RELIGIOUS leaders, who attended an Interfaith Dialogue Conference to celebrate the occasion of the 1 500th anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s birth, issued a communiqué calling for unwavering commitment to peaceful coexistence among all religions, cultures and peoples.
Held last Friday at the Muhammad Mosque in Harare, the seminar ran under the theme: The Political and Ethical Teachings of Prophet Muhammad for Building a Better World Order.
It drew participants from the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, the Zimbabwe Interreligious Council Interfaith Platform, the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Council of Churches, the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Ahlul Bayt, as well as the Islamic Guidance Council, among others.
“We, the participants of the Interfaith Dialogue Conference, held on the occasion of the 1 500th Birth Anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), gathered under the theme The Political and Ethical Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for Building a Better World Order,” the communiqué read.
“Inspired by the universal message of peace, justice and compassion embodied in the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, and guided by the shared values of our diverse faith traditions, including Christianity and Islam, we hereby affirm our unwavering commitment to peaceful coexistence among all religions, cultures and peoples, emphasising mutual respect, dialogue, and cooperation as the foundations for a just and harmonious world.”
They “strongly” condemned the ongoing killings, forced displacement and acts of genocide committed against the people of Palestine by Israel, especially in Gaza, which they said was a “clear violation of international law and fundamental human rights”.
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“We categorically reject all unlawful and self-serving actions, including illegal military attacks against other nations and the imposition of unilateral coercive measures on sovereign States. In this context, we strongly condemn the deliberate and unlawful attacks carried on in June 2025 against the safeguarded nuclear sites and facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the religious leaders said.
“Such an act constitutes a grave violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and must be firmly opposed by the international community.”
They also denounced “all forms of violence targeting places of worship, including mosques, churches and other sacred institutions”, as well as attacks against religious leaders and scholars.
“We call upon governments, international organisations and faith communities to work collectively in upholding justice, defending the oppressed and fostering a world order grounded in peace, equity and moral responsibility,” they added.
“We recognise the deep moral and spiritual heritage shared by Christians and Muslims, rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). These teachings inspire us to love our neighbours, uphold justice, and protect the vulnerable.
“We call upon all stakeholders, including States, relevant United Nations bodies and religious, and academic leaders, to undertake a fundamental reform of the prevailing unilateral discourse on human rights, urge an end to the instrumentalisation of human rights by certain powers against other States or religions, and stress that shared human rights values, derived from inclusive dialogue among all civilisations and religions, should form the basis for replacing current hegemonic discourse and standards.”
The communiqué called for ongoing dialogue and co-operation between Christian, Muslim and other faith communities as a vital step towards overcoming prejudice, healing divisions and building lasting peace.
“We declare that the legacy of Prophet Muhammad, together with the universal teachings of Jesus Christ, serve as timeless sources of guidance for building bridges of understanding, promoting unity among nations and faiths, and striving for a more compassionate and just global society.”