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The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Justin Welby. During their meeting, the pair discussed the importance of enhancing the role of religious leaders in peacebuilding, especially in light of the various challenges facing the world today. The Archbishop of Canterbury praised the wisdom of the Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, His Eminence Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and the Council’s initiatives in promoting and strengthening the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has received His Excellency Ramin Mammadov, the Chairman of the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations in the Republic of Azerbaijan, at the Council’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The meeting focused on ways to enhance cooperation in interfaith and intercultural dialogue and mechanisms to empower religious leaders in addressing global challenges.

During the meeting, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam emphasized that the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence  Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, places great importance on activating the role of religious leaders in addressing global challenges which include promoting peace and fostering coexistence among followers of different religions and sects. He also praised Azerbaijan’s pioneering experience in establishing values of communication and understanding between religions as well as enhancing Islamic solidarity, and striving for peace in Asia and the world.

For his part, His Excellency Ramin Mammadov commended the effective role of the Muslim Council of Elders in promoting and enhancing the values of human fraternity, tolerance, and building bridges of dialogue and cultural communication. He further highlighted the Council’s prominent role in involving religious leaders in tackling climate change and affirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to implementing a leading approach that fosters coexistence among various cultural and religious components in the country. He also expressed his desire for further fruitful cooperation with the Muslim Council of Elders to support efforts aimed at enhancing and achieving stability and development for different communities and peoples.

The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, praises the Arab quintet statement issued by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt. This statement supports the mediation efforts led by Cairo, Doha, and Washington to achieve a prisoner exchange deal that would lead to a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages and detainees, and adequate entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.

The Muslim Council of Elders fully endorses these mediation efforts, aimed at stopping the aggression on the Gaza Strip, ending the resulting humanitarian catastrophe, ensuring the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the strip, and launching a reconstruction process as part of a comprehensive plan to implement the two-state solution in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, with specific timelines and binding guarantees.

The Council also emphasizes the urgent need to de-escalate tensions across all occupied Palestinian territories, to end the suffering of the Palestinian people that has persisted for over seven decades, and to affirm the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expresses deep concern over the dire humanitarian conditions in Sudan, including forced displacement, food and medicine shortages, and the spread of epidemics. The Council urges the international community and global humanitarian organizations to take serious and concrete actions to resolve the crisis and ensure that relief aid reaches the affected areas, especially the most vulnerable groups such as the sick, children, women, and the elderly.

The Muslim Council of Elders also calls for an immediate ceasefire and emphasizes the need to prioritize dialogue over conflict, end internal fighting, and promote reconciliation and solidarity among the Sudanese people. The Council reaffirms its unwavering support for all efforts aimed at facilitating serious and fruitful dialogue to resolve the Sudanese crisis peacefully, prioritizing national interests. This dialogue should lead to a final agreement that ensures the unity of Sudan and meets the Sudanese people’s aspirations for safety, peace, and stability.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, emphasizes that caring for and honoring parents are among the most beloved and significant acts of worship in the eyes of Allah Almighty and that honoring parents is a profound form of devotion, often mentioned alongside the oneness of Allah in the Holy Quran, underscoring their esteemed status and crucial role in an individual’s life.

In a statement issued on the Global Day of Parents, which falls on June 1 of each year, the Council asserts that Islam firmly underscores the obligation to respect and care for parents, recognizing their immense contributions to their children’s lives. It is considered one of the greatest acts of obedience and worship, directly linked to Allah’s pleasure. The Holy Quran says: (And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and that you be kind to your parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age while with you, say not to them [so much as], ‘uff,’ and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.) (Al-Isra: 23-24).

Islam also urges children to respect their parents, treat them with humility and kindness, bring joy to their hearts, acknowledge their sacrifices, and treat them with mercy and affection. Fulfilling their needs and caring for them is not only a religious duty but also an expression of gratitude and loyalty for their immense efforts and sacrifices in raising their children and maintaining the family. This commitment fosters cohesive societies that uphold the values of compassion, love, and respect.

