Dr Tarek Heggy visits UK Baha’i Centre

Egyptian thinker and commentator, Dr Tarek Heggy, visited the UK’s National Baha’i Centre in London, this afternoon, at the suggestion of some Egyptian Baha’is who are based in the UK.

Dr Heggy, a Muslim, is absolutely delightful, and a number of us enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation with him. He is very taken with the Baha’i Faith and with the Baha’is he has met. He has read widely about the history of the Baha’i Faith and is fascinated by the characteristics of peacefulness, openness and trustworthiness that he finds in the Baha’is. These characteristics, he says, should be found in all faiths. However, Islam in particular has been twisted and made an expression of anger towards others rather than of love.

He is critical of the ignorance that many have about their own faiths and advocates education as an essential part of bringing an end to religious conflict.

He asked many questions about the Faith. He was particularly interested in the similarities and links between the Baha’i Faith and Sufism - he himself is particularly sympathetic to the Sufi understanding of Islam and is very critical of the narrow Wahhabi ideology that has become dominant in Islam.

It was a great privilege to meet Dr Heggy and he has expressed a determination to pay a return visit to our Baha’i Centre the next time he is in London. He went away with a bag full of Baha’i books.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Islam, Muslim, Sufi, Wahhabi, Heggy, Egypt, religion

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