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The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the New Delhi World Book Fair hosted a seminar titled “The Role of Social Media in Promoting Peace and Combating Extremism Among Youth.” The event attracted notable participation from thinkers, students, and media professionals, who engaged in discussions about the increasing impact of social media on shaping modern discourse and its potential to counter extremist narratives and foster global peace.
The seminar was moderated by Professor Dr. Zikrur Rahman, Founding Director of the India Arab Cultural Centre (IACC), at Jamia Millia Islamia University. It featured notable speakers including Mukesh Kaushik, Deputy Editor of the Indian newspaper “Dainik Bhaskar,” and Professor Dr. Thameena Hameed, Chairperson of the Centre for West Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The discussions provided a comprehensive analysis of how radical narratives can be challenged through responsible online engagement and policy initiatives and reaffirmed the importance of digital platforms as tools for peacebuilding and intercultural dialogue, aligning with the Council’s broader mission of promoting tolerance, understanding, and global unity.

Mukesh Kaushik, Deputy Chief Editor of the Dainik Bhaskar newspaper, discussed the escalating challenges of misinformation, digital manipulation, and the influence of online platforms on public perception. He highlighted the significant role social media plays in shaping political and social narratives, stressing the critical need for responsible digital engagement to mitigate the spread of extremism online.

For her part, Prof. Dr. Thameena Hameed discussed the use of artificial intelligence in social media, emphasizing its potential to build a “peace tech ecosystem” where diverse communities can engage over shared values and global challenges. She also underscored the increasing role of youth in leveraging social media for education, community engagement, and cultural cooperation to counter extremist ideologies.

Prof. Dr. Zikrur Rahman emphasized that instead of a clash of civilizations, all religions share fundamental values that promote peace and coexistence. He highlighted the importance of fostering mutual understanding and rejecting all forms of violence on social media platforms, regardless of whether they stem from religious or ideological motivations. He also noted the Muslim Council of Elders’ ongoing efforts, including its landmark Document on Human Fraternity, which serves as a cornerstone for global peace and interfaith harmony.

This is set to be the Muslim Council of Elders’ third consecutive participation at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2025 which 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 showcases a selection of its premier 2025 publications, including the notable “Research and Essays by the Distinguished Scholar Ahmed Fahmi Abu Sunnah” (died 2003).
This book presents an exemplary model from the pioneering scholars, notably Sheikh Ahmed Fahmi Abu Sunnah, who was renowned for his diligent and insightful scholarship. The prominent scholar devoted himself to safeguarding Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and its principles, advancing its methodologies, and evolving its pedagogic approaches, leaving behind a scholarly legacy that merits study and emulation.

The book includes a vast array of articles spread across nine chapters. The first chapter, “In the Realms of the Quran and the Prophetic Biography,” explores topics such as the continuous transmission of the Quran, its implications and benefits, divine rituals, and the manhood of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). The second chapter, “Foundations in Fiqh and Legislation,” delves into two main discussions: “Integrating Jurisprudence into Daily Life” and “Protecting Islamic Jurisprudence.”

The third chapter concentrates on the objectives of legislation, discussing the purposes of Sharia, the foundational interests that shape rulings, understanding the objectives and benefits of these rulings, the legislator’s intentions behind the rulings, aesthetic purposes, historical perspectives on objectives, assessing benefits and harms, criteria for evaluating benefits and harms, and the distinction between legitimate, rational, and sensual interests. It also examines the criteria for benefits and harms from the perspectives of Sunni and Mu’tazilite scholars, as well as evidence supporting the objectives of Sharia.

“Under the title ‘Fundamentals of Jurisprudence,’ the fourth chapter of the book explores the prioritization of absolute interest over the Quran and Sunnah, framing it as legislation based on whims. The fifth chapter delves into Islamic political theory, focusing on the role of state constitutions from an Islamic viewpoint.”

Under the title “Fundamentals of Jurisprudence,” the fourth chapter of the book explores the prioritization of overarching benefits over the Quran and Sunnah. The fifth chapter delves into Islamic political theory, focusing on the role of state constitutions from an Islamic viewpoint.

The sixth chapter offers in-depth research in Islamic jurisprudence, addressing topics such as the definition of ownership in Islam, the public registration of transactions within legal and Sharia frameworks, the concept of abuse in exercising rights, and the importance of justice in financial dealings as an objective of Islam. It also explores whether intramuscular and intravenous injections break the fast and examines the religious rulings on treatments involving blood transfusions or the transplantation of organs or parts of the body.

The seventh chapter investigates issues related to usury and relevant matters. It covers usury and banking deposits through the lens of jurisprudential facts and evidence, critiques and reviews concerning usury, profits from investment deposits, and the principles of investment certificates within the scope of Islamic jurisprudence, distinguishing between what is permissible and what is prohibited.

