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His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, met with the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2023 judging committee to discuss the award’s contribution to the future of global human fraternity and its role in promoting the values of peaceful coexistence and recognizing individuals and entities that play an active role in this field. 

During the meeting that took place on the sidelines of the Grand Imam’s visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain on 4th November, the Grand Imam asked the jury members to advance the work of the Document on Human Fraternity – signed by the Grand Imam and Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi in 2019 – and consolidate its principles of peaceful coexistence, dialogue, and solidarity in both East and West.

The Grand Imam said: “My hope is that together we can accelerate the work of human fraternity because this Document came out of a dedication to God and to the service of humanity. Perhaps it was the will of God to have such a declaration that promotes the protection of the most vulnerable. Our world is in dire need of work that fosters a better future for all members of our human family.” The Grand Imam also stressed to the jury members that it is important to work together to transform the award into a global platform advancing the values of the human fraternity. 

For their part, the jury candidly shared their suggestions to the Grand Imam on how they plan to engage all parts of societies in the mission of human fraternity – specifically relating to the protection of women’s and children’s rights, the promotion of education, and conflict resolution – and affirmed that the values outlined in the Document will serve as a source of guidance for them during the selection of the honorees of the fourth round of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2023. 

The members of the judging committee praised the Grand Imam and Pope Francis – the 2019 honorary co-recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity – for their partnership and commitment to instilling the values of human fraternity in a world plagued by conflict and crisis.

The independent Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2023 judging committee includes United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations H.E. Miguel Ángel Moratinos; former Vice President of Costa Rica H.E. Dr. Epsy Campbell Barr; Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization at the Holy See His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle; 2014 Nobel Peace Laureate and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi; and 2015 Nobel Peace Laureate and entrepreneur Dr. Ouided Bouchamaoui, and Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity and the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam

Following the meeting, Judge Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, said: “This meeting serves as a good push for the jury that represents diverse cultures and backgrounds. We come from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.” He added that the award always looks forward to receiving nominations for individuals and entities from around the world who epitomize the human fraternity values outlined by the Grand Imam and Pope Francis in their historic declaration.

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is an annual independent global award that recognizes, supports, and honors people and entities of all backgrounds working to advance the timeless values of solidarity, integrity, fairness, and optimism.

The award was established following the historic meeting between His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, in 2019 in Abu Dhabi, during which they co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity. 

The award is worth $1 million dollars, presented every year in February to the honoree(s). It is named in honor of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the United Arab Emirates. The values the award celebrates reflect Sheikh Zayed’s dedication to working closely with people from all backgrounds, his moral legacy, humanitarianism, and respect for others and helping them, regardless of their religion, gender, race, or nationality.

MCE Secretary-General: “Religious leaders shoulder the responsibility of countering global challenges and promoting sustainable development”

Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE) Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has stressed that religious leaders and faith-based organizations must counter global challenges and contribute to sustainable development. He further said they should take advantage of their spiritual influence on millions worldwide.

This came during the Secretary-General’s virtual participation in the opening session of the international meeting, co-hosted by Religions for Peace and Manresa City Council in Spain, with the theme: “At a Crossroads: A Multireligious Intergenerational Response to the Social and Environmental Crises.” In his remarks, Judge Abdelsalam said we are indeed at a crossroads where our world is facing a real challenge in terms of grave crises that have left millions of refugees, forcibly displaced people, and many others uprooted and on the move. He noted that all of this happening while the world has not fully recovered from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.

These challenges are obstacles to efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the 11th goal of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Therefore, as leaders of faiths, communities, and faith-based organizations, we should join forces to develop efficient programs. We should consolidate our efforts to build capable, ambitious strategies to address social and environmental crises and create generations that are better informed and more capable of facing today’s challenges, Judge Abdelsalam explained.

He underlined the importance of building upon the great efforts made by the two prominent religious figures in our contemporary world, His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, and His Eminence Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, noting that they have set a unique example of leading interfaith dialogue and building a culture of human encounter.

The Secretary-General pointed out that the MCE, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, will spare no effort to help address the global challenges and build safer, inclusive, and resilient communities. He added that the MCE shares the same mission of creating a world where justice and equality prevail and all acts that harm man, the environment, or the earth – our common home – will come to an end.

The Secretary-General of the Council of Muslim Wise Men, Chancellor Mohammed Abdel Salam, met Madame Magi Vino Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of the Republic of Albania to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation.

During the meeting, the sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relationships, especially in the areas of youth empowerment, humanitarian coexistence, and promoting the values of dialogue and tolerance.

