Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you:
It
is a great honor to the organizers and participants of the
intellectual meeting (The Mutual Knowledge of Civilizations
and Messages in the Shadow of One Human Family), held in
Damascus by Al-Fatih Islamic Institute in collaboration with
Hartfort Seminary in the U.S. on Monday, 15/1/1429 H,
corresponding to 13/1/2008 AD, under the patronage of his
excellence the Minister of Endowments in the Syrian Arab
Republic, in coincidence with the celebration of Damascus as
the Capital of the Arab Culture for 2008 AD.
It
is a great honor to us, organizers and participants in the
meeting, of both Muslim and Christian religious scholars
together with a group of men of intellect and culture from
Syria, the USA, and other different countries, to send to
your presidency our gratitude and high appreciation for the
efforts you exert for honoring knowledge and scholars,
firmly establishing the concepts of dialogue, mutual
understanding and harmony, preserving our deeply rooted
national unity, the nation's protective shield, and
sponsoring projects of scientific development and
civilizational creativity.
As
we end our meeting, Mr. President, we would like to express
our pride and appreciation of your firm and courageous
stances in the face of the machinations against our
steadfast nation and dear country, Syria. Such machinations
increase you in steadfastness, adherence to the truth, and
resistance of attitudes of defeatism at a time when the
steadfast are rare.
We hope
that you will remain, Mr. President, a symbol of the
nation's honor and dignity, a supporter of the truth and
justice, and a caller for civilization and humanism. We pray
to Allah to rightly guide you to the country's welfare and
prosperity.
Allah is
the One Who grants success.
Damascus: 5/1/1429 AH, corresponding to 13/1/2008 AD.
Professor
Hussam-Eddin Farfour
Ph.D.
Islamic and Arabic Studies,
Vice-President of Al-Fatih Islamic Society,
Chairman of
Graduate Section,
Al-Fatih
Islamic Institute.
The
Professor Abd Al-Fattah Al-Bizim
The Mufti
of Damascus
The
Principal of Al-Fatih Islamic Institute