St. Francis was among the first who called for peace and dialogue, and cast off violence and wars. And for our part, as Muslims, we are reminded of his visit to the middle east during the crusader wars, and of his condemnation of the European military actions against the Muslim nations, when he called them irrelevant actions, contrary to Christ’s message of peace. It was not such an easy move during that period when of fundamentalism, grudge and enmity were so high among the Crusaders. Therefore, St. Francis was badly treated and molested on account of his noble attempts.

However, the saint paid a special visit to the Ayyubi Sultan Al Kamel, in Damietta who welcomed him and gathered for him a group of Muslim scholars to exchange with them their views and ideas about religious matters. Just as St. Francis was a true beleiver in Christianity, so also was Sultan Al Kamel with regard to his Islam. Hence they both agreed to continue the dialogue on the principle of ending violence and bloodshed, and to pursue the dialogue to achieve peace and justice among people. The sultan was also generous to the saint, offering him valuable gifts. The man of God declined, but he was persuaded to take them and distribute them among the poor Churches.  Some historic stories state that the Sultan gave the saint permission to visit Jerusalem and assigned Muslim guards under the saint’s command.

Our visit today, as a big delegation, representing the world’s religions certainly conveys respect and appreciation for the memory of this man, and for his principles. It also approves our determination to carry on the message it conveys.  For sure, the best contribution towards this memory is to implement his peaceful principles in such a way at to make humans happy and ensure their future against wars and bloodshed.

This important chapter of St. Francis ‘s life reminds us of another chapter of more mightiness and holiness, in which prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) met with a delegation of Christians in Madenah Munawwara.  Their dialogue, which took place for three days at the prophet’s mosque , was focused on religious affairs and neither of the two sides tried to change the other’s religion, based on the firm Islamic principle which comes from the Holy Qur’an “There shall be no coercion in matters of Faith”(2/ 256).

Historic reports said that when Christian delegation wanted to hold prayers, the Prophet asked them to perform them in his mosque .When the dialogue ended and the Christians delegation asked to leave to return to their home, they asked theprophet to send with them a Muslim judge to help them in their judicial problems .They ended their talk by saying “We find you , ‘the Muslims’ , a nation of trust and faith”.  The prophet sent with them the judge Abu Obeida Amer Bin Al Jarah, one of the prophet’s distinguished and close followers.

These two historic chapters reveal many aspects of which we are desperately in need at our present time. First, there is no alternative but to continue the dialogue among all the civilizations on the earth in order to avert more devastating wars which could destroy humanity. Secondly, the historic chapters made clear the real standing of Islam and its way in solving problems in a peaceful manner as far as possible. It does not show Islam’s techniques or political manners, but its genuine desire for peace and justice. Islam extends its relations with other heavenly religions and their believers on the basis of recognition and respect for holy books and prophets. The Holy Qur’an says clearly “Say :we believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from the high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Ibrahim (Abraham)and Ismail (ishmael) and Isaac and Yacoub( Jacob), and Al- Asbat (the tribes) , and that which has been vouchsafed to all the other prophets by their God , we make no distinction between any of them. And it is unto Him “God’ that we surrender ourselves”(2/136).

This spirit shows the true spirit of Islam towards the believers of other heavenly religions . What we really need at the present time is to bring back the spirit of the meetings of Madinah and Damietta and the base ourselves upon a more certain movement in which all of us take part to build a new international structures based on faith, justice and cooperation with the hope of making people live in peace security.

On behalf of any Muslim brothers , and all the delegates who take part in this meeting, I assure you that we all accept the principle of dialogue among civilizations which extends to our faith and religion.  As Muslims we do not feel any strangeness when we meet our Christian friends and discuss with them our mutual concerns**……”

* Secretary General, International Islamic Council for Da’wa and Relief, Egypt.
** Towards A CULTURE OF Dialogue, On the eve of the third millenium, collaboration between different religions, Inter religious Assembly, Vatican City ,25- 28 October 1999, Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 , Pontifical council for inter religious Dialogue, Vatican City, P55-57.

originally published at http://hiwar-net.usj.edu.lb/chroniques16.htm