Perhaps Allah will put, between you and those to whom you have been enemies among them, affection. And Allah is competent, and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

(Qur’an, 60:7)

And We have revealed to you, (O Muhammad), the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation (united in religion), but (He intended) to test you in what He has given you; so race to (all that is) good. To Allah is your return all together and He will (then) inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.

(Qur’an, 5:48)

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted..

(Qur’an, 49:13)

 You shall certainly find the Jews and those who associate partners with Allah the most vehement of the people in enmity against those who believe, and you shall certainly find those who say, `We are Christians,’ the nearest in friendship towards those who believe. That is so because there are savants and monks amongst them and because they are not haughty.

 (Qur’an, 5:82)

The Bible on Peace, Tolerance and Dialogue

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

(Mathew 5:9)

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

(Matthew 7:1)

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

(Matthew 7:12)

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous…

(1 Peter 3:8-11)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

(1 Peter 3:15)

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

(Proverb 16:24)

Let all that you do be done in love.

 (1Corrintian. 16:14)

What Others say on Peace, Tolerance and Dialogue

As a people representing people of faith in God from Islamic perspective, one thing we believe is that God will protect the community that stands for justice even if they are not Muslims and God will not protect the community that goes contrary to justice even if they call themselves Muslims.

God is not a religious bigot. He is not a male chauvinist. He is not ethno-centric. God is not the oppressor of anyone. God is with those who care, those who want for others those things they want for themselves.

One tendency for people who claim to follow a religion is to slide into the position of believing that they are better than the others. We over-estimate our virtues and under-estimate the goodness in others.

The tendency is for us to be spiritually arrogant and forget that others are people like us. And if you are in other person’s position, you probably will be like someone else.

We (Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs), condemn the murder and the murderers of all Christians; we condemn the murder and the murderers of all Muslims; not because they are Christians or Muslims but because they are all human being-creatures of God.

There is no compulsion in religion. We all own Nigeria. We all belong here. And we all have rights to self-determination. We should respect that right and do onto others what we will do onto ourselves.

Every ethnic group is an oppressed minority somewhere. Every majority or settlers is an indigene somewhere. In one way or the other, we are all settlers.

We just don’t remember where we came from and why we came. But ultimately, we are all visitors to this planet; from God we came and to Him we will return.

We are against the exploitation of religion and religious sentiments; we come against stereotyping, stigmatizing and dehumanization of each other. We come against the use of religion as a political decoy and distraction from the critical things that bedevil our nation.

Muhammad Nurudeen Lemu,  Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) delegate at the 2014 national conference organised by the Federal Government of Nigeria (PM news)

In essence, religions all preach one truth: Love

Romano Battaglia, Sabbia, 2007

Peace, harmony and brotherhood are the marks of humanity. They are the heart of every religion. They are the ultimate weapons against all powerful weapons.

Amit Ray

In every relationship, love and harmony will flourish if we learn to genuinely listen to one another.

Anonymous

Love and harmony prevail when we chose kindness, forgiveness and empathy over anger and resentment.

Anonymous

Every thought that we put into the world affects it. Think love, think peace, think harmony.

Daily Inspirational Quote

Peace means the presence of harmony, love, satisfaction and oneness. Peace means a flood of love in the World Family.

Sri Chinmoy

If you want peace and harmony in the World, you must have peace and harmony in your hearts and minds.

Sri Nisarcadatta Maharaj

The way to peace, harmony and balance for the Planet is through the loving kindness of each individual heart.

Laurence Overmire

Peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of harmony and love.

Debasish Mridha

I am a Palestinian Christian. We also say: “Allahu Akbar” which normally hear from a Muslim, as well as: “Inshaa Allah”, “Ma Shaa Allah” and “Alhamdulillah”… This is simply because Arabic is our language, and Arabic word for “God” is “Allah” whether you are a Christian or a Muslim.

Theodosius Atallah Hanna, Archbishop of Sebastian from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

There will be no peace among the nations without peace among the religions and no peace among the religions without dialogue.

Fr. Hans Kung, Swiss Catholic priest, theologian, and author.

As believers we all have an opportunity and moral obligation to recognise our spiritual common ground; to rise above our differences; to combat prejudice and intolerance.

Queen Noor of Jordan

Interfaith dialogue is about problem-solving, mutual understanding, and encouraging the acquisition of knowledge of other people’s faith and creed. It is also about appreciating areas of similarity, understanding where there are differences, and how to live in harmony in spite of such differences. It unlocks religious dogmatism and enhances pragmatism. 

