Dubai sets a new example of tolerance, renames a mosque 'Mary the mother of Jesus'
- The mosque in Abu Dhabi was renamed as 'Mary, the mother of Jesus' to send out a message of religious harmony and tolerance.
- The senior chaplain of the St Andrews Church appreciated the move and called it the first of its kind.
- The Ministry of Tolerance was created in February last year and Shaikha Lubna was appointed the head.
FollowThe renowned Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Mosque in Al Mushrif in Abu Dhabi has a new name-'Mariam, Umm Eisa’ , which is Arabic for 'Mary, the mother of Jesus'.
This change of name was ordered by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in order to maintain bonds between different religions.
Thanking Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance said, "wise directives in carrying out this initiative that set a shining example, and a beautiful image of the tolerance and coexistence enjoyed by the UAE”.
According to a report by the Gulf News, Mohammad Mattar Al Kaabi, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments also thanked Shaikh Mohammad. He further added that since the days of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE has always been tolerant and always advocated peaceful coexistence between different religions. It was also said that the same approach was adopted by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Shaikh Mohammad since more than 200 nations are living together in the UAE.
The senior chaplain of the St Andrews Church appreciated the move and said that he was "delighted" by the news. he further told the Gulf News, "We are delighted that we are celebrating something that we have in common between both our faiths. Mary, as the mother of Jesus, is of course a holy, special figure in our communities. She is a woman who symbolises obedience to God. We look forward to growing in deeper understanding with our neighbours, and we celebrate with them the new name of the mosque.”
“The UAE continues to set the pace in this region for peaceful coexistence and cooperation. We are very encouraged and feel blessed to be a part of this nation.”
The Ministry of Tolerance was created in February last year and Shaikha Lubna was appointed the head. In June, the UAE Cabinet approved a new National Tolerance Programme based on seven key pillars-Islam, Constitution, Zayed’s legacy and ethics of the UAE, international conventions, archaeology and history, humanity and common values- was established.
(Photo credit: Gulf News)
