statement on the occasion of al Israa’ wal Mi’raj, commemorating Muslim belief that Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven from the site of the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
“There are people who want to take Jerusalem for themselves, expel others and impose a Jewish identity,” Derian said. “We want Jerusalem to remain with its churches and mosques.”
The Arab world needs “a robust settlement that includes knowing others (from other religions) and recognizing their existence,” said Derian, adding that being a Muslim necessitates “a robust commitment with followers of Abrahamic religions (Jews, Christians and Muslims).”
Derian referred to the recent conference that gathered Muslim clerics from Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt at Dar al Fatwa, the seat of the grand Mufti in Beirut.
“We have a mission of spreading peace and dialogue,” to attain peace in the Arab World, Derian concluded.
