Ramadan is the month of fasting in Islam, It is the month in which was revealed the Holy Qur'an to Prophet Mohammad peace be upon him, It is the month of  guidance for all people as Allah says:

" The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for humankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion. So whoever of you sights the month is he must observe fast that month" 185/2

In the Divine Hadith, Prophet Mohammad " P.b.u.h" says that Allah says: " All the action of the son of Adam is for him except the fasting it is for me and I am only who reward for it ".

It is clearly that the Fasting  is a sacred worship at followers of all religions, as every religion demands and orders his followers to proof his sincere in obeying orders of Allah by performing worship of the fasting. Way ? Because of the fasting is the most sincere worship in the sight of Allah.

On the other hand, month of Fasting is the month of the justice, peace, mercy, love, cordiality and safe coexistence among the individuals and communities.

So we would like to take the opportunity of the occasion of the blessed Ramadan to express our cordiality, love and respect to all people everywhere. Also to address the followers of religions and culture reminding them that the peace is the name of Allah " God". And He Almighty calls to the life of peace as Holy Qur'an says:

" Allah calls to the home of peace and guides whom He wills to the Straight Path " 25/10

But how can we achieve peace in our life ..? I think there is only one path to realize this noble goal, it is the mutual knowledge; to know each other, to understand each other, to discover the common ground, to crystallize our common culture.

But how can we crystallize our joint culture..? Dialogue is the best way to know each other, to understand each other and to work together for achieving our mutual aims in life.

In light of our experiment  in dialogue during more than thirty five years with many religious, cultural and political sides all over the world such Vatican, Medial East Council of Churches, Buddhist International Council, Medial East Institute for peace and development and others  , I could say : that there is a reasonable degree of mutual understanding and respect has been achieved , and I can present to you some of the common principles which became agreeable  between various religious and cultural leaders such as :

1. Recognizing the cultural and religious diversity should encourage a real coexistence among human societies

2. Believing in the human fraternity.

3. Human dignity is gift from Allah should be venerable.  

4. Building earth and establishing human dignity and justice are an urgent requirement.

5. Protecting environment away from corruption because it is our common home.  

6. Recognizing the equitable integral between the responsibilities of man and woman in the life is adherence to God's will

7. Emphasizing the family based on the legal marriage between man and woman is the basis the world security.

8. Assuring that the religious values are the essential source of the better life.

9. Emphasizing that extremism and terrorism are contrary to the spirit of religion.

10.         Assuring right of self–defense, and refusing the linkage between self-defense and terrorism.

11.         Stressing balance between the progress of sciences and technology on the one hand  and the religious and ethical values on the other, is an important requirement to keep the human dignity, clean environment and safe human coexistence .

12.         Emphasizing the universality and globalization are inseparable issues. Universality without globalization is just hopes, on the other hand the globalization without fair universality turns into vanity and destruction .

13.         Assuring that the dialogue between cultures and civilizations is a religious duty , cultural requirement and ethical behavior.

Finally, on behalf of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue and World Muslim Congress we would like to emphasize that  Islam  is against  terrorism , aggression  and  extremism , Islam dos not urge hatred dos not justify the shedding of innocent blood. Islam considers that who kills one soul as if he killed all humankind and whoever saved life of one person as if he saved all humankind .For that we address all those who kill or make war in God’s name : we remind them that Peace is the name of God.

We also address all those who use weapons to establish their interests : we remind them that war is a journey with no return , it is source of massacres , destruction and hatred , on other side we remind all, that the bright side of history is made finally, by nice words not by bullets.

O, our religious and cultural colleagues all over the world we think that you agree with us that the international communities today is in need of building the bridges of the understanding and cordiality, and not need to more of the mine laying, exciting reasons of the disaccord, and not need to more of encouraging of the culture of militarizing the international relationship, inflaming the wars and clashes, extending areas of destroying, and collective eradications, where as all these crimes unfortunately, have been committed today by the political, religious and cultural groups; which are well known all over the world. Also we think that you agree that world peace today is threaten by a huge fire , and it is the duty of any one to pour at lest drops of  water to extinguish the fire. I hope  we can do it .

Prof. Dr. Hamid Ahmad Al - Rifaie

President of International Islamic Forum for Dialgue

Co-President of the Islamic – Catholic Liaison Committee- Vatican

Asst. Sec. Gen. of World Muslim Congress