Dr Ibrahim Negm
Senior advisor to the Grand Mufti of Egypt
We live in a paradoxical era: while digital tools have bridged our geographical distances, psychological and ideological chasms have only widened. The hopeful vision of a “Global Village” has deteriorated into an arena of relentless global conflict.
This confusing reality is confirmed by the United Nations and international experts. Independent UN experts have recently declared that “acts of harassment, intimidation, violence, and incitement based on religion or belief have risen to staggering levels worldwide.” This alarming escalation of Islamophobia and anti-religious sentiment creates a climate of tension in our streets, schools, and institutions, eroding trust between communities. The image of children raised to reject “the Other” now haunts our collective conscience. As the Secretary General of Amnesty International recently noted, a new ignorance is growing in the West, manifested in discriminatory policies and laws.
Against this backdrop of polarization, let us pose a central question: How can religion, often burdened with the blame for igniting wars, become our path to peace?
We cannot bury our heads in the sand or ignore history stained by the exploitation of faith. However, it is equally unacceptable to dismiss the spiritual and moral potential of authentic religion. History records that extremists have hijacked religious texts, twisting them into a “confrontational theology” to justify violence. But this abuse does not negate the validity of religion itself.
When we read scripture through the lens of civilizational objectives (Maqasid), we find a vast reservoir of unifying values: a powerful internal conscience and a human brotherhood that transcends political sovereignty. Secular laws may impose a “cold peace” through deterrence, but religion can craft a “warm peace” through the conviction that our origin is one, regardless of our diverse races.
To address this challenge, we must adopt a three-dimensional approach:
1. Scriptural Rooting (The Text): We must return to the primary sources—the Quran and Sunnah—to neutralize decontextualized readings of “sword verses” and highlight texts that champion coexistence. Our approach is comprehensive, affirming that peace and justice are the default state of relations with the Other.
2. Rational Theorizing (The Intellect): We draw upon the Islamic theological heritage which distinguishes between absolute “Truths” and human interactions, breaking the binary of inevitable conflict. We also engage with modern concepts of pluralism and human rights.
3. Practical Application (The Reality): We must move from static “jurisprudence of papers” to dynamic “jurisprudence of reality.” This means translating values into educational curricula, public policies, and legislation that protect diversity.
This vision is an open invitation to reread our heritage with civilizational responsibility. We must dismantle the artificial conflict between “loyalty to faith” and “loyalty to humanity.” The true Muslim is not isolated, but one who benefits all people, as the Prophetic tradition teaches: “All creation are the dependents of God, and the most beloved to Him is the one most beneficial to His dependents.”
Let us turn current tensions into an opportunity for greater breadth of spirit, building together a new global compact for brotherhood and justice.
