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For the fourth consecutive year, the Muslim Council of Elders is participating in the New Delhi World Book Fair, which will be held from January 10 to 18, 2026, at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Center in the Indian capital, New Delhi. The Council’s participation stems from its mission to promote peace, establish the values of dialogue and tolerance, and build bridges of cooperation and human coexistence.

Throughout the days of the fair, the Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion will present over 270 publications, including a number of the latest releases from Al-Hokamah Publishing. These include over 20 works by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, aimed at introducing the tolerance of Islam and the richness of its intellectual and philosophical heritage. Among these works are: “Al-Qawl Al-Tayyib,” “From My Old Notebooks,” “A View on East-West Dialogue,” “An Introduction to the Study of Ancient Logic,” “A Discourse on Causes and Objectives,” “On Sufi Theological Terminology,” “Heritage and Renewal,” “For the Sake of Peace,” “Reflections on the Thought of Imam Al-Ash‘ari,” “Etiquette and Values,” “Towards Contemporary Jurisprudential Ijtihad,” and “Lady Aisha, Mother of the Believers,” among others.

The pavilion will also feature several important publications, including: “Love in the Holy Qur’an” by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders; “The Pope and the Grand Imam: A Thorny Path” by Judge Mohamed Abdel Salam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders; “Rules of Understanding and Comprehension in Thought and Language” by Dr. Mustafa Benhamza, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders; and “Muslims at a Crossroads” by the late Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zakzouk, among others.

Recognizing the importance of translation as a bridge between civilizations, the Council will also showcase 25 books in Hindi, Urdu, and Malayalam, including: Al-Qawl Al-Tayyib, Care for Women’s Rights, Interpretation of Ibn Furak, A Discourse on Peace, Dialogue Between East and West, and  Freedom and Citizenship.

Additionally, the pavilion will present numerous translated works, such as “The Voice of Change,” “Shared Universal Values and Building International Peace” by a group of researchers, “Combating Islamophobia in Europe” by a group of researchers, “Islam and Good Governance” by Professor Dr. Muqtedar Khan, and “Islam, the West, and Tolerance: Conceiving Coexistence” by Aaron Tyler.

As part of its participation in this cultural event, the Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion will organize a series of seminars aimed at fostering discussions that promote social cohesion and highlight the role of religions in addressing contemporary challenges. These seminars will cover several important topics, including: “AI for Humanity: Religious Perspectives on Ethical Artificial Intelligence”, “Interfaith Dialogue in the Spirit of the Document on Human Fraternity” and “Intra-Islamic Dialogue – A Reading of the Call for the People of Qiblah”.

The participation of the Muslim Council of Elders in the New Delhi World Book Fair reflects its ongoing efforts to build bridges of communication between cultures and affirm the importance of shared human values on the global stage. The Council’s pavilion (H6) is located in Hall 4 at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Center, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, called upon the brotherly Yemeni people, in all their factions and components, to unite and to elevate the voice of reason, wisdom, and the spirit of fraternity to safeguard Yemen’s unity, stability, and territorial integrity.

In a post published on his official Facebook and X accounts, His Eminence wrote: “Our brothers and sisters in Yemen—this land so dear to every Arab and Muslim—we sincerely urge you to elevate the spirit of fraternity and the voice of reason and wisdom for which the people of Yemen have long been known. Our noble Messenger (peace be upon him) spoke of this when he said: ‘The people of Yemen have come to you and they are more gentle and soft-hearted. Belief is Yemenite and Wisdom is Yemenite.’ Hold fast to this wisdom, preserve the unity of your country, and turn toward peace through dialogue and consultation.”

The Grand Imam also called on Arab nations and the international community to intensify efforts to safeguard the stability of Yemen, warning against the grave risks of fragmentation and extremism. He recalled the Qur’anic verse: “And do not dispute with one another, or you would be discouraged and weakened” (The Qur’an, 8:46).

He concluded his message with a prayer for Yemen and the wider Arab and Muslim worlds, saying: “O Allah, protect the lands of the Arab and Muslim nations, and spare them from discord and strife, both manifest and hidden.”

The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Arab and Muslim worlds, and to all of humanity, on the advent of the New Year 2026. The Council prays that the coming year will be one of peace, understanding, coexistence, and shared human values.

