Peaceful Interfaith Dialogue

THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING AN OPEN MIND their mind, even if this might require a change in your argument. This is the right way to have a successful dialogue. THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING AN OPEN MIND It is reported that the Prophet of Islam once remarked: “Wisdom is the lost property of a believer. Wherever he finds it, he should take it (for it belongs to him).” (Sunan alTirmidhi, Hadith No. 2687) This report tells us the way of a true devotee of God. Such a person is free of all kinds of prejudices. A believer does not discriminate between one person and another. He sees all individuals as God’s creatures, as members of God’s family. Hence, he accepts wisdom wherever he finds it. His thinking is universal, not narrow. He can learn valuable lessons from everything and everyone, including from people of other faiths. In this world, success is related to wisdom. The universal thinking of a God-oriented person leads him to continue to increase his intellectual treasures by adding new things to them. His life never stagnates. At every juncture, he finds something positive by which he may continue his onward journey in life. He keeps all the windows of his mind open. Hence, it becomes possible for him to keep growing in wisdom. Various religious traditions and other belief systems are a great source of wisdom. However, no matter what religion