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The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, has affirmed that protecting the environment and preserving natural resources are shared moral and humanitarian responsibilities that require concerted international efforts to address growing environmental challenges and secure a more sustainable future for generations to come.

In a statement marking World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5, the Muslim Council of Elders emphasized that Islam, along with all divine laws, calls for the stewardship and flourishing of the Earth and forbids corruption and destruction within it. These teachings promote the values of moderation and responsibility in the use of natural resources, helping to achieve a balance between the demands of development and the preservation of the environment.
The statement highlighted the importance of raising environmental awareness and supporting initiatives aimed at tackling climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. It stressed that environmental protection is no longer merely a local or regional concern, but a global responsibility that requires effective international cooperation, sustainable partnerships, and collective action at every level.

The Muslim Council of Elders has made significant efforts to strengthen the role of religious leaders and faith communities in addressing global challenges, particularly environmental and climate-related issues. In this regard, the Council organized the Global Faith Leaders’ Summit on Climate Action. The summit resulted in the issuance of the Confluence of Conscience: Uniting for Planetary Resurgence”, also known as “The Abu Dhabi Interfaith Statement for COP28”. The statement was endorsed by more than 30 prominent religious leaders from around the world, including His Eminence Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and His Holiness Pope Francis.

The Council also organized the Faith Pavilion during COP28 in the United Arab Emirates and COP29 in the Republic of Azerbaijan—the first initiative of its kind in the history of the UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs). The pavilion helped highlight the vital role of religions and ethical values in supporting international efforts to protect the environment and combat climate change.

The Muslim Council of Elders renews its affirmation that caring for the environment and safeguarding its natural resources are integral to humanity’s responsibility toward itself, its communities, and future generations. The Council calls for continued collective action to protect our planet and preserve the future of humankind.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, has affirmed that fostering a culture of living together in peace is among the most essential means of building stable, cohesive societies capable of confronting hate speech, intolerance, and violence. The Council emphasized that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but rather a comprehensive framework grounded in mutual respect, the preservation of human dignity, and the promotion of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence.

In a statement issued on the International Day of Living Together in Peace, observed annually on May 16, the Council stressed that the world is now in urgent need of a comprehensive strategy to promote a culture of understanding and rapprochement among peoples, religions, and cultures. It also underscored the importance of advancing the values of human fraternity, solidarity, and cooperation, particularly in light of the ongoing crises, wars, and conflicts worldwide, as well as the rising tide of hate speech, racism, and extremism—trends that threaten societal security and stability and undermine prospects for peace and sustainable development.

The Council further noted that Islam, along with all divine religions, seeks to instill the values of mercy, peace, and mutual understanding among humanity. It called on religious, educational, media, and cultural institutions to fulfill their responsibilities in fostering a human-centered awareness that promotes acceptance of others and respect for diversity, while countering attempts to sow division and discord. The Council affirmed that genuine investment in the future of humanity begins with nurturing individuals who are capable of positive coexistence and contributing to the advancement of peace.

Since its establishment in Abu Dhabi in 2014, the Muslim Council of Elders has played a pivotal role in promoting peace and advancing the values of dialogue, tolerance, fraternity, mutual understanding, and rapprochement among religions and cultures. This has been achieved through pioneering initiatives such as “East–West Dialogue” and the “International Peace Convoys,” which culminated in the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi in 2019. In addition, the Council has launched numerous programs and initiatives, most notably the “Emerging Peacemakers Forum” and the “Human Fraternity Fellowship,” alongside intellectual publications and international conferences that contribute to strengthening dialogue, coexistence, and citizenship, while countering extremist ideologies and hate speech.

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, received the Grand Mufti of Poland, affirming Al-Azhar and the Council’s commitment to strengthening ties with Muslim communities around the world, in a manner that promotes the values of citizenship, coexistence, and mutual respect.

