King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, will patronize the three-day Inter-faith Dialogue Conference here on Wednesday. Hundreds of Muslim scholars and intellectuals from all over the world are taking part in the conference. The gathering comes in response to King Abdullah's call for a meeting of elite Muslim figures to discuss the ways of dialogue with other faiths in the light of the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah. Islamic societies and organizations believe that the conference will contribute to promote understanding between Muslims and people from other monotheistic faiths. Senior scholars have expressed optimism that the conference would come up with suggestions and ideas to present the true image of Islam. Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulmohsen Al-Turki, Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), said the conference would discuss the basis for dialogue with other faiths in the light of the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah. “The meeting will benefit from previous dialogue experiences in various Islamic states,” he added. He expressed the hope that the conference would succeed in reaching its objectives. He also called on Muslim scholars and thinkers to give their ideas to ensure fruitful discussions at the dialogue conference. The conference will focus on four main topics; the basis of dialogue in accordance with Qur'an and Sunnah, the principles of dialogue, parties involved in dialogue as well as areas of dialogue. The first session, which will present a number of research papers on the concept of dialogue and its objectives in the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah and experiences of cultural dialogue throughout history, will be presided over by Dr. Saleh Bin Humaid, Chairman of the Shoura Council. The second session will be chaired by Sheikh Mohammad Ali Taskheery, Secretary General of the Center for Reconciliation of Islamic Schools of Thought who will highlight the man's common values. “The importance of coordination among Islamic organizations in holding dialogue with other faiths” will be the title of the third session which will be chaired by Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia. Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, Secretary General of the International Islamic Council for Da'wa and Relief, will present a paper at this session. Dr. Mohammad Al-Sammak, Secretary General of the Islamic Spiritual Summit in Lebanon, Badr Al-Qassimi, Deputy Chairman of the Indian Fiqh Council, and Fouzi Al-Zifzaf, former deputy director of Al-Azhar, will speak in this session as well. The fourth session will be presided over by Abdul Rahman Siwar Al-Dahab, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Da'wa Organization. The Clash of Civilizations and World Peace will be the main topic of this session. __
