It is wonderful news to hear that the most senior Muslim cleric in Australia, the Grand mufti of Australia, has flown to Jakarta to plead the lives of the Bali 9 ringleaders, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.

The Grand mufti’s reasons enhance the implications of his visit.  He said, quoted in the Age:

“On behalf of the Islamic community of Australia, we plead, with respect and humility, for mercy for the lives of two young Australian men, who have not only shown repentance for their serious crimes, but have rehabilitated themselves and indeed others” he also said that this plea for mercy and forgiveness ‘is the spirit of Islam’ and is central to its heritage, especially when there is true repentance.

In so doing, he sums up the fundamental reasons as to why the president of Indonesia should grant mercy to these two people.

The implications of this for the integration of Islamic people into Australian society are profound.  Andrew Chan, has recently been ordained a Christian minister.  So we have the leader of Muslims in Australia, pleading for lives of two people who are not Muslims and one if not both are Christians and emphasising mercy in the light of repentance.

This emphasises to me, the true foundation for religious dialogue.  If, for example, and speaking hypothetically, Islam is God’s true way, then we, who do not follow it but are genuine in our life values, can depend upon a God who is merciful.

This emphasis on mercy is where all religions can meet and can help break the harshness of the judgementalism that often exist between religions – ‘If you do not follow our way, God will reject you’.

Although not necessarily always obvious, it is at the heart of Christianity.  Jesus on the cross cried out ‘forgive them Father, they do not know what they are doing’.  This cry from the cross resonates in the heart of humanity and emphasises what Christians mean by saying that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world.

We might say that mercy is a more fundamental attribute of God, than judgement.

We, as Australians, should thank the Grand mufti and those who went with him for the intervening on behalf of the two Australians and the example they have set us of the true nature of Islam, in the face of the horrendous presentation by groups such as ISIS.

I pray that their gesture will be noticed by all Australians and change the attitude of many who often do not treat their fellow Australian citizens who are Muslims, with love and respect.