The Council affirms that the new year represents a renewed opportunity for the global human family to promote a culture of dialogue, reject violence and hatred, and advance collective efforts to build a more just, compassionate, and stable world. It emphasizes that true peace can only be achieved through adherence to moral values and respect for human dignity.

The Council calls upon religious, intellectual, and political leaders, as well as international institutions, to unite their efforts to end conflicts and wars, address the root causes of crises, and promote a discourse grounded in wisdom and reason—one that contributes to communal peace and human security.

The Council also renews its commitment in 2026 to advancing the values of moderation, tolerance, and human fraternity, and to further promoting dialogue among religions and cultures, in pursuit of a more compassionate, just, and peaceful future marked by solidarity and coexistence.

Throughout 2025, the Muslim Council of Elders continued to advance its intellectual and scholarly mission through its knowledge arm, Al-Hukama Publishing, releasing a wide range of thought-provoking books and studies addressing contemporary Islamic thought, social cohesion, interfaith dialogue, and the promotion of the culture of coexistence and peace.

These publications—spanning original scholarly works and carefully curated translations into several world languages—aim to convey the true message of Islam, grounded in compassion, justice, and wisdom, to a global audience. They seek to strengthen the presence of a balanced, enlightened discourse capable of addressing today’s intellectual challenges.

Among the most notable titles published are: The Roots of Sectarian Division in the Muslim World into Sunnis and Shias; Peace in Africa; Exploring Shared Contexts in Building International Peace; Islam and the West: Understanding the Causes of Tension and the Pathways to Dialogue; Managing Conflict in the Muslim World; Religion and the Great Civilizations of Asia; Islamic Principles in Family Organization; The Qur’anic Vision of Humanity; International Peace: Shared Values and Foundational Concepts; and The Ethics of Dialogue in the Qur’an—alongside many other works addressing questions of thought, identity, and constructive dialogue.

As part of its ongoing efforts to promote enlightened and moderate thought and counter misinterpretations of religion, the Muslim Council of Elders also published in 2025 the book “100 Questions on Methodology, Creed, and Law,” which presents thoughtful, scholarly responses to one hundred common questions and misconceptions exploited by extremist ideologies to sow division, mislead youth, and undermine social cohesion. The book adopts a calm, rigorous academic approach rooted in sound scholarship and intellectual balance.

Through a catalog that now exceeds 250 titles in eight world languages, the Muslim Council of Elders continues to invest in knowledge as a cornerstone of peacebuilding. These efforts reflect a firm conviction that enlightened thought is the first line of defense against hatred, extremism, close-mindedness, and a powerful tool for fostering dialogue, coexistence, and human fraternity across worldwide.

Throughout 2025, the Muslim Council of Elders demonstrated a consistent and principled moral stance in addressing the pressing issues facing the Muslim world and humanity at large. Through its positions and initiatives, the Council reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to promoting peace, fostering the values of dialogue, coexistence, tolerance, and mutual respect, and rejecting all forms of hatred, violence, extremism, terrorism, and Islamophobia.

During the year, the Council focused its efforts on countering extremist ideologies, fostering interfaith dialogue, and reinforcing the values of understanding and coexistence among diverse communities within the Muslim world. It emphasized that safeguarding human dignity is a shared moral and religious responsibility, and that defending the causes of the Muslim Ummah is inseparable from defending universal human values. The Council consistently called upon the international community to adopt a just and balanced discourse that contributes to global peace and stability.

Concerning the aggression against Gaza, the Muslim Council of Elders issued a series of statements firmly condemning the ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip. It called for an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people, which has persisted for more than seven decades, and reaffirmed the necessity of reaching a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause, including recognition of the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Council also categorically rejected all attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians and expressed support for Arab, Islamic, and international positions defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

The Council further condemned the violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Jerusalem, including statements by the Israeli occupation prime minister regarding the so-called “Greater Israel” vision, the announcement of the construction of 3,400 new settlement units in the West Bank, the approval of two laws imposing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, and plans to establish 19 new settlements. It also denounced attempts to seize control of the Ibrahimi Mosque, repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, the decision to occupy the Gaza Strip, and extremist calls to destroy the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Council strongly condemned attacks targeting Christian communities in Jerusalem, including assaults on the Latin Monastery Church in Gaza. It welcomed the announcements by France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal recognizing the State of Palestine, and urged all countries to recognize the establishment of the State of Palestine.

