THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN

been open to learning from others. Books and experiences have been my primary sources of knowledge. Follow One and Respect All Religion is a matter of conviction. When I say I believe in a particular religion, I mean it with absolute certainty. Without this conviction, I can’t have faith. If religion fails to provide conviction, it loses its purpose. The fundamental goal of religion is to instil conviction in the purpose of life and the nature of existence. I have great conviction in Islam; it’s become my faith. I believe in it with unwavering conviction. I have no doubts about it. However, this belief has never engendered hatred in me. I love every human being. This is a fact. Anyone who knows me can attest to my lack of hatred. I respect every religion from the depths of my heart. I can say that this is possible for every human being. Humans have an enormous capacity, and they are able to live with contradictions. It is quite possible for the human mind to hold both beliefs simultaneously. An American writer, Walt Whitman (1819-1892), famously said, “I am large enough to contain all these contradictions.” Therefore, if you believe that one religion is the absolute truth, you should respect other religions. Our minds can hold both concepts. It’s not just lip service; it’s a genuine belief. Interfaith dialogue is about religious learning. Establishing harmony is a different matter. The best formula for it is given by a reformer: peaceful coexistence. The UN has already adopted this formula, and it applies to religious groups as well. In terms of social harmony, we must adopt the principle of coexistence. In terms of interfaith dialogue, we must take it as Interaction, dialogue, and thought exchange are crucial, but they should not be used to establish superiority over others. Instead, they should be tools for learning, which has no end. The universe of facts is limitless, and our learning process is an eternal one.