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HRH calls for greater understanding between the Abrahamic faiths of Islam, Judaism and Christianity

21st March 2006

The Prince of Wales called for greater understanding between the three great Abrahamic faiths of Islam, Judaism and Christianity today when he spoke to 800 Islamic scholars at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

The Prince who is on a tour of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and India with The Duchess of Cornwall, made an impassioned speech at the prestigious university and was awarded an honorary doctorate, the first to be awarded to a non-Muslim, for his work on inter-faith understanding.

For many years, The Prince has spoken of the need for greater understanding between Islam and the West, and gave his first speech on the subject in 1993 at the Oxford University Centre for Islamic Studies as the centre's Patron.

Today, His Royal Highness spoke of the traditions shared by the Abrahamic faiths - Islam, Judaism and Christianity - and urged greater understanding based around the “common root” of all three religions.

The Prince said: “Our beliefs and values call out for peace and not conflict. We may have a human weakness to criticise and to compete with each other. But what we have in common, as people of faith, calls us beyond this towards mutual respect and understanding.”

“The recent ghastly strife and anger over the Danish cartoons shows the danger that comes of our failure to listen and to respect what is precious and sacred to others.

“In my view, the true mark of a civilised society is the respect it pays to minorities and to strangers.”

The Prince spoke about divided communities in Iraq, and said his fears from more than a decade ago of growing misunderstanding between Islam and the West had come true.

He said that his heart was “heavy from witnessing the never-ending death and destruction” caused by religious conflict in so many parts of the world and after the loss of his beloved Great Uncle, Lord Mountbatten, at the hands of terrorist bombers in 1979, he too understood the devastation brought about by violence.

He added: “Images of communities torn apart by religious conflict are deeply harrowing from Bosnia to Baghdad, from Chechnya to Palestine - evidence of just how far misunderstandings have continued and escalated."

The Prince called on religious leaders to play their part in encouraging tolerance.

“We must foster, encourage and act upon that which embodies the divine attributes of mercy and compassion.

“That calls for calmness and the exercise of restraint. And, if I may say so, it requires all those who are in positions of authority in our different faiths to preach clearly and consistently to others the eternal values of these divine attributes.”

The Prince added: “I look forward to a world in which we share a vision that acknowledges our differences with respect and understanding, that recognises what others hold sacred, and to a world in which we see that we cannot and must not abuse our great traditions and their teachings as a weapon in the service of selfish worldly power.”

He warned that people must not let slip the opportunity to work together.

After his speech, The Prince was presented with an honorary degree which prompted a swell of applause from the auditorium. His Royal Highness described it as the “greatest honour”.

Earlier in the day, The Prince and The Duchess visited the Al-Azhar Mosque in Old Cairo, the oldest still functioning Mosque in Egypt engaged in prayer and Islamic studies.

They were given a tour by Grand Imam Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi.

The site is also base to the Al-Azhar University which is the world's oldest surviving university.

It is believed that lessons began there in 975AD with lessons in Shi'ite jurisprudence, or the theory and philosophy of law.

Al-Azhar literally means “the most blossoming or beautiful”.

Afterwards, The Prince and The Duchess visited the Qasr El-Emir Taz, or Taz Palace, to see renovation work and attend a reception for The Prince‘s School of Traditional Arts.

The Prince then attended a seminar led by The Prince of Wales‘s International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) and the British Council to discuss youth employment and enterprise.

In the evening, Their Royal Highnesses attended a dinner with the President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak and the First Lady Suzanne Mubarak at the Presidential Palace at Heliopolis.