An apology with a silent message

2025-03-30 16:07:00, Opinione Dr.Arben Ramkaj

His Excellency, Dr. Abdulkarim Isa, celebrates Eid in Albania – an act of greater significance than it seems

On the quiet morning of Eid al-Fitr, the square in front of one of the central mosques in Tirana was filled with a special experience: the holiday prayer was led by Dr. Abdulkarim Isa, one of the most important personalities in the Islamic world today, and an increasingly heard voice on the global stage for a responsible, reflective Islam at the service of humanity.

This was not just a religious act. It was a symbolic, diplomatic, humane act.

Dr. Isa, in his role as Secretary General of the Islamic World League, has led continuous efforts to convey messages of moderation, justice and unity between different nations and societies. He has been present in Indonesia, Pakistan and now Albania – three countries with a Muslim majority, but with different historical, cultural and political experiences.

The choice of Albania is neither accidental nor merely symbolic.
In silence, Albania has become an example of religious life that is neither formal nor conflictual. It is integrated into society, humble in representation, pure in purpose. This is a value that, for countries with numerous identity challenges, sounds more like a luxury than a reality. Precisely for this reason, the presence of a leader of this level in our country is a sign of a correct reading of a model that deserves more attention from the Islamic world – and not only.

Dr. Isa has become known for his efforts to reduce tensions in fragile regions of the world, to create bridges between minds and souls. His words are not populist, but profound. He does not seek to impose himself through authority, but to inspire through example. And the example he set in Albania was clear: small countries with a soft voice can have a great weight in building a more balanced world.

At a time when the clashes of identity, religion and politics produce polarization and uncertainty, this quiet act – an Eid al-Fitr prayer in Tirana – is a powerful reminder that faith does not need noise to leave its mark.

In the end, what is remembered is not just the prayer, but its moral depth. It is the moment when a figure of global influence joins a simple community in a small country, to share not only prayer but also respect. This is diplomacy that is not done with trumpets, but with humility. And perhaps, this is precisely the diplomacy that our world is missing./ CNA