His Majesty King Abdullah addresses the international interfaith conference in Astana on Thursday (Photo courtesy of Royal Court)

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah has said that the actions of terrorists, or Khawarij, hurt Islam and its image more than anything else.

“We Muslims are facing a brutal attack by outlaws, Khawarij, who distort our faith to try to justify monstrous crimes,” the King said in remarks at the Fifth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Thursday.

“Nothing treats our religion with more contempt and nothing hurts the Muslim people more than the actions of these elements,” the King added.

The King highlighted the Amman Message which underlined Islam’s call for respect to others, compassion, social justice, mercy, tolerance and consensus.

“This is the Islamic way. This is the path Jordan has taken,” the King emphasised.

Following is the full text of the speech:

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,

Mr President, let me thank you personally for hosting this distinguished 5th congress. Your beautiful country, Kazakhstan, has a noble reputation as a link between East and West, a land of great achievements, built on coexistence.

Mostly, though, I want to thank you for consistently shining a global spotlight on interfaith dialogue. Today, such discourse is urgently needed, as we stand against those who pose the greatest danger to our religion and to our world: the outlaws of our religion, the Khawarij.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In our world today, the vast majority of people are members of a spiritual community. Muslims and Christians alone make up more than half of humanity. We live side-by-side as fellow citizens. And yet, our global community is under threat by aggressive forces targeting religious differences.

Every major religion has had to deal with this evil. And we must all recognise it, and counter it.

We Muslims are facing a brutal attack by outlaws, Khawarij, who distort our faith to try to justify monstrous crimes. Nothing treats our religion with more contempt and nothing hurts the Muslim people more than the actions of these elements. They agitate sectarianism and sedition. They mislead young people into abandoning their futures. And they franchise their violence worldwide.

This violence, whether against Muslims or Christians or minority communities, is utterly condemned by Islam.

It is important for everyone to understand that these groups are only a tiny minority of the world’s Muslims, 1.5 billion good men and women. But a drop of venom can poison a well. These groups grant themselves a free hand to distort and manipulate the word of God to further their twisted agendas. No Muslim can afford to assume someone else will confront this threat. It is our fight, for the sake of our faith and our people.

Ten years ago, Jordanians saw that it was essential to speak up on a global level. The Amman Message set forth Islam’s call: respect for others, compassion, social justice, mercy, tolerance and consensus. This is the Islamic way. This is the path Jordan has taken.

My friends,

Part of transmitting our values is putting them into action. When it comes to beating global terror, we need a holistic approach.

It begins by addressing the conditions that terror groups exploit. Economic inclusion is key. The circle of prosperity and opportunity must be enlarged to reach vulnerable communities and especially young people.

There also needs to be an international commitment to relieve suffering in crisis zones and support political solutions that uphold national unity and promote a stable future. Refugees and their host countries need global support. This help sends a critical message that people in need do not stand alone, that we are all neighbours.

Why do we make these efforts? Why do we work for peace and justice? The answer is simple. It is our duty, our duty to fulfil the two great commandments of faith: to love God, and love our neighbour. From this flows everything else: The equal dignity of all people, tolerance, coexistence, faith.

How many here really love our neighbour? How many really see beyond differences, to accept and love the other, the stranger? How many put God’s love above all else?

Muslims around the world know real faith is not violent or hate-filled. In Islam, God’s names include: the Compassionate, the All-Merciful. We wish each other “Assalamualeikum” — be blessed with peace.

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,

“Truly those who believe and perform righteous deeds — for them the Compassionate One shall appoint love.”

Our faith teaches what is wrong. It is wrong to insult and disrespect God and religion. Wrong to discriminate and persecute others. Wrong to desecrate places of worship. But we are also taught what is right. Right to respect and support each other. Right to show mercy and kindness. Right to work together for the common good.

These values are shared by your religions as well as mine. Now we need to make them part of our daily lives and our moral responsibility to our communities.

You, who are leaders of religion, have a critical role in showing the way and turning this world away from the evils of violence and division.

I thank you, for your long dedication, and I wish you success in the days ahead.

God’s blessings be upon you all.