The eighth chapter delves into a variety of topics under the title “From the Jurisprudence of the Quran and Sunnah: Discussions on Jurisprudential Issues.” It examines issues such as the appropriate punishment for a delinquent debtor, which it argues should be imprisonment rather than a financial fine; the obligation of zakat on real estate earnings; rulings on real estate zakat; the regulations concerning a woman’s hijab and her legal guardianship; and the resolution of conflicts between the Quran and Sunnah, along with responses to multiple scholarly inquiries.

The ninth and final chapter explores themes in Islamic economics, addressing three main areas: the essential nature and practical reality of Islamic economics; the role of insurance during emergencies and disasters from an Islamic and economic viewpoint; and an analysis of Islamic banks and corporations.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a special stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, 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 Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s stand, in Heritage Hall (Hall No. 4), at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in the Fifth Settlement.

At the Cairo International Book Fair, Muslim Council of Elders’ Stand…
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Omar Hashim Commends the Muslim Council of Elders for Fostering Human Fraternity and Bolstering Intra-Islamic Dialogue

Dr. Ahmed Omar Hashem: True Fraternity Rests on Unity, Solidarity, Healing Divisions, and Collaboration for the Common Good, While Steering Clear of Civilizational Clashes and Conflicts

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair held its fifteenth cultural seminar titled “Islam and the Aspired Fraternity: Objectives and Means,” featuring Prof. Dr. Ahmed Omar Hashim, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar, with the seminar moderated by Dr. Ali Shams El-Din, a researcher at the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar. 

At the beginning of the seminar, Professor Dr. Ahmed Omar Hashim emphasized that the aspired fraternity is a fundamental goal that sages of the world, Muslims, and all leaders should direct people towards, regardless of their social strata and at all levels, to foster peace, security, stability, justice, and human rights among them. He highlighted that this fraternity should be based on unity, solidarity, and mending divisions, urging humanity to unite as one, cooperating in goodness and benefit, and rejecting the clash of civilizations, division, and conflict. 

Dr. Ahmed Omar Hashim emphasized the importance of promoting the noble human values enshrined in the Document on Human Fraternity across all levels. He advocated for advancing the path towards the aspired fraternity to illuminate the world, fostering a society where people are seen as equals, with no distinctions among individuals. Achieving this would enable the world to live without conflict.

He also commended the contributions of the Senior Scholars at the “Islamic-Islamic Dialogue” conference, scheduled to take place this month in Bahrain, attended by officials from the Muslim world. This conference is designed to ensure that every Muslim understands their rights and responsibilities in this matter, praising the Muslim Council of Elders for its commitment to truth and wisdom in these discussions.

The member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar lauded the upcoming “Intra-Islamic Dialogue” conference, scheduled to be held this month in Bahrain. The event is expected to draw officials from across the Islamic world. The conference aims to ensure that every Muslim understands their rights and responsibilities regarding this issue, commending the Muslim Council of Elders for its role in facilitating this dialogue and its dedication to a path of righteousness and wisdom.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a special stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, 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 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 showcased a selection of its latest 2025 publications, among them the notable book “Research and Essays by the Distinguished Scholar Mahmoud Abu Daqqa” (died 1940).

This book compiles important articles by Sheikh Mahmoud Abu Daqqa, some originally published in Majalt Nashr al-Fadail wa-al-Adab al-Islamiyah (“The Journal of Islamic Virtues and Manners”), and others in Konooz al-Furqan (“Treasures of Al-Furqan”), Majalat Nour al-Islam (“Light of Islam”), and Majalat al-Islam (“Islam Magazine”).

These articles are categorized into several parts, the first of which is titled “Essays on Creed and Theology.” This part includes numerous articles primarily derived from his book Al-Qawl al-Sadeed (“The Righteous Discourse”), which provides a comprehensive summary of theological studies as developed by the Ash’ari school. It also addresses logical issues supporting these studies, philosophical issues intertwined with theological debates, a concise history of theology, and an overview of theological schools and their prominent figures.

The second part, titled “Essays on Quranic Sciences,” comprises nine articles exploring various aspects of the Quran. These include discussions on the Quran’s unique features, its miraculous nature, and the translation of its meanings. This part also provides an objective interpretation of specific verses and addresses the need to reject Israeli narratives found in some exegesis, advocating for the purification of exegesis texts from these harmful interpretations and the vindication of prophets from the derogatory claims made by such narratives.

The third part, “Essays on Diverse Sharia Topics,” features nine articles addressing a range of jurisprudential issues. It covers topics such as Islam as the divine law that safeguards human interests and ensures both worldly and eternal happiness, the rationale for the institution of marriage in Islam, debates surrounding issues of divorce and separation, comparisons of Islamic inheritance laws with other legal systems, and the concept of jihad in Islam as a form of defense against oppression, rather than aggressive warfare.

The fourth part, titled “Essays on the Virtues of Islam,” features five articles discussing the distinctive merits of Islam. The author describes Islam as the preeminent religion, one that supersedes all prior divine laws. This part extensively explores Islam’s alignment with reason and science and its significant impact on the proliferation of knowledge, counters arguments that Islam has stifled human intellect, and asserts that the Quran’s teachings are sufficiently comprehensive to regulate global affairs.

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 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.