The Muslim Council of Elders organized a seminar at the Iraq International Book Fair titled “The Future of Muslim Unity: Between Shared Objectives and the Ethics of Differences” which featured His Eminence Dr. Hussein Ghazi, member of the Supreme Council of the Iraq Fiqh Academy, and was moderated by Dr. Mohammed Gamal, researcher at the Al-Azhar Heritage Renewal Department.
Sheikh Hussein Ghazi emphasized that the exchange of ideas and communication among societies is the path to bridging viewpoints and closing intellectual gaps. He explained that the Qur’anic approach is founded upon forbearance and magnanimity in dialogue, calling for the adoption of a discourse that rejects extremism and preserves homelands.
He further discussed the foundations upon which the unity of the Ummah rests, pointing out that such unity cannot be achieved through slogans alone but must be grounded in scholarly and methodological ethics that precede emotional reactions. Foremost among these principles are good faith toward others and the exercise of sound reason that curbs whims and reins in impulses. He warned that stirring sectarian and communal strife paralyzes the march of life, spreads resentment, and obscures enlightened minds that could otherwise serve as building blocks for awareness and progress.
Sheikh Ghazi added that difference is a natural human phenomenon that must be managed with wisdom and patience, citing the example of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and Qur’anic verses that underscore the importance of tolerance and moderation in dialogue. He urged youth to channel their energies toward reading and verification, cautioning against being swept away by rumors and misinformation circulated by some on social media platforms.
The member of the Supreme Council of the Iraq Fiqh Academy 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 and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, in working to strengthen dialogue, mutual understanding, and respect among the various components of the Islamic Ummah. He highlighted the Council’s organization of the first Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain last February, which produced the “Ahlul-Qiblah” charter—a call to unify the Ummah’s word, reunite its ranks, and stand together in the face of contemporary challenges.
The Muslim Council of Elders is participating in the Iraq International Book Fair as part of its mission to promote peace, entrench the values of dialogue and tolerance, and build bridges of cooperation among humanity regardless of race or creed. The Council’s pavilion is located at the Baghdad International Fairground, Pavilion 16 – H6.