Play

The Elijah Interfaith Institute brought together religious leaders from across the world to issue a common greeting for Eid-el-Fitr recently. In a video statement called “Make Friends” (above), a panel of important leaders shared its thoughts on how to maintain harmony with followers of other faiths.

The video was released in 16 languages during a press conference in London. The leaders talked about friendship and how it can serve as an antidote to negativity and divisions around us. Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh said: “No matter which side of the mountain you’re climbing from, we should be helping each other. So that we can all get to the same place.”

The Dalai Lama emphasised how through personal contact, and personal friendship, we could exchange a deeper level of experience. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar advised everyone to honour other religions, like they do their own.

“It’s not complicated. I would say to everyone: start with sharing what we all share. Which is the pleasure of conversation,” said Archbishop Justin Welby. Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks served an important reminder: that the wonderful thing about spending time with people who are completely unlike you is that you discover you have so in common: the same fears, the same hopes, the same concerns.