For his part, the Grand Mufti of Poland emphasized the Polish Fatwa Council’s adherence to Al-Azhar’s enlightened and moderate approach, expressing his nation’s aspiration to enhance cooperation in order to advance a balanced religious discourse that promotes the values of dialogue, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Rabat International Publishing and Book Fair hosted a cultural seminar titled “The 100 Questions Project in Methodology, Creed, and Sharia,” by Dr. Samir Boudinar, Director of the Al-Hokama Center for Peace Research, in the presence of scholars, intellectuals, and individuals engaged in intellectual and religious affairs.

The seminar presented an intellectual and scholarly examination of the book “The 100 Questions Project in Methodology, Creed, and Sharia,” which represents the outcome of a collaborative academic effort between Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders. The work aims to provide well-grounded and balanced answers to a number of contemporary intellectual and theological questions and misconceptions raised within Muslim societies today, contributing to the promotion of sound religious awareness, the entrenchment of moderation and balance, and the confrontation of hate speech and extremist ideologies.

Dr. Samir Boudinar explained that the book draws upon a diverse range of scholarly and classical sources, including the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah, as well as works of theological debate, scholarly discourse, and refutation that have historically contributed to shaping doctrinal positions and reinforcing ethical and human values within Islamic civilization. He noted that the phenomena of misconceptions, extremism, hatred, and excess are not confined to Islamic culture alone, but rather constitute a global challenge affecting various cultures and societies.

The seminar also reviewed the book’s key themes, including methodological approaches to understanding religion, the relationship between reason and revelation, the principles governing legal opinions (fatwas) and the higher objectives of Sharia, and the role of creed in shaping human behavior. It further addressed issues such as excommunicatio, the concept of the caliphate, and other contemporary intellectual challenges, underscoring the importance of developing a balanced religious discourse that confronts extremism and promotes the values of peace and coexistence.

The Muslim Council of Elders, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence of the United Arab Emirates, is participating at the 31st Rabat International Publishing and Book Fair, which runs until 10 May 2026. The pavilion showcases more than 275 publications in five languages, alongside a diverse program of seminars and cultural and intellectual events aimed at promoting the values of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and peace.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Rabat International Book Fair hosted a seminar titled “Toward a Philosophy for the Age of Wisdom: Reflections on Science, Revelation, and Philosophy,” featuring Dr. Mustafa Hijazi and moderated by Dr. Samir Boudinar, Director of the Al-Hokama Center for Peace Research, and was attended by a group of intellectuals, academics, and media professionals.

The seminar offered an in-depth intellectual reading of Dr. Mustafa Hijazi’s book “Seizing the Wind: Reflections on Science, Revelation, and Philosophy,” one of the latest 2026 publications by Al-Hokama Publishing. The work presents a critical vision of the trajectory of human civilization and explores the possibility of founding a new era grounded in wisdom, regarded as the missing link in a world rapidly advancing toward material and technological superiority at the expense of meaning and humanity.

Dr. Mustafa Hijazi explained that the book serves as an intellectual testimony to the major transformations experienced by humanity across the ages. It traces the evolution of both cosmic and human concepts from prehistoric times through the agricultural, industrial, and information eras, and into the age of artificial intelligence. He cautioned against the erosion of human meaning and the loss of intellectual freedom amid the dominance of technology and the accelerating pace of epistemic change.

Hijazi also emphasized that overcoming the current civilizational crisis requires restoring centrality to the questions of meaning and truth, beginning anew with the fundamental question of “why.” Such a reorientation, he noted, would contribute to redefining the relationship between humanity and science, education, society, the economy, and the media. He stressed that building an “Age of Wisdom” can only be achieved through the integration of revelation, philosophy, and human knowledge—moving beyond the false dichotomy between reason and meaning.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating at the 31st Rabat International Publishing and Book Fair, which runs until 10 May 2026. The pavilion showcases more than 275 publications in five languages, alongside a diverse program of seminars and cultural and intellectual events aimed at promoting the values of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and peace.