As part of its efforts to advance peace globally, the Council condemned the Israeli military strike on the Qatari capital, Doha, as well as Israeli occupation attacks on Iran and Syrian territory. It called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and prioritize dialogue and understanding, welcomed the ceasefire between the two countries, and also welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Council further welcomed peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan aimed at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement, as well as the outcomes of the Arab Extraordinary Summit in Cairo and the Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit convened in response to the Israeli occupation’s attack on Doha.

With regard to rejecting violence and terrorism, the Muslim Council of Elders strongly condemned acts of violence in New Orleans and Las Vegas in the United States; the shooting at an educational institution in Sweden; the vehicle-ramming attack in Munich, Germany; the terrorist attack on a train in Balochistan, Pakistan; the attack on a church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the attack on a church in the U.S. state of Michigan; the shooting incident at Brown University; the kidnapping of more than 300 students and staff from a Catholic school in Nigeria; the terrorist attack in northeastern Nigeria; and the attack on a humanitarian convoy in North Darfur, Sudan. The Council reiterated the urgent need to intensify global efforts to promote dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and the values of human fraternity.

In addressing Islamophobia, the Council condemned the killing of a worshipper inside a mosque in southern France, the murder of Algerian student Rahma Ayat in the German city of Hanover, attacks on a mosque in northern Nigeria and another in North Darfur, and called for the development of a comprehensive global strategy to combat all forms of racism, extremism, hatred, and Islamophobia. It further urged the enactment of binding legislation criminalizing such acts and the promotion of a culture of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, mutual respect, and human fraternity.

Regarding humanitarian solidarity in times of natural disasters, the Council expressed solidarity with the people of Afghanistan following the devastating earthquake in the country’s east and north; with the victims of floods in the Kurdistan Region; with Bangladesh following a deadly earthquake; with Indonesia after floods and landslides; with Thailand and Myanmar after devastating earthquakes; with Türkiye following the Marmara Sea earthquake; with Qatar after the tragic traffic accident in Sharm El-Sheikh; with Morocco following floods in the city of Safi; with Iraq after the bridge collapse in Karbala; with Pakistan after deadly floods; with Sudan following a devastating landslide in the Darfur region; and with Algeria after the Oued El-Harrach accident.

The 2025 record of the Muslim Council of Elders reflects a principled and steadfast moral approach rooted in the defense of human dignity and the causes of the Muslim Ummah, and the promotion of peace and coexistence. In a world facing mounting challenges, the Council continues to stand as a voice of wisdom, conscience, and responsibility.

Throughout 2025, the Muslim Council of Elders, through its regional offices, continued to advance the values of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and peace, while expanding its global outreach and deepening engagement with Muslim communities worldwide. These efforts aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the most pressing challenges facing communities today and to draw inspiration from diverse experiences in building social cohesion and peaceful coexistence among people of different religions, cultures, and intellectual traditions. This work reflects a strategic vision to broaden the Council’s global impact and strengthen its on-the-ground presence across regions.
 
During 2025, the Council’s regional offices served as beacons of hope and bridges of communication, dialogue, and coexistence amid a world facing complex and interrelated challenges. These offices—located in Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Central Asia region, including Kazakhstan—played a central role in advancing the Council’s mission by organizing a wide range of scholarly, cultural, and outreach initiatives. These activities were implemented in partnership with official institutions and religious, academic, and civil society organizations at the local, regional, and international levels, with a focus on promoting dialogue, advancing a culture of tolerance, and fostering peaceful coexistence.
 
In Kazakhstan, the Central Asia office of the Muslim Council of Elders, headquartered in Astana, organized a series of major initiatives aimed at promoting spiritual diplomacy, advancing Islamic culture, and fostering the values of dialogue and coexistence. Among these initiatives was a joint workshop on artificial intelligence, organized in cooperation with L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, bringing together leading AI specialists from across Central Asia. The two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding in the fields of artificial intelligence ethics and technological innovation, marking the beginning of a long-term academic and cultural partnership.
 
