[Anglican Communion News Service] The Rt. Rev. Danald Jute — bishop of Kuching, located in Malaysia and part of the Church of the Province of South East Asia, and chair of the Anglican Interfaith Commission — recently met with Ahmed El-Tayeb, grand imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, in Cairo. The meeting, held at Al-Azhar, reaffirmed the shared commitment of Christian and Muslim leaders to fostering interfaith understanding and cooperation.
Reflecting on the meeting, Jute expressed his gratitude and deep appreciation for the grand imam’s insights. “Such a great honor to be received today by His Eminence, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, whom I first met in 2018,” he shared. “Greatly humbled by His Eminence’s gracious and open sharing during the course of our meeting. I feel especially touched by his thoughts and concerns for the building of better understanding and strengthening of relations between people of different religious affiliations.”
Jute assured the grand imam that Anglicans share in this mission for peace and justice. As chair of the Anglican Interfaith Commission, he reiterated the Anglican Communion’s dedication to fostering harmony and mutual respect among people of all faiths.
During their conversation, the grand imam emphasized two key points: that religion should not be used or manipulated for political gain, and that religious freedom is a fundamental right, noting that all individuals should be free to practice their faith without restriction. In reference to Malaysia, he specifically highlighted that there should be no limitation on the use of the word “Allah” by Christians, pointing out that in Egypt and other Arab nations, Christians freely use the term.
Jute also expressed his gratitude to the Most Rev. Mouneer Anis, archbishop emeritus of the Anglican Province of Alexandria, who accompanied him and assisted with translation.
The meeting in Cairo reflects a growing and deepening commitment to interfaith dialogue, particularly at a time when religious harmony is needed more than ever. Jute’s leadership within the Anglican Interfaith Commission continues to strengthen relationships between Christian and Muslim communities globally.
Concluding his reflections, Jute gave thanks for the opportunity to engage in this significant dialogue. “Once again, thank you, Your Eminence. Looking forward to seeing you again in the not-too-distant future. Glory be to God!”
The importance of interfaith dialogue will continue to be explored later this year through the Interfaith Lambeth Call. This call, adopted at the 2022 Lambeth Conference, underscores the Anglican Communion’s commitment to peace-making, religious freedom and collaboration with people of different faiths for the common good. It encourages Anglican leaders to foster friendships across religious traditions, work together on pressing global challenges, and support those facing religious persecution. The upcoming discussions will further reflect on how Anglicans can live out their mission in diverse and complex interfaith contexts.