Muslim–Catholic dialogue in modern times

Source: KRM.

Vatican Engagements: A Muslim Theologian’s Journey in Muslim–Catholic Dialogue (volume I: 2016) brings together the writings of Dr Aref Ali Nayed, Libyan Ambassador to the UAE and Founder-director of Kalam Research & Media, tracing his engagement and dialogue with the Catholic church and with Catholic scholarship. 

Dr Aref lived for many years in Rome, Italy, where he studied Catholic theology and taught Islamic theology. For the last two decades, he has been an interlocutor with the Catholic tradition and a Muslim exponent of contemporary interfaith dialogue. This volume includes his critique of Pope Benedict XVI’s Regensburg lecture and the subsequent debate and engagement with Catholic scholars on a range of theological and interfaith issues. 

Dr Nayed’s writings are characterised by a profound respect for all people of faith along with a deep reverence for his own faith and the scholarly traditions of Islam, and reflect an acute awareness of the modern world and its intellectual currents.

Interested?

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Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony calls for next of kin to start compensation process for Hajj 2015

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony of Pakistan, which is responsible for the Hajj pilgrimage beyond Pakistan, released its findings for Hajj 2015 on 3 December and called for next of kin to request compensation as per their Hajj policy.

The Hajj operation began with the first flight on 16 August, 2015 and ended on 28 October 2015, the ministry said.  There were 93 deaths in 2013, 87 in 2014 and 97 in 2015.

In the Haram incident on 11 September, six Pakistani hujjaj and six iqama holders (those who have a permit to work in KSA) passed away. The Mina incident on 24 September 2015 initially saw large numbers of people reported missing but numbers have since been clarified, with persons who passed away naturally in Mina now removed from the totals.

The final totals are:

Pilgrims who passed away in Mina: 82
Iqama holders who passed away in Mina: 17
Pilgrims who passed away from the crane incident in the Haram: 6
Iqama holders who passed away in the Haram: 6
Pilgrims who passed away from natural causes: 97
Iqama holders who passed away from natural causes: 7

A further three pilgrims are listed as missing after the Mina incident, and four iqama holders.

Nominees of pilgrims as listed on the website of the Ministry are requested to apply for compensation (PDF), which varies between Rs50,000 and Rs500,000 depending on the type of death or injury.

Pakistan extends Hajj application deadline

Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony has announced that the date for submission of Hajj application forms has been extended to 17 July 2015.

It was previously 6 July.