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Islamic teachings have long encouraged human solidarity for their great benefit to society. Almighty Allah said, “And do what is good so that you may be successful” (Al-Hajj: 77), “Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness” (Al-Maidah: 2), and “There is no good in most of their secret talks, except those encouraging charity, kindness, or reconciliation between people. And whoever does this seeking Allah’s pleasure, We will grant them a great reward.” (An-Nisa: 114). Prophet Muhammed PBUH also said, “Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs.” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).

On International Human Solidarity Day, the Muslim Council of Elders calls on individuals as well as international and civil organizations to exert efforts to uphold human solidarity amongst people of all backgrounds as a means to alleviate global suffering and achieve stability.

Under the Chairmanship of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Muslim Council of Elders has exerted countless efforts towards achieving human solidarity. This was highlighted by the historic Document on Human Fraternity which was co-signed in 2019 by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar along with His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church in Abu Dhabi. The Document is considered one of the most important steps toward achieving global peace and human solidarity.

“The Document on Human Fraternity is the pinnacle of interreligious dialogue”

“The Document is one of the most important steps taken towards conceiving contemporary global peace”

“The Muslim Council of Elders is exerting great efforts to consolidate peace and coexistence”

“Cultural differences are no longer common threats. We must work together to build bridges of communication for a better future”

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has spoken in the opening session of the 7th Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue which was held in the Czech Republic. 

During his speech, Judge Abdelsalam said, “Interreligious and inter-cultural dialogue are especially important considering recent global challenges. The Document on Human Fraternity is the pinnacle of interfaith dialogue and is one of the most important steps taken towards conceiving contemporary global peace.”

Abdelsalam added, “The historic Document on Human Fraternity which was co-signed by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates was the preeminent event for interfaith relations in modern history.”

He also added, “There is a shared vision towards directing future generations down the path of coexistence and human fraternity. This can be seen with the adoption of the Document on Human Fraternity in various school and tertiary curricula, with a total of 1.5 million students around the world benefiting from the noble values of the Document. Likewise, the anniversary of the Document’s signing on the 4th of February has been recognized by the United Nations as the International Day of Human Fraternity. Also, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity was launched with the aim of recognizing individuals and groups who embody the values of human fraternity.”

Judge Abdelsalam concluded, “The Muslim Council is exerting great efforts to consolidate peace and coexistence through its many meetings with world leaders. The Council will continue to spearhead efforts to spread human fraternity through its many initiatives to stop all forms of conflict and bloodshed. I thank the organizers of this important event including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Anna Lindh Foundation.”

His Excellency Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, met on Sunday with Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam. The two sides discussed a number of topics and projects under the framework of the cooperation and close ties between the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Muslim Council of Elders.

During the meeting, the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain expressed his appreciation for the outstanding efforts exerted by the Muslim Council of Elders in helping to organize the Bahrain Dialogue Forum with the theme: “East and West for Human Coexistence.” The forum, held on 2-4 November 2022, under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, featured the participation of His Eminence Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church. His Excellency applauded the fruitful cooperation between the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Muslim Council of Elders in serving issues of mutual interest.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders underscored the significance of the strong relationship and strategic partnership between the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Muslim Council of Elders, which had a great impact on the success of the Bahrain Dialogue Forum and the historic visit of His Eminence Grand Imam Al-Tayeb and His Holiness Pope Francis. He further affirmed the profound appreciation of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, for the leadership and people of the Kingdom of Bahrain, wishing them prosperity and progress.

Judge Abdelsalam congratulated His Excellency the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs on the great success of the Bahrain Dialogue Forum, praising the great efforts made by His Excellency Sheikh Abdulrahman in organizing the forum and overseeing its preparation, which led to the success of this outstanding global event.

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.