Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has set an ideal and shining example before the world leaders by renaming the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Mosque in Al Mushrif. The act goes beyond mere inter-religious dialogues, dogmatic prejudices and portrays the true legacy of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the pioneer of giving and goodness. On the flipside, it is ironic that while our diverse faith promotes essentially the same values, most conflicts are motivated by religious, sectarian and ideological differences. The UAE’s stand for coexistence and interfaith relations is most relevant in today’s context and promotes mutual understanding and resolves contentious issues.
The renaming of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Mosque to Mary, Mother of Jesus is yet another example of religious tolerance in this region. The UAE has more than 200 different nationalities and is home to various religious beliefs and faiths. All of whom live in peace and harmony. The world is at present divided in the name of religion, caste and creed. Other countries should follow this path of tolerance adopted by the UAE. It is the clear vision of the authorities in the UAE that helps keep all faiths united together. This is indeed a real example of peace and tolerance that the UAE can show to the world.
