Interfaith Harmony Fellowship Seminar 

Theme: "Love Your Neighbour as Love Yourself"
Date: May 22, 2025
Venue: Madrasa Jamia Masjid Qubra, Samanabad, Lahore
Organized by: Seventh-day Adventist Church & Madrasa Jamia Masjid Qubra, Samanabad
Chief Guest: Fr. James Channan OP, Director, Peace Center, Lahore

The Interfaith Harmony Fellowship Seminar was successfully held on May 22, 2025, at Madrasa Jamia Masjid Qubra, Samanabad, Lahore. The event was jointly organized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Madrasa Jamia Masjid Qubra with the central theme: "Love Your Neighbour as Love Yourself." This seminar served as a platform for religious scholars and leaders from Christian, Muslim, and Hindu communities to explore this universal teaching of love and coexistence through the lens of their respective faith traditions.

Theme Explanation: "Love Your Neighbour as Love Yourself"
This profound commandment, central to both the Bible and the Quran, is not only a spiritual instruction but a moral imperative that underpins the foundation of a peaceful society.
Holy Bible (Mark 12:31):
“You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
This verse is a direct teaching of Jesus Christ, highlighting love for others as a divine priority equivalent to the love of God.
Holy Quran (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:32):
“Whoever saves a life, it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.”
The Quran promotes the sanctity of every human life and encourages acts of compassion, care, and responsibility toward others, regardless of faith or background.

Participants and Guests
The seminar saw the participation of over 50 interfaith leaders, scholars, and peace activists, including esteemed personalities from the Christian, Muslim, and Hindu faiths: Fr. James Channan OP, Allama Asim Makhdoom, Pastr Samuel Nazir, Mr. Asher Nazir, Fr. Adil Peter OP, Allama Badar Munir, Allama Asghar Arif Chishti, Prof. Mehmood Ghaznavi, Allama Qasim Ali Qasmi, Saleem Shakir, Allama Shabir, Pandit Baghat Lal Khokar, Qari Shakeel ul Rehman.
Each speaker addressed the seminar’s theme by referring to the core teachings of their respective faiths:
•    Christian Perspective:
Speakers emphasized the centrality of love in Jesus Christ's message. They shared that true discipleship lies in loving not only those who are close but also strangers and even adversaries. Love is the fulfillment of divine law.
•    Islamic Perspective:
Muslim scholars highlighted the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings on compassion, mercy, and neighbourliness. The Quran and Hadith promote not just tolerance but active benevolence toward neighbours, including non-Muslims.
•    Hindu Perspective:
The Hindu philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — “The world is one family” — was discussed as a basis for universal love and respect. Pandit Baghat Lal Khokar emphasized the spiritual duty of promoting harmony beyond social and religious divisions.
The collective discourse underlined the shared values among religions and the need to redefine "neighbour" as not limited to geography or religion but all humanity as creations of one Divine Lord.
Environmental Commitment 
At the conclusion of the seminar, all interfaith leaders united in a symbolic gesture of peace and commitment to the planet by planting a tree on the premises of the mosque. This act served as a reminder of our collective responsibility to nurture not just human relationships but also our environment, contributing to a Green and Clean Pakistan.
Conclusion by Chief guest Fr. James Channan OP: The Interfaith Harmony Fellowship Seminar was a resounding success, fostering unity, understanding, and a renewed commitment to the principle: "Love Your Neighbour as Love Yourself." In a world increasingly marked by division and conflict, this initiative stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of shared values across faith traditions.
“You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
This verse is a direct teaching of Jesus Christ, highlighting love for others as a divine priority equivalent to the love of God. 
“Whoever saves a life, it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.”
The Quran promotes the sanctity of every human life and encourages acts of compassion, care, and responsibility toward others, regardless of faith or background
Recommendations
•    Continue regular interfaith seminars focused on shared ethical values.
•    Introduce community service initiatives where people from different religions work together.
•    Develop youth programs that educate on interfaith understanding and environmental responsibility.

Prepared by:
Asher Nazir
Executive Secretary
Peace Center Lahore