Minister Says- Education can Curb Extremism and Promote Peace

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Educating the young about qualities - resistance, love, congruity and peacefulness - can help advance harmony and avoid radicalism, Sheik Nahyan receptacle Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, told religious pioneers at an interfaith meeting in Abu Dhabi.

In his keynote discourse at the religious meeting on 'Interfaith Tolerance Education to Combat Extremism' on Sunday, Sheik Nahyan said that resistance, harmony, collaboration, common admiration and quiet conjunction are vital qualities to the lives of individuals and to the general public today.

"These values are also at the core of the UAE's vision for its present and future. The government has worked relentlessly to promote tolerance in order to achieve peace globally," he said.

"I have confidence that education can play a big role in helping the Western societies to appreciate the rich and diverse world of Islam."

The minister said that education is key to providing mutual respect, greater understanding and to help people know each other. "We need to embrace our differences and diversity. Religion shouldn't be used to engage in wars or incite violence. As we look to religious tolerance, let's work together as individuals to promote peace," Sheikh Nahyan told the various religious leaders gathering for two-day conference.

"Let us focus on issues that bring us together than those that divide us. We should use our religious differences to be a common ground for problem solving and promoting peace but not divisionism and hatred."

Sheikh Abdullah Al Bayyah, leader of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies and director of Emirates Fatwa Council, said instilling resilience among individuals is a troublesome yet essential incentive for a quiet world. "Moral upbringing remains necessary in education. Children's character and behaviour should be given top priority through teaching youngsters the values of peace, love for each other, respect for everyone and tolerance," he said.

"Religion serves as a powerful source of peace and we should make use of our religions to promote love and peace among the believers and reject extremism ideas."

Sheikh Al Bayyah said bestowing a counter description towards radicalism and extremism ideas through religious teachings is very important. "Islam preaches peace, tolerance and peaceful co-existence and this is why the UAE is working relentlessly for dialogue to promote togetherness and ensure peace in the world over," he added.

This news was previously published on: www.khaleejtimes.com