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The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair held its fourteenth cultural seminar, titled “Al-Ash’ari and His Role in Advancing Community Peace.” The event featured Prof. Dr. Mohamed Yousry Jaafar, Professor of Creed and Philosophy at Al-Azhar University and member of the Al-Azhar Al-Ash’ari Center. Dr. Mohamed Mashal, also a professor at Al-Azhar and the scientific coordinator for the Al-Ash’ari Center, moderated the discussion.

At the start of the seminar, Dr. Jaafar highlighted that Imam Al-Ash’ari never label anyone of the people of Qibla (Muslims) as a disbeliever. He referenced his seminal work, “Maqalat al-Islamiyyin wa Ikhtilaf al-Musallin” (“The Discourses of the Islamists and the Disagreement of the Worshippers”), which promotes tolerance and peace. Dr. Jaafar emphasized the importance of promoting both community and global peace, urging followers of the Ash’ari and Maturidi schools, along with respected Hanbali scholars, to show that Islam inherently advocates peace, security, and safety. He argued that these principles are essential for ensuring tranquility and stability among people.

The professor of Creed at Al-Azhar University further explained that Imam Al-Ash’ari developed a methodology that harmoniously balances Aqal (Reason) and Naqal (Revelation). This approach has been followed by his successors up to the present day and has significantly contributed to creating a balanced thought process that benefits people and maintains peace. He emphasized that Islam is a global religion, and it is imperative for Muslims as a community to continually refine and enhance their outreach and dialogue.
The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a special stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, running from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand features a wide array of the Council’s distinguished publications, in addition to hosting a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting the values of kindness, love, peace, and communal coexistence among all people.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair is located next to the Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s stand, in Heritage Hall (Hall No. 4), at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in the Fifth Settlement.

The Muslim Council of Elders marked the beginning of its participation at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2025 with an impressive turnout at its pavilion, attracting a diverse audience of lecturers, students, and intellectuals eager to explore its vast collection of books. This marks the Council’s third consecutive year at the prestigious literary event, further strengthening its role in promoting intellectual and cultural exchange.

Throughout the day, visitors engaged with the over 250 publications showcased by Al-Hokama Publishing, covering themes such as religious pluralism, interfaith dialogue, peace studies, and Islamic scholarship. Particular interest was drawn to the newly released books available in Hindi, Urdu, and Malayalam, including ‘Al Iktirath Fi Hoqouq Al Inath (Concern for Female Rights)’, ‘Freedom and Citizenship: Diversity and Integration’, and 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. Additionally, visitors were drawn to other notable publications, including ‘The Pope and the Grand Imam: A Thorny Path’ by Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, available in Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu, and Malayalam, as well as ‘Islam and Good Governance’ by Dr. Muqtedar Khan and ‘Love in the Holy Quran’ by HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad. Attendees, including academics and researchers, highlighted the importance of these publications in addressing contemporary issues and fostering deeper intercultural understanding.

The Council’s pavilion remained a focal point throughout the day, drawing inquisitive discussions from students and scholars alike, reflecting a growing interest in the themes of peace, coexistence, and religious understanding. Many visitors praised the Council’s efforts in expanding access to knowledge through multilingual translations, allowing for a broader engagement with its works across India and beyond.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ participation at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2025 underscores its commitment to intellectual and cultural exchange, fostering dialogue, and promoting values of tolerance, peace, and coexistence. Through its diverse publications, translated works, and engaging discussions, the Council continues to bridge cultures and reinforce the importance of shared human values on the global stage. The Council’s pavilion (I-04) at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2025 is located in Hall 4 at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair hosted its eleventh cultural seminar titled “Texts and Margins: Methodologies and Misconceptions.” The event featured Sheikh Fawzi Konate, an Al-Azhar graduate and scholar from the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

At the start of the seminar, Sheikh Konate explained that ‘texts of knowledge’ encompass the foundational principles, rules, objectives, and key issues within a field. He described how the term ‘text’ refers to a concise book that distills these scholarly elements, making it comparable to a Mukhtasar (concise handbook), Mojaz (concise book), Risalah (treatise), Moqademah (introduction), or Al-Luma’ (primer on the principles of the doctrine).