The Muslim Council of Elders concluded the second edition of the Azadi Fellowship Programme in Islamabad, Pakistan, graduating 25 young men and women from various religious sects and beliefs. Participants completed a specialized training plan that included a series of discussion and dialogue sessions led by a distinguished group of speakers from around the world, including the United States of America, France, the United Kingdom, Al-Azhar University in Egypt, Romania, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Sessions focused on empowering and equipping the participants to play an active and influential role in their communities and globally, to promote values of dialogue and communication between different religions and cultures, spread the values of tolerance and human fraternity, address global peacebuilding challenges, and counter hate speech, extremism, and discrimination.

The program, organized by the council over a period of two weeks and was held in collaboration with the International Research Council for Religious Affairs (IRCRA), the Islamic Research Institute at the International Islamic University, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism (KPCECVE), and the Resala organization in Pakistan. It also included 100 religious leaders and figures, alongside numerous officials, politicians, thinkers, intellectuals, academics, and peacebuilding experts from 15 different regions within Pakistan, representing various religions and speaking five different languages.

Participants praised the pioneering efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in promoting the values of human fraternity, tolerance, and coexistence, and in building bridges of communication and dialogue between different religions. They expressed their commitment to enhancing the national narrative of social harmony, acting as ambassadors of coexistence and peace, and spreading the message of the Document on Human Fraternity within their communities.

The Azadi Fellowship Programme also included a series of important visits to several prominent research centers and cultural and heritage sites in Islamabad, Pakistan. Such visits aimed to introduce program participants to the best practices in the field of peacebuilding and to promote tolerance, coexistence, and religious and cultural pluralism.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, condemns the Israeli occupation’s targeting of Palestinian refugee camps in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, which resulted in many civilian casualties and injuries.

The Council calls on the international community and the UN Security Council to take urgent and serious action as well as assume their responsibilities in order to put an end to the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip. It also calls for the re-opening of the Rafah border crossing to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. 

The Muslim Council of Elders reiterates its stance that establishing a just and comprehensive peace can only be achieved by ending the suffering of the Palestinian people, which has persisted for over seven decades, and by recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, welcomes the International Court of Justice’s ruling ordering Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, which has exacerbated the humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

The Muslim Council of Elders reiterates its call for an immediate end to the aggression on Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of innocent civilians. It also emphasizes the urgent need for the sustained and unobstructed delivery of humanitarian and relief aid to Gaza, and urges Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice’s ruling to keep the Rafah border crossing open for humanitarian assistance.

Furthermore, the Muslim Council of Elders calls on the international community to take responsibility and end the suffering of the Palestinian people, which has persisted for over seven decades, and to recognize their legitimate right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Muslim Council of Elders held a panel discussion titled “The Role of Religious Institutions in Promoting Peaceful Coexistence” as part of the Azadi Fellowship Programme, which commenced on Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan. The event featured prominent speakers including Dr. Zia-ul-Haq, President of the Islamic Research Institute at the International Islamic University; Dr. Kamal Buraikah, Professor of Islamic Studies at the International Islamic University in Islamabad; Mr. Sardar Ranjit Singh, former Member of Parliament for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Bishop Samuel Robert Azaria, Director of the Center for Christian Studies in Rawalpindi; and Mr. Christopher Sharaf, Coordinator of the “Saiban e-Pakistan” program for Christian minorities. The session was attended by several religious leaders, intellectuals, academics, and researchers.

At the beginning of the session, Sardar Ranjit Singh highlighted that the Document on Human Fraternity, which was co-signed by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders along with His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church, represents a comprehensive and clear humanitarian constitution. He emphasized the need for religious leaders to leverage their influential roles to promote the culture and values of human fraternity, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect, especially among youth, to ensure these values are deeply rooted from a young age. This, he noted, contributes to creating a global environment characterized by justice, equality, and brotherhood.

