WORLD ISLAMIC CALL SOCIETY - VATICAN DIALOGUE
PRESS COMMUNIQUE
Continuing collaboration existing between them, the World Islamic Call Society (Tripoli, Libya) and the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (Vatican City) organized jointly a colloquium on Islamic Da’wah (Call to Islam) and Christian Mission in the Next Century. The encounter took place in Rome, from the 27th. to 30th. April 1997. Ten representatives from each side took part. A public session was held at the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (P.I.S.A.I) on Tuesday, April 29, giving an opportunity to a wider public to hear a brief report about the discussions and to participate in the dialogue.
The Concept of Da’wah and Mission, The Practice of Da’wah and Mission in The Last Century and The Perspectives of Da’wah and Mission in the Next Century were the topics presented by Muslim and Christian scholars and then discussed by the participants.
The presentation of the themes and the subsequent sharing showed once more similarities and differences with regard to a central question in both religions. Mission, as defined by Christians, is the activity of the Church to witness and to announce to all peoples the good news of salvation of God realized in His Son Jesus Christ (PBUH). Da’wah, as defined by Muslims, is the invitation to mankind to the path of Allah the One and Almighty God, the Creator of the universe as preached by all prophets and revealed to the seal of prophets, Muhammad (PBUH).
The encounter also gave the opportunity for evaluation and self-criticism regarding the manner in which Christians and Muslims respectively have practiced Da'wah and Mission.
Looking forward to the future, the participants emphasized that in continuing to live, witness and share their faith, care must be taken to respect human dignity. This entails respect for the religion of the other when speaking and writing about it. It also means freedom of conscience enshrined in the right to religious liberty. Christianity and Islam agree that no compulsion should be used on persons or societies in the name of religion. Nor should advantage be taken of occasions of economic deprivation to exercise undue influence. On the contrary, injustice and exploitation should be fought by Muslims and Christians together and by all people of good will. Rather than carrying out Da’wah and Mission in the next century in a spirit of competition - as sometimes happened in the past - they should practice it in a spirit of collaboration, and as a service to humankind.
The Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue and the World Islamic Call Society also agreed to continue to collaborate and to invite others to join them in promoting better understanding between Christians and Muslims for the good of all.
Rome 30th. April 1997 Activities