Sheikh Konate outlined three key reasons scholars categorize texts. Firstly, they streamline and ease the memorization and comprehension of scientific principles and issues by condensing and simplifying the information. Secondly, they motivate students to learn directly from their teachers, thereby facilitating their educational journey. Thirdly, they help shorten the distance between a student and mastering the subject, which is the primary objective of studying these texts. Once this mastery is achieved, a person can fully grasp every aspect of the scientific principles.

The speaker also emphasized the importance of students accessing texts through proper channels. These texts should be verified by recognized scholars or authoritative academic institutions like Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and should be extensively supported with commentaries and annotations by scholars.

Sheikh Konate recommends that students of knowledge avoid excessive memorization of texts. Instead, he suggests mastering just three texts in each field: one for beginners, one for intermediate learners, and one for advanced students. This approach ensures a smooth and gradual progression both between the texts and within each text itself. After mastering these foundational texts, students should then explore commentaries and annotations to delve deeper into the finer details and underlying secrets of the discipline.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a special stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, running from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand hosts a large number of the Council’s distinguished publications, in addition to organizing a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting values of kindness, love, peace, and coexistence among all people.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand is located at the Cairo International Book Fair next to the Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s stand , in Heritage Hall (Hall No. 4), at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in the Fifth Settlement.

The Pakistan branch of the Muslim Council of Elders participated in the National Youth Climate Summit 2025, which was held in Islamabad. The summit witnessed the participation of over 500 individuals, including policymakers, experts, youth leaders, government officials, and students from various educational institutions.

The summit discussed several key themes, including the need to adopt comprehensive climate policies, enhancing the role of media in raising environmental awareness, and involving all segments of society in finding solutions to climate change. The participants emphasized the importance of collective action and cooperation between government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to address environmental challenges.

The participation of the Pakistan branch of the Muslim Council of Elders in this summit stems from its commitment to enhancing religious responsibility towards environmental and climate issues, and its support for empowering youth and boosting their role in facing environmental challenges. The Council’s involvement in the summit highlighted the importance of cooperation among different stakeholders, including policymakers, civil society, and the private sector, to ensure a sustainable future.

Moreover, the participation of the Pakistan office of the Muslim Council of Elders at the summit underscored the Council’s commitment to enhancing the efforts of religious leaders in confronting the climate challenge,and supporting youth as future leaders in the field, as part of its vision to promote values of coexistence, peace, and environmental sustainability.

The Muslim Council of Elders was established in 2014 as an independent international organization aimed at promoting peace and spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence. It confronts extremist thought through dialogue and collaborative action. The Council pays significant attention to environmental issues through its pioneering initiatives, such as launching the ‘Call of Conscience: The Abu Dhabi Interfaith Statement on Climate Change’ and the Faith Pavilion at both COP28 and COP29, which provides a platform for interfaith dialogue on climate issues. Additionally, the Council’s Emerging Peacemakers Forum (EPF) initiative aims to empower young people and enhance their contributions to building a more sustainable future.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair offers visitors a number of the latest releases from Al-Hokama Publishing for 2025, including the prominent book “Commerce in the Light of the Quran and Sunnah,” authored by Dr. Abdel Ghani Awad Al-Rajhi, one of the prominent scholars of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.

In this book, Dr. Awad Al-Rajhi clarifies the guidance of the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah—as a supreme perspective—on organizing commerce and commercial transactions, financial issues, and the ethics of commerce and traders from moral, psychological, social aspects, among other related issues. The book also explores various contemporary financial transactions and discusses the Islamic perspectives on them, all within the framework of the Quran and Sunnah.

The author explains in the Introduction section of the book that commerce is fundamentally a noble profession that plays a vital role in the life of a community. It stands as the cornerstone of trades that sustain the world’s systems and people’s livelihoods: agriculture, industry, and commerce. He emphasizes that if the merchant and the commercial system in any country are upright, in good standing, God-fearing in their dealings, uphold their honor, conscience, and responsibilities, and comply with the divine laws governing buying and selling, while considering national interests, public welfare, and promoting cooperation among people, they will be a source of goodness, mercy, and peace.

The author asserts that in line with the well-known saying, “religion is conduct,” upright conduct is most vividly displayed in commerce, buying, selling, and interacting with people to earn profit and increase capital. Consequently, commerce is deeply linked to the faith, ethics, conscience, and honor of the practitioner. Thus, the way one conducts their business dealings, manages their buying and selling, and grows their capital reflects on their religious observance, as well as their humanity and dignity.

The book is structured into the following sections: Introduction, Commerce: Its Definition, Commerce as an Innate Tendency and Social Necessity, Islam’s View of Commerce as an Innate Tendency, Commerce Among Arabs as a Dominant Phenomenon, How Commerce Fueled Religious Sentiments Among Arabs, The Impact of Commerce on Refining and Simplifying the Arabic Language, The Role of Commerce in Spreading Islam, Guidance from the Quran on Commercial Transactions and Financial Issues, Commercial Aspects in the Prophetic Sunnah, The Sunnah Praises Commerce at Times and Criticizes It at Others, The Ethics of Commerce and Traders, Various Types of Financial Transactions and Islam’s Stance on Them, and Conclusion.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a special stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, running from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand hosts a vast array of the Council’s distinguished publications, along with a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting values of kindness, love, peace, and coexistence among all people.
The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand is located next to the Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s stand in Hall 4 of the Egypt International Exhibition Center in the Fifth Settlement.

Dr. Hassan El-Shafei Addresses Theology Renewal at the Muslim Council of Elders’ Stand at the Cairo International Book Fair

 
The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair held its ninth cultural seminar, entitled “Theology and the Question of Renewal.” This session featured Prof. Dr. Hassan El-Shafei, a member of the Senior Scholars Authority at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders, and the Chairman of the Union of Arab Scientific Language Academies. The seminar was moderated by Dr. Mohammed Meshal, a lecturer in creed and philosophy at Al-Azhar University.

At the start of the seminar, Dr El-Shafei explained that the Islamic creed encompasses three pillars: Tawhid (the monotheism of Allah Almighty), belief in His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his teachings, and faith in the afterlife. He emphasized the distinction between the creed itself and the science of creed or theology, noting that for the general Muslim populace, having correct belief and proper worship are sufficient. However, theology, which involves the methodologies for proving doctrinal knowledge, is considered Fard Kifaya (a collective duty or obligation) that rests upon specialized scholars.

The member of the Muslim Council of Elders highlighted that renewal does not apply to the creed itself, as the creed does not evolve. Instead, renewal lies in the science of creed or theology, focusing on the methodologies rather than the beliefs, because the methods of proof can vary from one era to another.

The Chairman of the Union of Arab Scientific Language Academies clarified that the science of creed, or theology, is the discipline that explains and substantiates the creed, refutes the opposition, clarifies their errors, and responds to those who deny prophecy. He noted that the early generations, who were well-grounded in knowledge, saw the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions. As time passed and circumstances changed, leading to the emergence of numerous doubts and misconceptions, it became necessary to discuss these issues, demonstrate their flaws, and affirm the truth brought by religion. Thus, figures like Abu al-Hasan al-Ash’ari in Baghdad, Abu Mansur al-Maturidi in Transoxiana, and Abu Ja’far al-Tahawi in Egypt emerged. They utilized rational evidence to establish doctrinal truths and counteract skeptics and deniers, thereby supporting the creed of the Companions with proofs derived from reason, tradition, and knowledge.

The member of Al-Azhar’s Senior Scholars Authority highlighted the consensus among Muslims that reason and revelation do not contradict each other; what is reached through reason aligns with what is verified by the texts. He emphasized that those involved in renewing theological studies must adhere faithfully to the principles of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and return to the Quran, the fundamental source of all knowledge.

Sheikh El-Shafei stressed the importance of intra-Islamic dialogue, noting that although Islamic sects may differ on various issues, with some being right and others wrong, they are all still Muslims and remain part of the Ummah’s body. He warned against declaring other Muslims as non-believers or morally corrupt, referencing the stance of Imam Al-Ash’ari. As Imam Al-Ash’ari neared the end of his life, he summoned one of his companions and said: “Bear witness that I do not label anyone of the people of Qibla (Muslims) as a disbeliever, for all worship one God, and their differences are merely in their naming and associations.” 

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a special stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, running from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand features a wide array of the Council’s distinguished publications, in addition to hosting a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting the values of kindness, love, peace, and communal coexistence among all people.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair is located next to the Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s stand, in Heritage Hall (Hall No. 4), at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in the Fifth Settlement.

Dr. Adel Fahmy from Cairo University’s Faculty of Media Praises the Role of the Muslim Council of Elders in Promoting Awareness and Disseminating Ethical Values Through Various Communication Channels

Dr. Reda Amin, Dean of Al-Azhar University’s Faculty of Media, Warns of Digital Media’s Dominance and Calls for Media Education to Protect the Public and Increase Their Awareness

Dr. Samir Boudinar, Director of Al Hokama Center for Peace Research: New Generations Must Be Protected in an Era Dominated by Visual Content Across All Communication Means and Their Internal Immunity Developed

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair hosted its eighth cultural seminar titled “Media and Fostering Community Awareness”. The event featured Prof. Dr. Reda Abdel Wajid Amin, Dean of the Faculty of Media at Al-Azhar University; Dr. Adel Fahmy, Professor of Broadcasting and Television at Cairo University’s Faculty of Media; and Dr. Samir Boudinar, Director of the Al Hokama Center for Peace Research; and was moderated by media personality Dr. Saad Al-Mat’ani. 
Dr. Adel Fahmy opened the seminar by discussing the role of digital media, also known as new media or citizen media, representing the latest evolution in communication sciences. He highlighted that this media shift places the focus squarely on the audience and the citizen. He warned that without a profound vision and professional handling, the identities of societies could face threats and fragmentation. He emphasized the critical need to cultivate a religious conscience, which he described as the ‘last stronghold’ in defending humanity.

The Professor of Media at Cairo University emphasized the importance of developing media awareness and strengthening our identities through the triad of faith, heritage, and language. He called on key actors to secure a stake in digital media to preserve nations, cultures, identities, and ethical values. He warned of the risks associated with some digital generations becoming detached from their past and present. Simultaneously, he praised the role of religious institutions like Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the Muslim Council of Elders in enhancing awareness and promoting ethical values through various communication means.

Dr. Reda Abdel Wajid Amin stressed the vital importance of purpose and message in both traditional and new media, underscoring the responsibility linked to verbal and visual content because of their significant impact on individuals and societies. He pointed out that this is crucial for maintaining intellectual and social security.

The Dean of the Faculty of Media at Al-Azhar University also warned about the dominance of digital media over children and young people, which could lead to the erosion of the ethical values system. He pointed out that solutions lie in education based on awareness and dialogue. Simultaneously, he advocated for an increase in substantive content over trivial content. He also called for the inclusion of a media education course in curricula to enable the public to verify information.

In this context, Dr. Samir Boudinar highlighted the importance of protecting new generations in an era where visual content dominates all forms of communication. This protection can be achieved by developing internal defenses that shield them from risks, encompassing three types of immunity: spiritual and faith-based, intellectual, and behavioral. He called for an increase in positive content to counterbalance the negative.

The Director of Al Hokama Center for Peace Research further noted that responsible verbal and visual content are powerful tools for promoting coexistence values. He mentioned that the Muslim Council of Elders has prioritized human coexistence, actively disseminating this commitment through various channels, including publishing books in multiple languages and utilizing new media to enhance awareness of these vital human values.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a special stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, running from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand features a wide array of the Council’s distinguished publications, in addition to hosting a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting the values of kindness, love, peace, and communal coexistence among all people.
The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair is located next to the Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s stand, in Heritage Hall (Hall No. 4), at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in the Fifth Settlement.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair hosted its seventh cultural seminar, titled “My Experience in Pursuing Knowledge.” The event featured Sheikh Ali Saleh, one of the senior scholars of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and was moderated by Shehata Al-Arabi, a broadcaster from the Quran Radio Network.

The seminar explored Sheikh Ali Saleh’s personal journey in seeking knowledge, including his upbringing, the pivotal role his parents played in his education, his early studies at the kuttab (traditional Quranic school), the influence of his teachers, and his scholarly endeavors in mastering Islamic texts. He also discussed the vibrant academic environment that shaped his educational development and shared invaluable advice for aspiring students of knowledge.

Sheikh Saleh spoke in detail about the profound influence of his parents, particularly his mother, on his academic path. She actively supported his pursuit of knowledge, accompanying him to lessons, listening alongside him to lectures, and even helping him refine his understanding of ‘Ilm Al-‘Arud (the science of Arabic prosody). She even bought him fifty books to read when he was a child, which, by fate, were all on Arabic literature. This collection profoundly impacted his academic focus, leading him to specialize in this field.

Sheikh Saleh also shared anecdotes about the distinguished scholars and teachers who deeply influenced his intellectual development. During the seminar, Sheikh Saleh recited selections from his poetic compositions, which spanned topics such as prosody, grammar, and praise of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. These verses were met with great admiration from the audience. The event drew a significant crowd of visitors to the fair, as Sheikh Saleh urged students of knowledge to dedicate themselves to learning, spend time reading, and master the Arabic language.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a dedicated stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, held from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand features a diverse collection of the Council’s distinguished publications and hosts a range of seminars, activities, and events aimed at promoting the values of goodness, love, peace, and coexistence among all humanity.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand is located near Al-Azhar’s stand in the Heritage Hall (Hall 4) at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in New Cairo’s Fifth Settlement.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair is showcasing a selection of its latest publications for 2025. Among the featured releases is the book, titled “Imam Al-Haramayn and His Influence on the Formation of the Ash’ari School” by Ali Mohamed Jabr, a distinguished scholar of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.

The book delves into three key issues in the thought of Imam Al-Juwayni: the theory of knowledge, the creation of the world, and divine attributes. The author begins by introducing Imam Al-Haramayn, providing readers with an in-depth account of his life, scholarly formation, teachers, students, and the praise he received from other scholars.

The first chapter of the book focuses on the theory of knowledge. The second chapter addresses the concept of the creation of the world, emphasizing its significance as one of the key tenets upheld by Ahl Al-Sunnah. The third chapter explores texts that may imply anthropomorphism and analyzes their meanings.

In the conclusion, the author discusses Imam Al-Haramayn’s logical and theological methodology. He emphasizes that while several factors contributed to Al-Juwayni’s adoption of Ash’ari thought, his choice was not driven by blind imitation of his father or other prominent Ash’ari scholars. Instead, it was the result of careful deliberation, critical study, and examination of the views of different schools of thought. Imam Al-Haramayn embraced Ash’ari theology with conviction, considering it the closest interpretation of the Quran and Sunnah. He passionately defended the Ash’ari school against its critics, demonstrating the depth of his understanding rather than the rigidity of blind prejudice.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a dedicated stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, taking place from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand features a wide range of the Council’s distinguished publications and hosts a variety of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting values of goodness, love, peace, and coexistence among all people.

The Council’s stand is located next to Al-Azhar’s stand in the Heritage Hall (Hall 4) at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in the 5th Settlement, Cairo.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair presents visitors with a selection of its latest publications for 2025. Among the featured releases is a book titled, “International Peace: Shared Values and Foundational Concepts”, a collective work by the team behind the project “What Contributions Can Muslims in Europe and the West Make to Building International Peace?”, edited and coordinated by Tijani Boulaouali. The book is published by Al-Hokama Center for Peace Research.

The book highlights that peace is a universal and comprehensive goal, as emphasized in the Qur’anic verse: “O you who have believed, enter into peace completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy” [The Quran, 2:208]. Peace is presented as a universal human and cosmic objective, embodying an innate human inclination. Accordingly, the book focuses on the subject of international peace, exploring it through the lens of values, concepts, and contexts. It represents the culmination of efforts by a group of specialized researchers engaged in a project examining the contributions of Muslims in Europe and the West to fostering international peace, as part of a European Studies program within Al-Hokama Center for Peace Research.

The book is divided into three volumes, each addressing a distinct theme. The first volume, titled “Shared Values and Concepts for Building International Peace”, includes an introduction and seven research papers. The second volume, titled “Drawing on Shared Contexts to Foster International Peace”, contains eight research papers. The third volume, “Universal Shared Values and International Peacebuilding”, features six research papers written in English.

The volume presented at the stand, “Shared Values and Concepts for Building International Peace”, includes seven academic papers addressing topics such as “Islamic Jurisprudential Heritage and the Value of Peace”, “Muslims in the West and the Jurisprudence of Citizenship”, “People of the Book and Islamic Tolerance”, “The Medina Charter and the Project of Coexistence in a Pluralistic Society”, “The Non-Religious Other in Qur’anic and Jurisprudential Perspectives”, “The Dichotomy of Dar Al-Islam and Dar Al-Kufr: Prospects for Coexistence in the West”, and “The Transition from Theological Debate to Interfaith Dialogue.”

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a dedicated stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, taking place from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand features a wide range of the Council’s featured publications and hosts a variety of events, seminars, and activities aimed at promoting values of goodness, love, peace, and coexistence among all people.

The Council’s stand is located next to Al-Azhar’s Stand in the Heritage Hall (Hall 4) at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in the 5th Settlement, Cairo.