At the Invitation of Its President and in the Presence of Academics and Research Centers
Dr. Al-Issa Delivers a Lecture at George Washington University on “Hatred and Islamic Values Toward Followers of Religions and Ethnicities”
Washington, D.C.:
At the official invitation of the President of George Washington University, Dr. Ellen M. Granberg, and in the presence of academics, students, and research centers, His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, delivered a lecture followed by a discussion on “The General Concept of Hatred” and “A Comprehensive Definition of Hostility Toward Followers of Religions and Ethnicities that Undermines Their Dignity, Humanity, and Rights,” focusing on Islamic values in this regard.
He emphasized that human dignity constitutes a fundamental principle in Islamic values, and that Islamic Sharia unequivocally prohibits any infringement upon human dignity, reaffirming that the Islamic view toward followers of all religions and ethnicities—and our firm opposition to contemptuous and racist practices—is unwavering and steadfast, as it reflects our deeply rooted values.
He further explained that it is a fallacy to regard the condemnation of crimes committed by individuals or institutions, and criticism of their unacceptable conduct, as an affront to their faiths or hatred toward their ethnic backgrounds.
His Excellency noted: “I have found no example within a responsible Islamic framework that permits the violation of the human dignity of any follower of any faith or ethnicity, regardless of differences with certain individuals or groups whose conduct may reflect political or ideological agendas unrelated to religion or ethnicity. Our Islamic texts provide no justification for racial hatred; rather, they condemn it as a form of jahiliyyah—a state of moral, civilizational, and spiritual ignorance.” He added: “We express our convictions and positions through dialogue and facts, not through slogans or practices of hatred and racism.”
He also stated that whoever does not respect the humanity of others is, in the first instance, harboring hatred toward himself (even if he is unaware of it); for humanity, in its single shared origin is indivisible. This is part of our religious conviction in Islam. In the Holy Qur’an, Allah the Almighty says: “And We have certainly honored the children of Adam.” We believe in the right of every human being to dignity simply because they are human—the equal dignity of all ethnicities, without discrimination or preference.
His Excellency explained that hatred is a dangerous negative emotion toward others, often developing into “racist behavior.” Its root remedy lies in prevention from the outset through all platforms of influence—foremost among them the family and education—so that awareness becomes an instinctive behavior that surpasses the effectiveness of laws in both impact and spontaneity—despite their importance. He underscored that confronting hatred is therefore a shared international responsibility.