The office also organized an international roundtable at the Egyptian University of Islamic Culture “Nur-Mubarak” in Almaty, titled “Spiritual Diplomacy and the Preservation of the Sacred Heritage of World Religions.” The event explored the role of religious institutions in safeguarding global spiritual heritage. In addition, two workshops were held on “Media and Peace Journalism in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” in Turkistan, in cooperation with Khoja Akhmet Yassawi University, and in the city of Almaty, in partnership with the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue, with the participation of policymakers, academics, journalists, and media experts from Central Asia.
 
During the holy month of Ramadan, the Central Asia office organized several programs, including Ramadan missions, a communal iftar, and an Islamic calligraphy exhibition in Kazakhstan. These events were attended by senior officials, diplomats, representatives of religious institutions, and civil society organizations, and aimed to promote dialogue, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.

At a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan, attended by His Eminence Sheikh Nauryzbai Kazhy Taganuly, Supreme Mufti of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan; His Eminence Professor Dr. Mohamed Al-Duweini, Undersecretary of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif; and His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, the Central Asia branch launched the Kazakh-language edition of the book Foundations of Islam by His Eminence Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders. On this occasion, His Eminence Sheikh Nauryzbai Kazhy Taganuly announced that the book would be incorporated into the curricula for training imams in Kazakhstan, as part of efforts to promote a balanced and enlightened understanding of Islam.
 
In Indonesia, the Council’s branch organized the Harmony Camp, a youth camp bringing together 40 participants from diverse religious backgrounds. The program focused on fostering coexistence, environmental responsibility, and ethical approaches to artificial intelligence as a shared human and religious responsibility. The branch also hosted a Ramadan communal iftar for religious leaders and organized the Council’s Ramadan outreach programs across the country, including a national Ramadan radio program and a Ramadan competition. In addition, it held a national seminar entitled “When Scholars Embrace Algorithms,” in cooperation with Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University in Yogyakarta, attended by more than 700 academics, researchers, and postgraduate students.
 
The Indonesian branch also launched an initiative to translate the Document on Human Fraternity into Braille, coinciding with World Braille Day, and distributed it to persons with visual impairments to promote inclusive access to the values of peace and human fraternity. It also organized a nationwide sermon competition on the themes of human fraternity and religious responsibility toward the environment, with the participation of 890 imams from across Indonesia.
 
In Pakistan, the Muslim Council of Elders’ branch participated in the National Youth Climate Summit 2025, held in Islamabad, which brought together more than 500 participants, including policymakers, academics, youth leaders, government officials, and students. The Council emphasized the importance of empowering youth to play a leading role in addressing climate change and advancing environmental sustainability.
 
During the month of Ramadan, the Council’s office in Pakistan also hosted an iftar gathering for religious leaders, senior officials, diplomats, and academics. In addition, it took part in the Council’s Ramadan missions, which included visits to several regions—among them Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and the capital Islamabad—to lead religious programs, deliver lectures, promote moderation, and spread enlightened religious discourse. The branch also organized a Ramadan competition, translated several publications, and participated in the Lahore and Karachi International Book Fairs.
 
In Malaysia, the Council’s branch continued its efforts to strengthen engagement with all segments of Malaysian society through a wide range of activities. These included translating several of the Council’s publications into Malay and organizing cultural and educational initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue, tolerance, and peace.
 
Through all these efforts, the Muslim Council of Elders continues, in 2026, to implement a wide range of intellectual, cultural, and community-based programs aimed at promoting the values of dialogue, coexistence, and peace; strengthening moderation and balance; and building bridges of understanding among followers of different religions and cultures—thereby affirming its global mission to advance human fraternity and foster an enlightened, inclusive religious discourse responsive to the challenges of our time.

As part of its participation in the Karachi International Book Fair 2025, the Muslim Council of Elders organized its second symposium titled: “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and the Responsibility of Religious and Educational Institutions.” The session featured Mufti Abdul Munim Faiz, Media Director at Al-Rasheed University – Karachi, and Engineer Faraz Hussain Borrero, Founder of “PakGPT” and Co-Chairman of “Pro Global AI,” and was moderated by Muhammad Adeel Al-Azhari, Translation Officer at the Muslim Council of Elders’ Pakistan office.

