Dr Anas Sheikh-Ali officially delivering "A Common Word" to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Rev. Dr Rowan Williams, in Lambeth Palace on October 11th, 2007. On October 11, 2007, in a dramatic and groundbreaking display of inter-religious solidarity, 138 of the world’s most senior Muslim leaders wrote to the heads of Christian churches proposing a solid base upon which the two global faiths can co-operate in creating peace and understanding in the world. The letter says that world peace could depend on improved relations between Muslims and Christians. It identifies the principles of accepting only one god and living in peace with one's neighbors as common ground between the two religions. It also insists that Christians and Muslims worship the same god. The letter coincides with the Eid al-Fitr celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan.
The letter, entitled A Common Word Between Us and You compares passages in the Qur'an and the Bible, concluding that both emphasize "the primacy of total love and devotion to God," and the love of the neighbor. With Muslims and Christians making up more than half the world's population, the letter goes on, the relationship between the two religious communities is "the most important factor in contributing to meaningful peace around the world".
This letter represents a truly authoritative call for tolerance, understanding and moderation from some of the world’s most influential Islamic leaders and thinkers. In bringing together Muslims from around the world, and from both the Sunni and Shia, Salafi and Sufi traditions, it also marks an historic achievement in terms of Islamic unity
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