Panca Nugraha, Mataram – Some 400 participants attending the International Conference of Al Azhar Alumni at the Islamic Center in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), have discussed topics ranging from tolerance and a moderate Islam to contemporary preaching in the technological era.
The three-day conference officially kicked off on Wednesday. Participants came from 15 countries, including Australia, Egypt, India, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Thailand and Yemen, members of the World Association for Al Azhar Graduates (WAAG) and the Al Azhar International Alumni Organization.
"Moderate Islam, which is taught by Al Azhar, also means developing tolerance toward differences in ideas," WAAG deputy chairman Syeikh Muhammad Abdul Fadil Al Qusi said in his speech. Abdul said that Islam in NTB was an example to the rest of the world of a tolerant, moderate Islam.
NTB Governor M. Zainul Majdi said that the harmony and tolerance among different religions in the province was the reason why Lombok was chosen as the host for the conference.
He said that the picture of a tolerant Islam in NTB was also a reflection of Muslims across the archipelago and that Islam was about contribution, development, harmony and peace.
The Arab people used to teach Indonesians about Islam and it was now Indonesia's turn to share their experience of living harmoniously, he added. (dra/bbs)