Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin was invited to attend and deliver a paper at the 2nd al-Biruni International Conference organized by the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The conference was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor of the University and Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin delivered a paper entitled “A Foundation for Islamic Tolerance: Reflections on the Concept of the Universality of Religions in Fatimid Thought, Policy and Practice”. The paper asserted that it was the “specific outlook and ideology of the Fatimids on the universality of religions that was responsible for… their largely tolerant and benevolent attitude towards non-Fatimid and non-Shii Muslim communities as well as and especially towards the Ahl al-Kitab, the Jewish and Christian communities living under their rule in Egypt in the 10th and 11th centuries.” The paper begins by presenting a summary of the Fatimid philosophy of the Universality of Religions based on the writings of Syedna Abu Hatim al-Razi and earlier research by Mazoon-e-Dawat Syedi Abdeali Bhaisaheb Saifuddin AAB. The paper also presents various examples from history demonstrating the application of this philosophy in the governance of Egypt by the Fatimid Imams. Presented here are excerpts from the article.
