Saudishia.com - 29 / 5 / 2010 - 12:41 pm

Atyaf Publishing and Distribution House released a book titled "The Way to Tolerance" by Mohammad Mahfoudh. The writer, in this book, indicates that there are various religions and Islamic sects in all Arab and Muslim states, and confirms the necessity of effective communications in order to achieve coexistence and unity.

 He stresses that differences of all levels and types are not permissions for judging and derogating other people's dignities, but emphasize the necessity of dialogue, communication and scientific researches that are objective in views and convictions. The author mentions that the vital approach to promote moderation discourse in the nation is through expanding the range of freedom and making initiatives for protecting human rights.

Mahfoudh believes that promoting tolerance in Arab states would be through several approaches. The first one is the religious-cultural approach. He explores the relationship between human beings and divine religions which all were prescribed by Allah for the sake of happiness and stability of human beings. He indicates that followers of divine religions must adopt explicit attitude towards three phenomena; which are Zionism, colonialism and religious extremism.

He refers to the concept of tolerance in Islam which considers it a moral virtue, a social necessity and an approach for adjusting differences. The author mentions that Islamic law recognizes the personal rights of every individual in the society, and does not permit any action that violates such rights and privacies. He confirms that all Muslims must reject the culture of tyranny, extremism and marginalization to achieve social and political stability through the recognition of others and the promotion of dialogue and common convictions.

Mahfoudh explains how politics can contribute in promoting tolerance. He says that political stability can not be achieved through suppression and ignorance of people's interests; but through mutual trust between the authority and the society, and through providing political and cultural freedoms.

The writer points to some examples of past and contemporary experiences which show that military forces are not the real power that is capable of granting people their expectations or defending the nation. He emphasizes that the strength of a state is measured by the level of democracy applied in it.

Moreover, he mentions law and human rights as one of approaches for promoting tolerance, and clarifies the relationship between freedom and tolerance. He stresses the necessity of all forms of freedom for human progress and human development, and emphasizes that it does not mean disregarding values and moral constraints.

Then, the author states that diversity of people's identities, views and fields is a fact and the law of life and it is impossible to imagine life without it. However, he believes that human beings can not live isolated from the different others; therefore, coexistence is an extreme necessity which can be achieved through rejecting sterile debates and arguments as well as protecting human rights.

Furthermore, he defines citizenship as an integral participation and social, Cultural and constitutional relationships that impose equal mutual rights and duties over all; the nation and citizens. He confirms that citizenship is the way for getting rid of may forms of tensions and disputes that prevail between various social groups in a state.

As for the social-economic approach, Mahfoudh focuses on the importance of addressing internal problems and issues that are responsible of ruining many of the nation's projects and ambitions. He, also, mentions the principles that lead to social peace; which are social dialogue and developing social and political discourse.

The author explores the concept of moderation, and the means for achieving it. He believes that moderation is necessary in providing the appropriate atmosphere for all social groups and parties to achieve social peace and development.