Dr. Kamal Buraikah affirmed that peaceful coexistence is a fundamental principle everyone should adopt, praising the pioneering efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders since its inception as well as its vision of enhancing peaceful coexistence and interfaith understanding as an effective means to overcome the challenges faced by multicultural societies.

For his part, Bishop Samuel Robert Azaria stressed the ability of different religions to bring about positive and lasting change in society. He underscored the significant responsibility of religious institutions in spreading values of tolerance and mutual understanding and embracing diversity and respect for others, which are essential steps towards achieving a cohesive and integrated society that is more just and humane.

The panel discussion also showcased major initiatives and projects launched by the Muslim Council of Elders aimed at fostering peace in both Muslim and non-Muslim communities and promoting the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence. Participants also noted the crucial role of religious institutions in enhancing peaceful coexistence and the urgent global need to promote positive concepts, acceptance, and respect for others, affirming that all individuals belong to a single human family and that despite our diverse religious backgrounds, it is our duty to spread peaceful coexistence worldwide.

The Muslim Council of Elders has organized several discussion sessions addressing major contemporary humanitarian challenges. One of the key topics was climate change, where the Council highlighted its efforts to activate the role of religious leaders in addressing the climate crisis by holding the Global Faith Leaders Summit for Climate, which resulted in the publishing of the “Call of Conscience: Abu Dhabi Joint Statement for Climate.” The summit came prior to the launch of the Faith Pavilion at COP28, which was the first of its kind in the history of COP conferences and which was a global platform for dialogue aimed at finding effective solutions to the climate crisis. Additionally, the Council held a session discussing religious freedom and interfaith relations, emphasizing the importance of promoting religious freedom to establish societies that respect diversity and allow individuals to practice their beliefs freely without fear of discrimination or persecution, thereby reducing conflicts and enhancing social peace.

The Muslim Council of Elders launched the second session of the Azadi Fellowship Programme in Islamabad in collaboration with the International Research Council for Religious Affairs (IRCRA), the International Islamic University, the Islamic Research Institute, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism (KPCECVE), and the Resala organization in Pakistan. The program is held from May 18 to 25 and involves 25 young men and women from various religious backgrounds with the aim of instilling a culture of religious and cultural dialogue as well as supporting efforts to promote peaceful coexistence, combat hate speech and extremism, and address the challenges of global peacebuilding.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, asserts that cultural diversity is a human value reflecting diverse human experiences and is also a divine law which is a part of the fabric of the universe, promoting harmony, cooperation, dialogue, and mutual understanding.  In the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah says: {O mankind, We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted} (Surah Al-Hujurat: 13). Since the dawn of Islam, the Islamic world has witnessed rich intellectual and cultural diversity that has enriched its civilization and extended its influence across the world.

In a statement on the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which is observed on May 21 each year, the Council emphasizes that embracing cultural and civilizational diversity among individuals is the only path to establishing a culture of dialogue, tolerance, and human fraternity. It is also crucial for combating all forms of hatred, discrimination, racism, and extremism. The Council also calls for intensified efforts to promote the values of pluralism, mutual respect, acceptance of others, and intercultural dialogue to achieve development and build a better future for coming generations characterized by understanding, peace, and harmony.

The statement highlights that the Muslim Council of Elders is diligently working to promote a culture of dialogue and underscore the importance of respecting diversity and building bridges of communication. The Council has launched numerous initiatives, including East-West dialogues, international peace convoys and the Emerging Peacemakers Forum. Additionally, the Council played a key role in launching the historic Document on Human Fraternity, which was co-signed by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church, in Abu Dhabi in 2019. The document affirms that pluralism and differences in religion, color, gender, race, and language are expressions of divine wisdom, which Allah has created humanity upon, making it a fundamental basis from which rights and freedoms stem.