by Duncan MacLaren

Over 100 people from the Shia and Catholic communities, together with other guests, attended the Human Fraternity Conference in Glasgow’s City Chambers last month. The event was organised by the Scottish Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interreligious Dialogue and the Ahl Al-Beit Society.

The purpose of the conference was to celebrate Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, the document signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, in Abu Dhabi in 2019. The United Nations celebrates the document on 4th February every year to promote ‘cultural and religious tolerance, understanding and dialogue’.

The Bishops’ Interreligious Committee and the Shia Ahl Al-Beit Society mark the day with an annual conference to publicise the document, encourage people of faith to study its contents and help bring the it alive in the public domain.

The two main speakers in the City Chambers were Sheikh Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali, a distinguished Muslim scholar, academic, philosopher and theologian who has spoken on interfaith issues in many countries over the last 25 years and Bishop Brian McGee, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles and President of the Scottish Bishops’ Committee for Interreligious Dialogue. They both reflected on the document’s challenges and possibilities for the contemporary world.

Common humanity

Sheikh Shomali reminded us that, whether we are Muslim or Christian, we face very similar challenges. He reminded us that the document had been well received around the world and mentioned that Pope Francis was inspired to write his own encyclical (Fratelli Tutti) on universal fraternity.

The Sheikh talked about our common humanity under God. Reminding ourselves of our divine source, we should manifest love in our lives and focus on reconciling people, bringing them together. He cited the Holy Qu’ran that even reconciling two people who were alienated from one another was better than one year of fasting and praying – although they are also necessary in our lives! If we ignore our common humanity, we will often treat people as animals and not as creatures of God.

He cited the Holy Qu’ran that God’s best plan was to create human beings, though he gave us free will. Too often, we misuse our divine creation by shedding blood or creating mischief and that is when we forget that we share a common humanity. Unity does not come through the sword but in manifesting God’s love, mercy and kindness and to work for reconciliation, to bring people together. Sheikh Shomali, who is based in London, ended with a word of admiration for our interfaith efforts in Scotland.

Dr Duncan MacLaren is the representatve of the Archdiocese of Glasgow on the Bishops’ Committee for Interreligious Dialogue.