By Bonnie Malkin
Telegraph
The "survival of the world" is at risk if Muslims and Christians cannot make peace, leaders from across the Islamic community have warned.
The prediction came in an open letter signed by 138 prominent Muslim scholars in a bid to defuse inter-religious tensions.
The letter, which was sent to Pope Benedict, The Archbishop of Canterbury and other Christian leaders around the world, calls on Christians "to come together with us on the common essentials of our two religions" and spells out the similarities between passages of the Bible and the Koran.
It goes on: "As Muslims, we say to Christians that we are not against them and that Islam is not against them - so long as they do not wage war against Muslims on account of their religion, oppress them and drive them out of their homes."
The missive, organised by the Royal Aal al-Bayed Institute for Islamic Thought, notes that Christians and Muslims make up over a third and a fifth of humanity respectively, "making the relationship between these two religious communities the most important factor in contributing to meaningful peace around the world".
"If Muslims and Christians are not at peace, the world cannot be at peace."
It also refers directly to the wars that Muslims and Christians are involved in around the world.
"With the terrible weaponry of the modern world; with Muslims and Christians intertwined everywhere as never before, no side can unilaterally win a conflict between more than half of the world's inhabitants. Thus our common future is at stake. The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake."
"And to those who nevertheless relish conflict and destruction for their own sake or reckon that ultimately they stand to gain through them, we say that our very eternal souls are all also at stake if we fail to sincerely make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony."
The message closes with a quote from the Koran: "So let our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each other only in righteousness and good works."
Signatories include Shaykh Sevki Omarbasic, Grand Mufti of Croatia, Dr Abdul Hamid Othman, adviser to the Prime Minister of Malaysia and Dr Ali Ozak, head of the endowment for Islamic scientific studies in Istanbul, Turkey.
A spokesman for the Institute, a non-governmental organisation based in Amman, Jordan, said the letter was "an open invitation to Christians to unite with Muslims over the most essential aspects of their respective faiths - the principles of love of one God and love of the neighbour".
"It is hoped that the recognition of this common ground will provide the followers of both faiths with a shared understanding that will serve to defuse tensions around the world."
The letter was welcomed by the Bishop of London, who called for a meaningful response from the Pope in easing inter-religious tension.
Bishop Richard Charters said the letter could lead to a deepening of ecumenical relationships between the two religions and the Vatican's response would be "pivotal".
Professor Aref Ali Nayed, one of the signatories, said that neither the Pope's failure to respond to an open letter from 38 signatories last year nor the politics of relations between the Islamic and Christian worlds should deter people from all faiths from "connecting".
He said: "The only way to overcome our cynicism is to keep talking to each other.
"When you lose balance, the most important step is that first step you take in regaining your balance."
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