The symposium opened by emphasizing that the growing presence of artificial intelligence technologies in the lives of individuals and societies imposes clear responsibilities on religious and educational institutions—not only in transferring knowledge to youth and future generations but also in defining the ethical and human framework for using these technologies. This ensures that AI serves human values, preserves human dignity, and promotes social responsibility in the digital age.
Participants praised the Muslim Council of Elders’ commitment to promoting the ethical use of artificial intelligence as an intellectual and humanitarian issue requiring responsible approaches. They noted that the Council, in collaboration with various partners, is working to develop reference frameworks and standards to guide AI development and usage, preventing it from encroaching on values, violating rights, or creating informational confusion among the public—especially in highly sensitive areas.

In his remarks, Engineer Faraz Hussain Borrero provided a simplified explanation of how AI systems generate responses, noting that outputs are directly linked to the nature of the data they receive and the way questions are formulated. He explained that this affects the accuracy and quality of results and their usability in daily life, given the growing reliance on these technologies across multiple fields.

For his part, Mufti Abdul Munim Faiz stressed that the prudent use of AI by students and the public should remain within the framework of referencing sources and supporting researchers, rather than turning into complete dependence on ready-made answers taken without review or verification. He warned that validation is a critical condition before issuing any rulings, especially on religious matters and fatwas, explaining that AI-generated answers may vary depending on question phrasing, user context, and language. This, he said, requires critical awareness and reinforces the need for trusted scholarly references.

The symposium featured an interactive discussion and active participation, with numerous questions raised about addressing ethical challenges related to AI applications and ways to minimize cognitive errors and risks associated with circulating inaccurate or unverified information. Speakers emphasized that collaboration between AI developers and religious and educational institutions is essential to provide accurate data for models and to develop precise standards for handling content.

Students and researchers from various religious and educational institutions in Pakistan attended the symposium and expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to gain direct insights into AI and its ethical dimensions within an organized knowledge framework. They commended the Muslim Council of Elders’ initiatives and efforts to open serious discussions on contemporary issues affecting people’s lives and to develop ethical frameworks that guide the development and use of modern technologies in harmony with human values.

The Council’s pavilion at the Karachi International Book Fair is located in Hall 1, Pavilion 45 at the Karachi Expo Center and is open December 18 to 22, 2025.

Throughout 2025, the Muslim Council of Elders strengthened its cultural and intellectual presence around the world through active participation in numerous international book fairs. These efforts reflect the Council’s mission and its role in promoting peace, spreading the values of moderation, coexistence, tolerance, and dialogue, and reinforcing the principles of human fraternity in the face of a rapidly changing world.

The Council’s participation in thirteen major fairs attracted significant attention from visitors, researchers, thought leaders, cultural figures, and officials. These engagements included organizing cultural meetings and intellectual discussions aimed at raising awareness of shared human values and reaffirming the role of knowledge in promoting peace and countering extremism, fanaticism, hatred, and Islamophobia.

In 2025, the Council took part in book fairs in Cairo, New Delhi, Lahore, Erbil, Tunis, Rabat, the Istanbul Arabic Book Fair, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, the America International Arabic Book Fair, the Indonesia Islamic Book Fair, Alexandria, and Iraq. Each participation featured diverse cultural and intellectual programs, including dozens of seminars and dialogue sessions addressing a wide range of intellectual, cultural, literary, and religious issues. Discussions focused on values of tolerance and coexistence, Intra–Islamic dialogue, the role of youth and women in peacebuilding, and the development of enlightened religious, cultural, and educational discourse while also emphasizing the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence in serving humanity and society, alongside special activities dedicated to youth, women, and children.

The Council’s global book fair engagements earned several awards and honors, including the Best Pavilion Award at the Jakarta Islamic Book Fair for the third consecutive year, and the Outstanding Partnership Award at the America International Arabic Book Fair. Additionally, the Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Karachi International Book Fair was recognized as a distinguished international participant by Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Minister of Education for Sindh Province. Organizers of the Cairo International Book Fair and the Istanbul Arabic Book Fair also honored the Council’s pavilion in appreciation of its efforts to promote knowledge and coexistence.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ participation in global book fairs forms part of a clear strategy aimed at transforming culture and knowledge into bridges of understanding between peoples and platforms for fostering reasoned and wise discourse in a world marked by rapid transformations and growing challenges.