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The Muslim Council of Elders’ Indonesian branch organized a seminar in the main hall of the 2023 Islamic Book Fair in Indonesia. The seminar announced the publishing of thee book ‘Islam and Politics: Civilized Political Behavior,’ authored by His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, Indonesia’s former Minister of Religious Affairs and member of the Muslim Council of Elders.

The seminar was attended by Dr. Luqman Hakim Saifuddin, the former Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia, and Dr. Abdul Muta’i, the Secretary-General of the Muhammadiyah Association. They highlighted the book, which received great acclaim from the exhibition visitors, in light of the significant scientific and intellectual experience of His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Quraish Shihab.

Following the seminar, Dr. Quraish Shihab, Dr. Luqman Hakim Saifuddin, and Dr. Abdul Muta’i visited the council’s booth where they were welcomed by Dr. Mukhlis Muhammad Hanafi, the Director of the council’s branch in Indonesia. They praised the outstanding participation of the council in the Islamic Book Fair in Indonesia and the council’s message aimed at spreading and enhancing the values of peace, tolerance, and coexistence.

For the second consecutive year, the Muslim Council of Elders is participating with in the Islamic Book Fair in Indonesia, reflecting the council’s message under the leadership of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar which is aimed at promoting peace and establishing values of dialogue, tolerance, and fostering cooperation among people of different races and beliefs.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand is located in the Mecca hall at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

The Muslim Council of Elders organized a seminar at the Islamic Book Fair in Indonesia, focusing on 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, and His Holiness Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

The seminar was presented by Dr. Salah Al-Shami, member of the Heritage Revival Center at Al-Azhar, and Dr. Mukhlis Hanafi, the Director of the branch of the Muslim Council of Elders in Indonesia. During the seminar, the spotlight was placed on the Document on Human Fraternity and its discussion as a foundation for dialogue, coexistence, and the establishment of the concept of citizenship.

Dr. Mukhlis Hanafi emphasized that the Document on Human Fraternity is based on the awareness that all humans are brothers. He further pointed out that the document embodies the principles of tolerance, coexistence, which are advocated by all religions. It also represents an extension of the values included in the Charter of Medina, which was signed in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) allowing all members of the city, regardless of their religious or ethnic background, to live together as one community.

The Director of the branch of the Muslim Council of Elders in Indonesia highlighted the concept of citizenship as one of the concepts included in the Document on Human Fraternity. This concept is based on the principle of equality in rights and duties within a nation regardless of race or religion. He pointed out that this concept reflects respect for diversity and the necessary acceptance of others to build nations, contributing to the creation of a harmonious and understanding society.

Dr. Salah Al-Shami provided an explanation of the general concept of the document and an interpretation of its key terms. He explained that there is a close relationship between these three terms: “document,” “fraternity,” and “humanity,” and “Islamic law.” The word “document” refers to the meaning of agreement or covenant and what it entails in terms of consensus.

He added that the second term, “fraternity,” expresses the concept of brotherhood and connection between humans. He pointed out that there are two types of fraternity: religious fraternity, as in Islam, which comes from Islamic teachings and appears in the teachings of the Quran and Hadith. Meanwhile, human fraternity lies in people living and cooperating together, regardless of their religious, ethnic, or tribal affiliations. He further explained that the term “humanity” refers to the essence of the human call to hold onto their humanity and its values even before their call to religion.

For the second consecutive year, the Muslim Council of Elders is participating in the Islamic Book Fair in Indonesia, reflecting the council’s message under the leadership of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar which is aimed at promoting peace and establishing values of dialogue, tolerance, and fostering cooperation among people of different races and beliefs.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand is located in the Mecca hall at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders: The World Needs the Efforts of Youth in Facing International Challenges and Keeping Pace with Technological Advances

Chancellor of Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities Commends the Initiatives of the Muslim Council of Elders in Promoting Peace and Human Fraternity

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, has met with His Excellency Dr. Khalifa Al Dhaheri, Chancellor of the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities. The meeting took place at the university’s campus and focused on ways to enhance mutual cooperation.

During the meeting, the Secretary-General emphasized the crucial role played by educational institutions in instilling noble human values in the hearts and minds of youth. He also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities in preparing a generation of young graduates capable of serving their nation and community, as well as contributing to effective solutions for the challenges our world faces today, while also keeping pace with technological advancements.

For his part, Dr. Khalifa Al Dhaheri expressed his appreciation for the Muslim Council of Elders under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azha and noted that the integration of efforts between scholars and educational institutions aims to create generations capable of carrying the banner of wisdom and knowledge. He further commended the council’s initiatives aimed at preparing a generation of young people capable of promoting peace and enhancing the values of human fraternity.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, has called for the necessity of fostering a culture of peace, compassion, tolerance, coexistence, and mutual respect among all people, despite their differences and diversity. This is in order to create a world that is more secure, peaceful, just, developed, and sustainable.

