Message from the Institute for Interreligious Dialogue in Iran
on the
Occasion of International Family Day
15 May 2008
from the IID President, Seyed Mohammad Ali Abtahi

Family is a unique sample of an Ideal Society "utopia" which combines variety with tolerance and interaction, where, all members have accepted that although they are different in nature but all have a same fate. It is only in Family that the concept of "Other" simply converts to" self", while there is no need to lose its independent & distinguished identity. Although Family is a place for emerging the concepts such as Tolerance, Varity and transformation, but it also is center of two great human values: Center of kindness and amity and center of Education & moral elevation .Kindness, education and perfection has no meaning without Family.
Perhaps it is because of the credibility of these values that all world religions emphasize on honor and holiness of family. Religions teach human beings to respect and honor perfection, Tolerance & affection. Prophet of Islam believed that all creatures are God's Family, for this reason, all members of this family should accept, love & tolerate each other and move towards perfection and moral elevation. But, this question remains: is there any place more deserved than family to be recognized as a source of Peace and security? Therefore, feeling security and benefit from world peace will be fulfilled if human being consider himself as a "body organs" (Saadi , Iranian Poem's quotation). Although , Family and concept of kinship have been facing threats but its stability always being advised by Religions.
Institute for Interreligious Dialogue (www.iid.org.ir ) appreciate United Nations Initiative for naming International Family day and hopes that Family gets stability around the world and Global Society emphasizes on its familial relationship.