The Secretary-General of the Council of Muslim Wise has expressed his appreciation for Albania’s efforts in spreading the values of dialogue and acceptance of each other, hailing the Albanian model of tolerance and coexistence.

On her part, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of the Republic of Albania reaffirmed her appreciation for the great efforts led by the United Arab Emirates in spreading and promoting the values of humanitarian brotherhood, commending the efforts of the Muslim Council of Wise Men to promote peace in Muslim communities and other Muslim, adopting many initiatives aimed at promoting peace and human coexistence.

Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has met with  President of Al-Qarawiyyin University Dr. Amal Jalal. They discussed the role of well-established universities in promoting the values of peaceful coexistence.

The two parties underlined the role that ancient universities can play in building new generations equipped with the needed skills to advance the values of peaceful coexistence and carry the torch of tolerance and human fraternity through their educational and academic curricula.

During the meeting, the MCE Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco through its various educational institutions, including Al-Qarawiyyin University, to educate imams and provide them with the necessary knowledge to address today’s challenges. He praised the Moroccan model of coexistence and mutual understanding among different faiths.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas that empower young people to contribute to sustainable global peace.

– All faiths call for protecting children and the need to bring them up in a sound family environment.

– The Document on Human Fraternity states that the protection of children’s fundamental right to grow up in a family environment, to receive nutrition, education, and support, is the duty of the family and society. 

Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE) Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam stressed that serious action must be taken to ensure a better future for our children, noting that all faiths call for the need to protect children and to bring them up in a sound, caring environment. 

The Secretary-General’s comments came during the MCE’s participation in the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children 2022 Conference, co-organized by Arigato International and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome under the theme ‘World Day of Prayer and Action for Children 2022’. Judge Abdelsalam said there are millions of children suffering because of the ongoing wars, conflicts, and crises. These conditions have multiplied the number of refugees, displaced families, and children on the move leaving their homes and communities, although they have done nothing wrong. 

Judge Abdelsalam explained that the Document on Human Fraternity, signed by His Eminence Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and His Holiness Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi, 2019, provides for the protection of children. 

The Document states: “The protection of the fundamental right of children to grow up in a family environment, to receive nutrition, education, and support, is the duty of the family and society. Such duties must be guaranteed and protected so that they are not overlooked or denied to any child in any part of the world. All those practices that violate the dignity and rights of children must be denounced.” 

The Secretary-General praised all efforts undertaken to preserve children’s dignity, protecting them against all threats and challenges, and providing them with a sound, caring environment to grow up in, so they can play their role as future leaders of our world. 

He also applauded the continued endeavors spearheaded by the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities in the United Arab Emirates for rallying support and concern for the protection of children worldwide. He stressed the MCE’s profound concern for the welfare of children through several initiatives and programs to promote effective and positive communication with children. 

In his remarks, the Secretary-General called for launching a ‘common human call’ for saving millions of children worldwide from the appalling humanitarian conditions threatening their lives and futures. He urged creating a ‘global movement for the protection of children and their human dignity, based on the common ethical and religious responsibilities of all communities. All actors and concerned entities should be engaged to help enact new, binding laws to provide comprehensive and efficient social protection of children and to find radical solutions for the problems that our children, who are future leaders, are facing.

In the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE) participated in the Indonesia International Book Fair 2022, which was held from November 9 to 13. MCE participated with a group of publications addressing key intellectual issues, correcting misconceptions, combating hate speech, racism and intolerance, and providing potential solutions, in addition to spreading the values of goodness, love, peace, and coexistence among all people.

The Council’s pavilion witnessed great turnout and interaction from exhibition visitors, including families, researchers, and students, interested in the various publications at the Council’s pavilion.

Among the most prominent publications of the Muslim Council of Elders exhibited at the Indonesia International Book Fair 2022 were “Kind Words” by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and MCE Chairman Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, “The Pope, and the Grand Imam: A Thorny Path: A Testimony to the Birth of the Human Fraternity Document” by Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, MCE Secretary-General; and “The Fatwa, Its Principles, and the Responsibility of the Mufti and the Asker” by Prof. Ahmad Mabad Abdul Karim, member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar. The books also included “Love in the Holy Qur’an” by MCE member HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, “East and West: Can They Meet?” by Mohammad Arafa, and “Methodology of Thinking in Faith) by Imad Khafaji.” The following books were also exhibited: “Religious Thought and Issues of the Age” by Prof. Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar and a former MCE member, along with various books translated into the Indonesian language.

The MCE’s participation in the Book Fair aligns with the mission of the Council, which aims to promote peace, consolidate the values of dialogue and tolerance, and build bridges of cooperation between people of different backgrounds and beliefs.