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The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has taken part in the opening of the second edition of the Eshraqat festival in Abu Dhabi. The festival is organized by the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence. 

Speaking at the event, Judge Abdelsalam said, “This festival, which is held under the theme ‘Tolerance is Knowledge’, is an important opportunity to introduce the UAE’s efforts in spreading and promoting tolerance and coexistence, especially amongst young children.”

The festival was opened by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in the United Arab Emirates. The three-day festival is being held in partnership with 18 different local and international organizations and will take place at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain for the success of the recently concluded ‘Bahrain Dialogue Forum’ as well as the positive reception of the historic co-visit 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, Pontiff of the Catholic Church. 

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam said, “The Kingdom of Bahrain is a symbol of how to achieve dialogue and coexistence between people of different religious and sectarian backgrounds. From here, the Grand Imam’s invitation for an inter-Islamic dialogue was issued for the purpose of achieving Islamic unity. This goes with the continued Islamic-Christian dialogue through the ‘Dialogue between East and West’ initiative, which aims to spread coexistence between all of humanity.”

Judge Abdelsalam praised the efforts of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain in supporting and promoting coexistence and His Majesty’s willingness to provide the necessary resources to make the Bahrain Dialogue Forum a resounding success.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders reiterated the Council’s many projects and initiatives that will build on the results of the Bahrain Dialogue Forum. He insisted that the fruits that humanity is reaping are increasing following the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in 2019 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, Pontiff of the Catholic Church, which was the initial inspiration for the Bahrain Dialogue Forum.

The Director of the Fatwa Department at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai and member of the Muslim Council of Elders His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Haddad has praised the Council, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, for continually entrenching coexistence between all people since its founding.

Al-Haddad added, “Islamic sharia has always sought to achieve unity and the Muslim Council of Elders hopes to achieve this great Islamic teaching amongst all people through the historic Document on Human Fraternity. This noble document, which was universally welcomed by all religions and co-signed by two religious symbols in His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders along with His Holiness the Pope of the Catholic Church.”

He concluded, ” The Muslim Council of Elders has organized many conferences, seminars, and meetings in order to achieve and entrench peaceful coexistence globally. The Bahrain Dialogue Forum, which will be attended by the Grand Imam and Pope Francis alongside other religious leaders, aims to continue this noble strategy.”

The Kingdom of Bahrain is set to host the ‘Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence’ on the 3rd and 4th of November under the patronage of the His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The forum will be attended 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, Pontiff of the Catholic Church alongside 200 religious leaders and prominent academic and media figures from around the world.

The Bahrain Dialogue Forum is set to be held in partnership between the Muslim Council of Elders, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence.

Climate change and global food shortage to also be discussed

The Muslim Council of Elders is set to hold its upcoming 16th meeting in the Kingdom of Bahrain on the 4th of November. The meeting will be chaired 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, Pontiff of the Catholic Church and will feature discussions on contemporary issues facing humanity between Council members and senior figures from the Holy See.

Commenting on the upcoming meeting, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam said, “During the upcoming dialogue, religious leaders will share their respective visions towards tackling some of the most prominent contemporary issues facing humanity. Most prominent among these will be climate change and the negative effects it has on the lives of people as well as on food and water supplies.  Also on the table will be the promotion of Muslim-Christian dialogue for the purpose of human fraternity.”

It is hoped that the upcoming meeting between members of the Muslim Council of Elders and senior figures from the Catholic Church will be a positive model for relations between religious leaders as well as their respective roles and responsibilities towards addressing contemporary global challenges. This can be achieved through the application of serious steps and practical solutions from a unique religious perspective, which can in turn alleviate the negative effects they have on humanity.

The Muslim Council of Elders under the Chairmanship of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb strongly condemns the twin blasts in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu which resulted in the hundreds of casualties.

The Council reiterates its categorical rejection of such terrorist attacks and violence, which contradict the teachings of all religions as well as international laws and norms. It calls for a unified stand in order to eradicate and uproot such vicious acts of terrorism.

The Council also extends its condolences to the people and leadership of Somalia as well as the families of the victims who perished in the attacks while praying for a speedy recovery for the wounded.

His Virtue Dr. Allahshukur Pashazade, Sheikh-ul-Islam and Grand Mufti of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus and member of the Muslim Council of Elders has remarked that the upcoming Bahrain Dialogue Forum “represents another important step on the road to Human Fraternity and coexistence.” 

The Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board added, “We were all witnesses to the historic 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 alongside His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church in Abu Dhabi in 2019. This Document has contributed greatly towards coexistence and mutual respect not only between Muslims and Christians, but also amongst people of different religions and beliefs.”

The Muslim Council of Elders member added, “It is imperative to uphold and support the noble values within this important document, which was signed by two great religious leaders. Likewise, these values must be supported at the highest international levels in order to see true impact on the ground. Therefore, the Bahrain Dialogue Forum represents an important step on the road to human fraternity and coexistence. May Allah grant humanity peace and prosperity and continue to bless human fraternity.”

The Kingdom of Bahrain is set to host the ‘Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence’ on the 3rd and 4th of November under the patronage of the His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The forum will be attended 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, Pontiff of the Catholic Church alongside 200 religious leaders and prominent academic and media figures from around the world.

The Bahrain Dialogue Forum is set to be held in partnership between the Muslim Council of Elders, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence.

His Holiness Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, received Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, in Vatican City. His Holiness reaffirmed the importance of continuing interfaith and intercultural dialogue to advance peace and coexistence. The Pope expressed appreciation for the role of the Muslim Council of Elders in this regard.  

For his part, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, expressed appreciation on behalf of the Council and its Chairman – Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif –for Pope Francis’ efforts in consolidating fraternity and coexistence, as well as His Holiness’ continued calls for advancing peace and the culture of encounter among all people. 

Judge Abdelsalam highlighted the upcoming visit of His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to the Kingdom of Bahrain in early November and their participation in the Bahrain Dialogue Forum as constituting a new milestone on their journey of human fraternity, which has attracted the attention of the world following their co-signing of the Abu Dhabi Document on Human Fraternity on February 4, 2019. 

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders presented His Holiness with the council’s trophy featuring the three-word slogan of the Muslim Council of Elders, “Tolerance, Coexistence, and Human Fraternity,” engraved in Arabic calligraphy. The Pope congratulated Judge Abdelsalam on his role and wished him good luck. 

The Muslim Council of Elders is an international, independent organization that seeks to promote peace within Muslim and non-Muslim communities and to advance the values of dialogue, coexistence, and human fraternity worldwide. Its board members are a globally recognized group of wise Muslim scholars known for their knowledge and moderate approach. It is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

The Muslim Council of Elders will participate in the “Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence” in partnership with the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence