Today's Edition
By Imam Mohammad Tawhidi*
Religious diplomacy functions on the premise that faith leaders have moral authority and societal legitimacy among their communities. When religious leaders engage in cross-sectarian conversations or build alliances across faith lines, they lay down pathways toward coexistence and mutual respect. These efforts are not abstract or ceremonial; they are grounded in communities who look to faith for guidance and solace.
Across the Middle East, the consequences of religious fragmentation have been severe, and sectarian interpretations have been manipulated to justify violence, displacement, and the corrosion of national identity.
In such contexts, religious diplomacy serves as both a corrective and a unifying force. By promoting inclusive interpretations of Islam and encouraging collaboration between all people, religious leaders can challenge the destructive narratives.
Scholars engaging in religious diplomacy also play a crucial role in re-establishing trust where it has been lost. In post-conflict societies, political agreements often fail to address the psychological and spiritual wounds inflicted by war.
Religious figures can act as custodians of memory and reconciliation. Through sermons, public statements and interfaith initiatives, they can acknowledge historical grievances while guiding communities toward forgiveness and reintegration. Their messages can resonate and influence personal attitudes and collective behaviour.
A fundamental responsibility of religious diplomacy in today’s Middle East is the active opposition to extremist ideologies that masquerade as religious movements. Foremost among these is the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational extremist organisation.
What distinguishes the Brotherhood from other political entities is its ability to combine religious rhetoric with revolutionary ambitions. Rather than advocating for peace, it seeks to destabilise state institutions, erode national identities, and replace existing governments with its own ideologically driven model.
The Brotherhood targets vulnerable Muslims, especially youth, by presenting itself as a solution to injustice and marginalisation. However, the ultimate aim is not community upliftment but the imposition of a singular worldview that tolerates no dissent and undermines pluralism.
Religious diplomacy must respond to this threat not only by denouncing the Brotherhood’s tactics but by offering a superior moral and theological framework. This involves exposing the inconsistencies in their interpretation of Islam and emphasising the religion’s authentic values of peace, justice and mercy.
Religious leaders should also collaborate with governments to delegitimise its messaging and disrupt recruitment strategies. When scholars issue reasoned, well-articulated refutations of extremist thought and back them with strong religious precedent, they arm the public with the intellectual tools to resist manipulation.
Furthermore, religious diplomacy should work to strengthen state-backed religious institutions. These bodies, often marginalised by the louder voices of radical groups, must be reinvigorated through education, training, and international cooperation to reclaim the space from non-state actors who operate without accountability and thrive on division.
Among Middle Eastern nations, the UAE has emerged as a compelling example of how state and religious institutions can partner to build a cohesive society rooted in peace.
The UAE’s approach is strategic and visionary. It recognises the role of religious identity in the region and has consciously invested in creating a climate where different faiths and sects coexist without friction.
The UAE’s model is anchored in the belief that religious diversity is not a threat but a source of strength. Its leadership has championed initiatives that bring together Muslim scholars, Christian clergy, and Jewish rabbis in meaningful dialogue.
By institutionalising tolerance through entities such as the Ministry of Tolerance and Co-Existence and organising high-level interfaith summits, the country has established a standard of discourse that prioritises mutual respect over dogmatic competition.
Moreover, the UAE has taken bold steps to counter religious extremism by regulating sermons, establishing overview over foreign-funded religious centres, and elevating voices that promote moderate Islam.
These policies are complemented by a commitment to civic engagement, education reform, and gender inclusion; demonstrating that religious harmony must be underpinned by broader societal equity.
The UAE also shares this model with other nations, offering a constructive alternative to both Western secularism and theocratic authoritarianism. Its support for the Abrahamic Family House and the Document on Human Fraternity reflects a willingness to export peace, not through domination, but through shared human values.
The UAE understands that peace is sustainable only when it is embraced at the core.
The UAE stands as a model for what is possible when religious discourse is aligned with national values and international cooperation. Its example demonstrates that peace is not a utopian dream, but a realisable goal when guided by wisdom, courage and a sincere commitment to co-existence.
Through the careful nurturing of religious diplomacy, the Middle East can chart a future that honours its past, while building a stable and inclusive tomorrow.
*The writer is a Parliamentary Advisor and Research Partner with the think-tank TRENDS Research & Advisory
