President of the National Dialogue Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, hosted a dinner at his residence in honor of Dr. Mohammad Sammak on the occasion of his receiving the King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam. The event was attended by the Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian; a number of current and former MPs and ministers; Arab ambassadors; religious leaders and clerics; mayors, representatives of associations and prominent figures; media professionals; as well as MP Makhzoumi’s team and colleagues from across his various institutions.
Welcoming Dr. Sammak and the guests, MP Makhzoumi highlighted Sammak’s achievements and his active role in bringing religions closer together, as well as his contributions to strengthening Muslim-Christian dialogue and fostering communication among peoples.
Makhzoumi also stressed the need to end the war in southern Lebanon, promptly implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 in all its provisions, and bring the presidential vacuum to an end in order to set the state and its institutions in motion through the formation of an effective government. He expressed his hope that Lebanon would emerge from the cycle of political deadlock and conflict, reaffirm its commitment to the Taif Agreement, and implement all its provisions.
Concluding his remarks, Makhzoumi expressed his hope that Dr. Sammak would serve as a role model and that others in Lebanon would recognize that a sense of responsibility—whether political, social, or in any other sphere of society—is truly a way of life that can bring people together, regardless of their religious affiliations, sects, or cultures.
For his part, Dr. Sammak thanked MP Makhzoumi for hosting the event. He explained that his commitment to working for dialogue stemmed from his faith in Islamic law and jurisprudence, and from his conviction that independent legal reasoning is an obligation. He cited Imam al-Shafi‘i, who said: “My opinion is correct, but it may be wrong; the opinion of others is wrong, but it may be correct!” Sammak noted that he had worked with many colleagues on Muslim-Christian dialogue in Lebanon, throughout the Arab world, and internationally.
He reiterated his thanks to MP Makhzoumi and to the King Faisal Foundation for Dialogue, which awarded him the prize in recognition of his role and writings on Muslim-Christian relations.
In his address, the Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, thanked MP Makhzoumi for his gracious invitation. He described Dr. Sammak as one of Lebanon’s most distinguished figures and a prominent personality in both the Arab and Islamic worlds. He noted that Sammak was widely respected for his ethics, culture, life journey, and contributions, and that he was a key pillar of Dar al-Fatwa in Lebanon.
The Grand Mufti added that Dr. Sammak had played a significant role in organizing relations between Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the Vatican. He noted that Sammak had been instrumental in bringing about the conference held in Cairo in the presence of His Holiness the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.
Meanwhile, Dr. Michel Abs, Secretary-General of the Middle East Council of Churches and a member of the National Committee for Muslim-Christian Dialogue, described Dr. Sammak as “the witness who has said everything.” He praised Sammak’s contributions and emphasized the many values of openness and love that he embodies, describing him as an example of a person deeply committed to his faith while remaining free from fanaticism and rejecting no one on the basis of their beliefs.
At the conclusion of the event, MP Makhzoumi presented Dr. Sammak with a commemorative plaque in recognition of his achievements, wishing him continued success.