Abdulkarim Abdulmalik
Chairman, Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners

True Faith in Christ: Beyond Church Attendance and Speaking in Tongues

When we think of a devout Christian, it’s easy to picture someone who regularly attends church, prays, and perhaps even speaks in tongues. These outward signs of faith are often associated with a deep connection to God. However, while these practices can be important aspects of a believer’s life, they do not, by themselves, guarantee salvation. The Bible teaches that the true test of faith in Christ lies in one’s attitude and character—the inward transformation that reflects the love and teachings of Jesus.

The Importance of Attending Church and Spiritual Gifts

Church attendance and spiritual gifts, like speaking in tongues, play significant roles in the Christian journey. Gathering with other believers for worship, teaching, and fellowship strengthens the community of faith. The church is a place where believers are encouraged, challenged, and equipped to grow spiritually. Likewise, spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues, are given by the Holy Spirit to edify the body of Christ and serve God’s purposes.

However, these outward expressions of faith are not the end goal. They are tools that help us grow closer to God and support one another, but they are not the ultimate measure of our relationship with Christ.

The Heart of the Matter: Attitude and Character

The Bible is clear that God looks at the heart rather than the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). Jesus Himself warned against hypocrisy, emphasizing that it’s not enough to perform religious duties if our hearts and actions don’t align with God’s will. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus states, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

True faith in Christ is demonstrated by a life that reflects His character. This means living out the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). It involves treating others with compassion, humility, and integrity. It means loving your neighbor as yourself and even loving your enemies. These are the attitudes and behaviors that reveal the transformation Christ brings to a believer’s life.

The Test of Faith

Faith in Christ is more than a verbal confession or a set of religious practices. It’s a journey of becoming more like Jesus in thought, word, and deed. The Apostle James emphasizes that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). This isn’t to say that we are saved by our works, but that genuine faith naturally produces good works as evidence of a changed heart.

Salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ. But that faith is not passive; it is active and alive, shaping how we live each day. Our character and attitude are the true tests of our faith—how we treat others, how we handle challenges, and how we respond to God’s calling in our lives.

Conclusion

Attending church and engaging in spiritual practices are important aspects of the Christian faith, but they are not what guarantees salvation. The true evidence of a believer’s relationship with Christ is seen in their attitude and character. It is in how we live out our faith, how we love and serve others, and how we reflect the nature of Christ in our daily lives.

In the end, it is not the outward signs but the inward transformation that counts. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, our lives should increasingly reflect His love, grace, and truth, showing the world what it truly means to follow Him.

Bashorun MD Eseyin, PhD

Islam and Christianity share a lot of good virtues in common and we must use our understanding of the Holy books to promote inclusivity, and work towards building a more tolerant and egalitarian society for us all.

Archbishop Daniel Okoh

As a nation, we are in a critical moment where misguided and terrible actors attempt to destroy social harmony and reign violence on us all. These awful forces seek to stoke religious and ethnic divisions in hope of pitting Nigerian brothers against Nigerian brothers.
Decent and good Nigerians of all faiths must ally against such designs. While we may not agree on everything, all well-meaning Nigerians agree that we must live in peace, must respect and honor our diversity and eschew violence and hatred.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu to CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, July, 2022

We are even more pleased that the competitive selection process has produced a president who is a renowned scholar, a detribalised Nigerian patriot, a hero of interfaith dialogue with international track record in reconciling people, especially of different faiths, and a champion of peace, unity and the rule of law.
Nigeria will undoubtedly be a better place if all men of God of all religions approach pastoral work with the tolerance, compassion and faithfulness to higher principles that you have exhibited in the various offices that you have occupied in the past.
And as you ascend to the Presidency of CAN, the scope has expanded and the horizon has broadened; and it is our prayer that, in your new position, God Almighty uses you, with the power of His Grace, to counsel and move the Nigerian Christendom towards a deep understanding of the Other, towards a sympathetic dialogue with the Other and towards building a sincere fellowship with everyone.

Sen Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, in his congratulatory message to His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, as he emerged CAN President, July, 2022.

Inter-religious dialogue is essential for fostering peace and harmony in today’s global pluralistic societies. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan reflected on his journey of inter-religious dialogue, guided by principles like tolerance, mutual respect and the willingness to learn from others. When participants in such dialogues openly share their perspectives and remain receptive to insights that emerge, it can bring people closer, enhance relations between communities and build mutual understanding. This process not only allows participants to share their beliefs but also to learn from one another, creating a platform to unite peace-loving individuals from diverse religious backgrounds in working for the global good.

Extract from: Shared Wisdom – Interfaith dialogue for a better World
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan