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The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the International Publishing and Book Fair in the Moroccan capital Rabat has held a seminar titled ‘The Role of the Muslim Council of Elders in Serving and Disseminating Islamic Heritage’ by Dr. Mohammed Jamal, researcher at the Heritage Revival Office of Al-Azhar.  

Dr. Samir Boudinar, the Executive Director of the Al-Hokama Center for Peace and Research opened the seminar by shedding light on the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders in promoting peace, dialogue, and communication. He emphasized that Islamic heritage is an endless source of knowledge and an important reservoir of culture and wisdom.

Dr. Mohammed Jamal, a researcher at the Heritage Revival Office of Al-Azhar, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Muslim Council of Elders for organizing such great gatherings at international exhibitions. He considered the issue of heritage as a significant challenge in our contemporary reality, stating that Islamic heritage requires continuous renewal and development that aligns with modern advancements while preserving its authentic values and rich legacy.

Dr. Jamal also pointed out that despite the fact that Islamic heritage traces back to a great civilization, it is crucial to ensure the selection of what is suitable for our time and current circumstances. He commended the efforts of scholars who served heritage and carried the torch of civilization, emphasizing that heritage is one of the main pillars of the Islamic nation.

Jamal also noted the guidance of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, who calls for promoting and disseminating moderate heritage among people in order to combat extremism, sectarianism, and division. He stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between reason and revelation while affirming that Al-Azhar’s ideology is most suitable for fulfilling this role, given its committed message based on the teachings of Islam and its balanced approach.

In this context, Dr. Mohammed Jamal also praised the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders in serving Islamic heritage while also enhancing its care and development. He explained that preserving and sustaining heritage requires continuous efforts and unwavering attention.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat is set to host several seminars and activities aimed at rectifying misconceptions, promoting dialogue and tolerance, and building bridges of communication and coexistence. These efforts align with the Council’s message, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, which aims to enhance peace in Muslim and non-Muslim societies.

During the meeting, His Eminence affirmed the openness of Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders to cooperate with various religious and cultural institutions around the world, and to support all scientific endeavours that contribute to enhancing Islamic cooperation while promoting the values of fraternity, coexistence, and positive engagement with others. The Grand Imam also emphasized the important role of Islamic scholars and jurisprudential assemblies in confronting extremist ideologies and deviant behaviors that threaten societal security and stability.

For his part, the member of the Muslim Council of Elders and Secretary-General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy expressed his pleasure at meeting with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, as well as the deep-rooted appreciation of the Islamic Fiqh Academy for His Eminence’s significant scientific and cultural achievements. Sano also acknowledged His Eminence’s efforts in establishing of human fraternity and peace whilst working to promote the correct image of Islam and confronting all forms of extremism and radicalism. He confirmed the International Islamic Fiqh Academy’s keenness to collaborate with scholars of jurisprudence and Sharia at Al-Azhar on various issues of mutual interest.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohammad Abdelsalam has visited the headquarters of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, upon an official invitation from Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, the Secretary-General of the World Council of Churches.

During the visit, the two parties discussed enhancing cooperation in the field of interreligious dialogue as well as the role of religious leaders in addressing current global challenges, particularly climate change in light of the upcoming COP28 conference, which will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates at the end of the year.

Judge Abdelsalam and Dr. Pillay also discussed ways to promote and enhance peace in Africa as well as the final preparations for the second edition of the Emerging Peacemakers Forum, which will be held in partnership between the Muslim Council of Elders, the World Council of Churches, and the Rose Castle Foundation in July. The forum is set to feature the participation of 50 young people from the East and the West with the aim of producing future generations of youth that are capable of positively contributing to international peacebuilding.

At the meeting’s conclusion, the Secretary-General along with other senior figures of the World Council of Churches praised the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in promoting the values of tolerance, coexistence, and interreligious and intercultural dialogue. They also expressed their full support for all interreligious dialogue efforts and initiatives planned during the upcoming COP28 conference, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates at the end of the current year. The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, for his part, emphasized that the World Council of Churches serves as a model for how religious organizations should collaborate in promoting the values of dialogue, tolerance, and global peace.

As part of universal efforts towards protecting the environment and preserving the world’s natural resources, the Muslim Council of Elders affirms that environmental conservation and the sustainability of its resources are religious and ethical duties that contribute to advancing global peace, development, and stability.

On World Environment Day, which is celebrated by the United Nations on June 5th of each year, the Muslim Council of Elders calls for the unification of efforts aimed at preserving the environment by promoting sustainability and raising awareness about environmental risks that threaten life on this planet. It also emphasizes the significant role that individuals and institutions can play in protecting and preserving the environment and mitigating the negative impacts of climate change, which is one of the main challenges endangering life on this planet.

The Muslim Council of Elders has undertaken various efforts to raise awareness about environmental issues and climate change. The Document on Human Fraternity, 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, emphasizes the necessity of addressing climate change. Additionally, the exceptional meeting of the Muslim Council of Elders and senior representatives of the Catholic Church which took place during the Bahrain Dialogue Forum, further discussed the role of religious leaders in facing current global challenges, particularly climate change.

In late May, His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church, alongside Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, and His Excellency Majid Al Suwaidi, Director-General and Special Representative for the Presidency of the United Arab Emirates for the COP28 conference, discussed the possibility of launching a joint initiative to invite all religious institutions, religious leaders, and civil society organizations worldwide to unite their efforts in achieving the shared goal of protecting the Earth. The meeting also explored the potential establishment of an interfaith and intercultural dialogue pavilion at the COP28 conference, which would serve as a dedicated platform for enriching enlightened religious dialogue, knowledge and experience exchange, and highlighting the crucial role of leveraging religious insights and values in addressing the current climate crisis.

The United Arab Emirates will host the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) from November 30th to December 12th, 2023. The aim of the conference is to seek effective solutions to confront the negative impacts of climate change, as one of the main global challenges threatening life on this planet.

In line with the commitment of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, to promote peaceful coexistence and celebrate diversity in the Muslim world, a seminar titled ‘Identity Harmony Management in the Muslim World: Concepts and Mechanisms’ was organized at the Council’s stand in the International Publishing and Book Fair in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. The seminar featured Dr. Yahya Ramadan, Head of the Raqee Center for Studies and Dr. Fouad Bouali, Director of the ‘Identity Harmony Management in the Muslim World’ initiative at the Al-Hokama Center for Peace and Research.

At the beginning of the seminar, Dr. Yahya Ramadan expressed his gratitude to the Muslim Council of Elders for their efforts in promoting peace and disseminating the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence. He emphasized that understanding and managing peace require taking into consideration the global context in which Muslims exist, stressing the need to approach the management of identity harmony in the Arab world from different perspectives and the necessity of a deeper understanding of it.

The Head of the Raqee Center for Studies and Research added that the contemporary world is characterized by cultural and identity diversity, and migration has led to the coexistence of different cultural groups. This has given rise to identity discourse, which is sometimes insufficiently understood. He also pointed out the challenges posed by diversity and stressed the desired goal of building a society based on the values of peace and shared living. Ramadan finally affirmed the importance of managing the issue of identity in a fruitful way and transforming it from a source of tension and division into a mechanism for peaceful coexistence.

For his part, Dr. Fouad Bouali emphasized that identity harmony is a timely and crucial issue, stating that the discussion of identity is not merely a temporary debate but a sustainable and future-oriented matter. He also explained that “identity harmony management” is not just a theoretical project but a procedural project aimed at achieving peace among people. He presented a set of proposed solutions to overcome the identity crisis, including recognizing minorities, implementing policies of diversity, promoting constructive dialogue and mutual learning between different communities. He also highlighted the importance of achieving social solidarity and social justice as the foundation for achieving identity harmony.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat is set to host several seminars and activities aimed at rectifying misconceptions, promoting dialogue and tolerance, and building bridges of communication and coexistence. These efforts align with the Council’s message, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, which aims to enhance peace in Muslim and non-Muslim societies.

Under the title ‘Efforts of Orientalists in Preserving Heritage as an Expression of Cultural Communication’, the Muslim Council of Elders organized a seminar at the 2023 International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat. The seminar was delivered by Dr. Ahmed Shoukry Binbayn, the Director of the Royal Library in Morocco.

At the beginning of the seminar, Dr. Binbayn expressed his gratitude to the Muslim Council of Elders, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar for their participation in the International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat. He praised the council’s efforts in promoting and enhancing the values of dialogue, coexistence, tolerance and peace. 

During the seminar, which was attended by Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, and moderated by Dr. Samir Boudinar, Executive Director of Al-Hokama Center for Peace and Research, Dr. Binbayn discussed various aspects of Orientalist work, including academic, research, linguistics, and other historical aspects. He emphasized the importance of using scientific and critical methods in studying heritage and the need for communication and collaboration between researchers and Orientalists in order to achieve a higher level of accuracy and comprehensiveness in interpretation and documentation.

Meanwhile, Dr. Binbayn criticized the lack of awareness among some teachers and students about the work of Orientalists who have long been working on preserving heritage throughout history. He pointed out that some students and teachers have preconceived notions about certain Orientalists, which poses a significant challenge in understanding and appreciating the efforts of others.

The Director of the Royal Library in Morocco also highlighted the existence of fair and sympathetic Orientalists towards Islam, such as ‘Gustav Jahn’ who translated the book ‘Sibawayh’ into the German language due to his expertise and deep knowledge of grammar and morphology. He also noted other Orientalists who embraced Islam and defended it, as well as others who didn’t convert to Islam but defended it nonetheless.

In conclusion, Dr. Binbayn appealed to younger generation to be vigilant and not succumb to extremists. He encouraged them to embody the teachings of tolerant Islam, which call for accepting and respecting others, and to promote the values of human fraternity among all people.