In a statement on the International Day of Peace, celebrated by the United Nations on September 21 of each year, the Council emphasizes that the day represents an important opportunity to strengthen and build bridges of communication, understanding, and compassion amongst all people, and to reject violence and extremism in all its forms and manifestations. The Council also affirmed that religions were intended to promote the values of peace, and were never meant to be advocates for wars, conflicts, or disputes.

Under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the Muslim Council of Elders has made numerous efforts to promote peace in both Muslim and non-Muslim societies, and to spread the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence through various purposeful initiatives. This includes organizing the World Peace Conference in 2017, with the participation of His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church who also co-signed the historic Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

Believing in the role and active contribution of young people in promoting global peace, the Muslim Council of Elders also launched the Emerging Peacemakers Forum, aiming to equip a generation of young individuals capable of actively contributing to peacebuilding and positively engaging in their communities through a range of initiatives. Furthermore, the Council dispatched international peace convoys that traveled around the world, to help rectify misconceptions and confront extremist ideologies.

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders affirms that the painful history of Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot be forgotten

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders affirms the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an Islamic center in the heart of Europe

Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Cairo extends official invitation to Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to participate in commemoration of Srebrenica massacre

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders has met with Ambassador Sabit Subasic, the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Egypt. During the meeting, His Eminence reaffirmed his support for Muslim communities around the world, especially in Europe. He also stressed Al-Azhar’s commitment to helping Muslim communities in the West to integrate positively into their societies.

The Grand Imam stressed the importance of not forgetting the harsh history that Bosnia has endured, with the suffering of the Bosnian people remaining deeply ingrained in our memory. He also highlighted the supportive role of Al-Azhar in advocating for the issues of the Islamic nation and expressed readiness to support the Bosnian people, strengthen their attachment to their homeland, and preserve their Islamic identity. He further noted the significance of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an an Islamic center in the heart of Europe.

For his part, the Bosnian Ambassador expressed his pleasure at meeting with the Grand Imam and conveyed his nation’s appreciation for the significant efforts undertaken by His Eminence in supporting Islamic causes. He also extended an official invitation to the Grand Imam to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in commemorating the 29th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, which occurred on July 11, 1995, and claimed the lives of thousands of Muslims.

For the Second Consecutive Year, Muslim Council of Elders to Participate at the 2023 Islamic Book Fair in Indonesia

The Muslim Council of Elders is set to participate in the 21st Islamic Book Fair taking place in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, from September 20 to 24. The participation aligns with the council’s mission under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar which aims to spread and promote values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence.

The council’s participation will include a range of publications, activities, and events addressing important intellectual issues that aim to correct misconceptions, combat hate speech, racism, bias, and discrimination, and provide possible solutions to confront them while promoting the values of goodness, love, and peace.

Among the notable publications featured by the Muslim Council of Elders at the exhibition are: ‘Al Qawl Al Tayeb’ by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders; ‘The Pope and the Grand Imam: A Thorny Path’ by Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders; ‘Fatwa and its Guidelines, the Responsibility of the Mufti and the Inquirer’ by Dr. Ahmed Mabad Abdul Kareem,  member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar; ‘A Word on Renewal’ by Dr. Hassan Al-Shafei, member of the Muslim Council of Elders; ‘Love in the Holy Quran’ by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, member of the Muslim Council of Elders; ‘The East and West, Do They Meet?’ by Mohamed Arefa; ‘Approaches to Thinking in Creed’ by Emad Khafaji; and ‘Religious Thought and Contemporary Issues’ by the late Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zakzouk.

Additionally, the council’s stand at the fair will host a number of seminars at the fair’s main stage to discuss various topics. One notable seminar will be about the book ‘Islam and Politics, Civilized Political Behavior’ by Dr. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, member of the Muslim Council of Elders, featuring the author as a speaker. The seminar will also include Dr. Luqman Al-Hakim, former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, and Dr. Abdel Mouti, the Secretary-General of the Muhammadiyah Society. This seminar will take place next Thursday at 3:30 PM. Another seminar titled ‘Religion and Climate Change: Discussion and Review of the Book ‘The Last Generation: Islamic World’s Efforts to Prevent Climate Change and Environmental Extinction’ will feature Dr. Mohammed Zein Al-Majid, member of the Executive Office of the Muslim Council of Elders, Dr. Fakhr Al-Din Muhammad Mangunjaya, President of the Center for Islamic Studies at the National University of Jakarta, and Tuwan Juro Bajang. This seminar will take place next Friday at 10:15 AM.

Likewise, at the council’s booth in the Mecca Hall, a seminar will be held next Saturday discussing the noble human principles included in the Document on Human Fraternity signed by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and His Holiness Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi in 2019. The seminar will feature Dr. Mukhlis Hanafi, the Executive Director of the branch of the Muslim Council of Elders in Indonesia, and Dr. Salah Al-Din Al-Shami, member of the Heritage Revival Center at Al-Azhar. This seminar will take place next Saturday at 1:00 PM. Dr. Al-Shami will also present publications from Dar Al Hokama Publishing House in a daily seminar at 11:30 AM.

