Knights of Dialogue / 15
Jaafar Sadiq – Baghdad
Here, at the edges of the Ur Ziggurat and beneath the roof of the house of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), you feel that your life spans the age of this land, that you are a child of this long history, and that your roots are what built the civilization of this world…
No one deserves favor over you; it is the grace of God that made you the heir of the cradle of humanity and the descendant of the teacher of the universe, the first letter, and the greatest invention…
I was overwhelmed with emotion, pride, and joy in my journey to Nasiriyah alongside my colleagues from the “Through Dialogue We Remain and Rise” program, which focuses on dialogue, understanding others, and bridging perspectives among the diverse intellectual and cultural colors of Iraq.
Over three days, we met many faces: sheikhs of Nasiriyah, its community, cultural and artistic leaders, and a number of young personalities from the city. We listened and enjoyed dialogues imbued with historical depth and shared aspects of Iraqi civilizations throughout history.
This journey engraved its memories on the walls of my mind, as getting to know others and engaging in dialogue with them is a journey of inner peace and a stimulus for the mind to overcome differences that might threaten social stability.
In addition to the intellectual, cultural, and social advantages of this journey, one cannot overlook the beauty of Nasiriyah and its historical monuments.
And the sound of the water birds flirting with the reed leaves in the Al-Jubaysh Marshes tells a story in itself—one of the oar slicing through the waters, inscribing on the reed and papyrus that Sumer and its descendants will remain as long as this land exists and life pulses in the children of Iraq.
Here, in the marshes, I felt that I was discovering this country for the first time. The scent of history that permeates the atmosphere made me proud to belong here, to this geographical land.
This experience opened the door for me to discover Iraqi society’s components that I had not known before.
This diversity in ethnicity, color, and religious affiliation is a strength of this country. Strong and resilient communities arise from differences, and visions ultimately unite within a national framework.
God created us with these sub-differences and gathered us in the name of humanity, and all religions serve the interest of humans and society, bringing inner peace and reassurance.
I am extremely proud to belong to the Knights of Dialogue team within the Masarat Foundation, and I am happy to have been part of this unique camp, eager to continue exploring the components of my country alongside my team members.
