The Museum of World Religions yesterday gave a party as thanks for the recent addition of Islamic artifacts to its collection.
The party, jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attracted scores of foreign and local dignitaries including Vice President Annette Lu (
Venerable Dharma Master Hsin Tao (釋心道法師), abbot of the Ling Jiou Mountain Monastery, extended gratitude to the Muslim World League for its January donations of precious Islamic artifacts to the museum he helped to found.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
He expressed the hope that ties between Taiwan and the Islamic world would grow stronger through more religious contacts.
"I will forgive those who repent, believe and lead an upright life," the Buddhist master said, quoting a proverb, written in one of the relics displayed at the venue in Taipei.
Among the gifts from the Islamic organization are an antique copy of the Koran and a piece of the Kisswah, the gigantic black curtain decorated with Arabic calligraphy embroidered in gold and hung around the Ka'bah, the holy chamber in Mecca.
The vice president, in a brief address, gave her support to the international religious exchange.
"I hope the Museum of World Religions, committed to promoting respect, tolerance and love among different religions, will act like a magnet attracting more and more like-minded people around the world to Taiwan," Lu said.
She condemned the government of Afghanistan for seeking to destroy religious relics there, saying that artifacts belong to all believers.
The Muslim World League, composed of 62 Muslim nations worldwide, exerts formidable influence over its member states.
This donation was intended by the Islamic body as a call for tolerance and to clear up the misconception that Islam teaches intolerance, according to staff at the museum.
Islam, which in Arabic means "peace" and "obedience," also advocates the pursuit of the philanthropic qualities underscored by such religions as Christianity and Buddhism, said Master Shih Bao-hsiang.
To that end, Abdullah Bin S. Al Obaid, secretary-general of the Muslim World League, had visited Master Hsin Tao in Taiwan last September, when he promised the donation.
The Islamic artifacts arrived at the museum in late January.
Other attendees included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lan Chih-ming (
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