For the second consecutive year, the Muslim Council of Elders is participating at the Islamic Book Fair in Indonesia in 2023, reflecting the council’s message under the leadership of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, aimed at promoting peace and establishing values of dialogue, tolerance, and fostering cooperation among people of different races and beliefs. The council’s stand will be located in the Mecca Hall at Istora Gelora Bung Karno in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

Muslim Council of Elders Condemns the Intrusion of Israeli Extremists into the Courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, strongly condemns the intrusion of Israeli extremists into the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, under the protection of the Israeli occupation police.

The Council emphasizes its unequivocal rejection of such blatant violations against the Palestinian people and their sacred religious sites and affirms that such practices are contrary to all international treaties, laws, and human norms, and constitute a blatant affront to the feelings of Muslims worldwide.

The Council also calls on the international community to take a stand against such violations and to support the rights of the Palestinian people in establishing an independent sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Meets Ambassador of Kazakhstan in the UAE to Discuss Ways of Enhancing Mutual Cooperation

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has met with His Excellency Madiyar Menilbekov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates, at the Council’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi to discuss ways to enhance mutual cooperation.

During the meeting, the Secretary-General emphasized that the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar places a great emphasis on Central Asian countries. He also commended Kazakhstan’s efforts in promoting the values of dialogue and communication with various cultures and religions and that the Seventh Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held in Astana has become a global platform for promoting dialogue and spreading the culture of interfaith and intercultural discourse.

For his part, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UAE praised the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders in promoting the values of peace, tolerance, and coexistence. He also noted that organizing the Faith Pavilion by the Muslim Council of Elders at COP28 is a culmination of the Council’s efforts in enhancing the role of religious leaders in confronting global challenges, particularly climate change. He expressed his nation’s unwavering readiness to further collaborate with the Muslim Council of Elders in the fields of dialogue, peace, and human fraternity.

Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Meets Ambassador of Uzbekistan in the UAE and Discusses Enhancing the Role of Youth in Interfaith Dialogue

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has met His Excellency Abdulaziz Urolboevich Akkulov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Arab Emirates, at the Council’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The meeting discussed ways to enhance mutual cooperation and strengthening the role of youth in interfaith dialogue as well as utilizing the scientific and cultural heritage held by the Muslim scholars and leaders.

During the meeting, Judge Abdelsalam affirmed that the Muslim Council of Elders has launched numerous youth initiatives that harness the capabilities of young people to achieve peace within the communities. He also commended the efforts made by the Republic of Uzbekistan in preserving the heritage of the scholars of the Muslim world and that the Transoxiana region represents an important scholarly resource in Islamic jurisprudence and heritage for all Muslim scholars. Abdelsalam called for the necessity of reviving the heritage of Muslim scholars as this contributes to introducing the knowledge that these scholars have contributed towards the progress of humanity, and acquainting current and future generations with the intellectual, cultural, and religious legacy they have left behind.

For his part, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the UAE praised the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in disseminating and promoting the values of tolerance and mutual coexistence. He also expressed his nation’s eagerness to collaborate with the Muslim Council of Elders in highlighting the role of Islamic scholars and leaders and acquainting the youth, in particular, with their scholarly and advocacy efforts.

Delegation from the Muslim Council of Elders Meets Officials and Religious Leaders in Mozambique

A delegation from the Muslim Council of Elders has visited Mozambique and met with a number of officials, religious leaders, and members of civil society to discuss avenues for enhancing mutual cooperation.

The delegation also held discussions with Sheikh Aminuddin Mohammed, President of the Islamic Council and Advisor to the President of Mozambique. Additionally, meetings were held with representatives of the Community of Sant’Egidio to discuss several collaborative initiatives. The delegation also visited the Supreme Islamic Council of Mozambique and met with representatives from Al-Azhar who are working in the country.

Furthermore, the delegation met with Bishop Dinis Matsolo, Synod of the Protestant Church and Advisor to the President of Mozambique and discussed the strengthening joint efforts against violence and promoting coexistence. They also visited the headquarters of the PIRCOM Initiative, aimed at fostering interfaith dialogue and enhancing the role of religion in social integration in Mozambique.

The visit included meetings with Dr. Albano Carige, the Mayor of the city of Beira, which is the second-largest city in the country. They also met with Ambassador Raúl Domingos, Mozambique’s Ambassador to the Holy See, and Professor Brazo Mazula, the first head of the Mozambican Election Committee. Additionally, the delegation met with bishops of the Catholic Church in the cities of Nampula and the capital Maputo with representatives from various community institutions in Mozambique were also present. The discussions emphasized the role of religions in rejecting all forms of violence, promoting national reconciliation and coexistence, and involving Mozambique in the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders to promote tolerance and coexistence.