Dr. Samir Boudinar, the Executive Director of Al-Hokama Center for Peace and Research, affirmed the importance of peaceful cultural communication, while emphasizing the efforts of Orientalists in preserving heritage. He explained that Arab and Islamic heritage is rich and vast and has required continuous efforts by successive generations of scholars throughout history.

The seminar witnessed a significant attendance of visitors to the fair who were also keen to visit the Council’s stand to explore publications by ‘Dar Al Hokama Publishing’, which aims to correct misconceptions and promote the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat is set to host several seminars and activities aimed at rectifying misconceptions, promoting dialogue and tolerance, and building bridges of communication and coexistence. These efforts align with the Council’s message, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, which aims to enhance peace in Muslim and non-Muslim societies.

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity today opened nominations for its 2024 award – an independent global prize honoring individuals and entities of all backgrounds working selflessly and tirelessly to advance solidarity, integrity, fairness, and optimism, and create breakthroughs towards peaceful coexistence. 

The award – which includes a USD $1 million financial prize – launched in 2019 to mark the historic meeting in Abu Dhabi between His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, during which the two leaders co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity.

The Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity and the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam said: “As the 2024 edition of the award begins, we call for nominations of people and organizations who are advancing human fraternity at all levels of society, inspiring others to serve the common good, and changing our world for the better.”

Eligible nominators can submit nominations through the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity’s official website: https://zayedaward.org/. 

Nominations will be accepted until October 1, 2023. An independent judging committee of experts in peacebuilding and coexistence will review the nominations and select the honoree(s).

The recipient(s) will be honored during a ceremony to be held on February 4, 2024 – coinciding with the UN-recognized International Day of Human Fraternity and the anniversary of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders.

Since the award’s inception, leaders, activists, and humanitarian organizations from around the world have been honored including: His Holiness Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church (honorary recipient); the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb (honorary recipient); UN Secretary-General António Guterres; activist against extremism Latifa Ibn Ziaten; His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and his wife, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah; Haitian humanitarian organization the Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty (FOKAL); the Community of Sant’Egidio organization; and Kenyan peacebuilder Shamsa Abubakar Fadhil.

His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, in a special meeting, on Monday, May 29, received His Excellency Advisor Muhammad Abdul Salam, Secretary-General of the Council of Muslim Wise, and His Excellency Ambassador Majed Al-Swedi, Director-General and Special Representative to the President of the United Nations for the Twenty-eighth Session of the United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change.

During the meeting, the possibility of launching a joint initiative on climate change, in preparation for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, was discussed; aimed at engaging religious leaders, religious institutions, and civil society organizations in achieving the goals of the conference.

The initiative calls on all religious institutions, religious leaders and civil society organizations around the world to unite efforts to achieve a common goal of protecting the planet Earth; the Common House for all humanity, the initiative also aims to leverage on the role of religions in consolidating bridges of communication between countries, cultures and peoples, and opening up new horizons for climate action. The initiative is also based on a solid conviction on the importance of the role of religious leaders and religious institutions in providing practical solutions to address the negative effects of ongoing climate change.

The meeting also discussed the possibility of establishing an interfaith and cultural dialogue wing at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, to serve as a special platform for enriching enlightened religious dialogue and the exchange of knowledge and experiences in this field, rather than being a platform for interfaith and cultures dialogue, highlighting the crucial role in drawing on religious insights and values in Addressing the climate crisis

The United Arab Emirates is hosting its 28th session of the United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change, from November 1 to December 10, 2020, aiming to find effective solutions to address the negative impacts of climate change, as one of the global challenges that threaten life on the surface of this planet.

The Vatican alongside the Muslim Council of Elders and and the Presidency of the (COP28) Conference are discussing the launch of an initiative aimed at involving religious institutions and leaders to address the challenges of climate change

His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, received in private Audience, on May 29, H.E. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, and H.E. Ambassador Majid Al-Suwaidi, Director-General and Special Representative of the UAE Presidency for COP28.

During the Audience, they shared the possibility of launching a joint initiative on climate change in preparation for and on the occasion of the upcoming COP28, in order to involve religious institutions, leaders, and civil society organizations in addressing the goals of COP28.

The initiative will call on all religious institutions, leaders, and civil society organizations worldwide to unite towards achieving the shared goal of protecting the Earth, our common home. It aims to build on the role of religions in bridging communication between nations, cultures, and individuals, and opening new horizons for climate action. The initiative will be driven by the firm conviction of the important role of religious leaders and institutions in driving practical solutions to address the detrimental consequences of climate change.

During the Audience, the possibility of creating an interfaith and intercultural dialogue pavilion at COP28 was also considered. This space could be dedicated to enlightened religious discourse and knowledge exchange, serving as a platform for dialogue between religions and cultures and highlighting the crucial role of religious perspectives and values in addressing the climate crisis.

The United Arab Emirates is hosting the COP28 conference from November 30 to December 12, 2023, aiming to find effective solutions to mitigate the negative impact of climate change as a global challenge that threatens life on this planet.

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