منتظم

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating at the 30th edition of the Rabat International Book Fair, held from April 17 to 27, 2025. This participation aligns with the Council’s mission to promote peace, reinforce the values of dialogue and tolerance, and build bridges of cooperation and human coexistence.

Throughout the fair, the Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion will showcase over 250 diverse intellectual and cultural publications, including several of the latest releases from Al-Hokama Publishing for 2025. Also, in line with the Council’s efforts to foster intra-Islamic dialogue, its pavilion at the Erbil International Book Fair will present several works addressing this pivotal issue, including Conflict Management in the Muslim World by Dr. Idris Qasim, a researcher in foreign policy and a doctor of public law, and Issues of the Ummah’s Division into Sunni and Shia by the Islamic thinker Dr. Ilyas Belka.

The pavilion will also feature more than 20 works by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders. These works aim to highlight the tolerance of Islam and the richness of its intellectual and philosophical heritage. Titles include Al Qawl Al Tayeb, From My Old Notebooks, An Opinion on East-West Dialogue, An Introduction to the Study of Ancient Logic, Discourse on Causes and Intentions, On Sufi Theological Terminology, Heritage and Renewal, For the Sake of Peace, Perspectives on Imam Al-Ash’ari’s Thought, Manners and Values, Toward Contemporary Jurisprudential Reasoning, and Lady Aisha, Mother of the Believers, among others.

Additionally, the pavilion will offer several significant publications, including Love in the Holy Qur’an by Prince Ghazi Al-Hashemi, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders; The Pope and the Grand Imam: A Thorny Path by Judge Mohammed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders; Rules of Understanding and Mutual Comprehension in Thought and Language by Dr. Mustafa Benhamza, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders; Muslims at a Crossroads by the late Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq; and Horizons of Mutual Recognition in Morocco and Andalusia by Dr. Jaafar Ibn Al-Haj Al-Salami.

Recognizing the importance of translation as a bridge between civilizations for constructive communication, the Muslim Council of Elders continues its diligent efforts to translate numerous books aimed at promoting peace. This year, it will present several translated works, including The Voice of Change, Shared Global Values and the Making of International Peace by a group of researchers, as well as other translated publications such as Confronting Islamophobia in Europe by various researchers, Islam and Good Governance by Prof. Dr. Muqtader Khan, and Islam, the West, and Tolerance: Realizing Coexistence by Aaron Tyler, among others.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Rabat International Book Fair will also host numerous cultural and intellectual activities focusing on key issues, such as promoting peace, human coexistence, spreading the values of dialogue, and reinforcing the unity and solidarity of the Muslim world. The Council’s pavilion (D47) can be found at the OLM Souissi arena in capital of Morocco, Rabat.

During his speech at the Global Justice, Love and Peace Summit at Expo City Dubai, the Muslim Council of Elders Secretary-General calls for uniting efforts to protect Planet Earth and achieve a more just and sustainable future for humanity.

Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders: The UAE stands as a beacon of tolerance, coexistence, compassion, and peace.

Judge Abdelsalam: A unified international strategy is essential to confront global challenges and halt the ongoing wars and conflicts worldwide.

Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders: Religions were revealed to bring happiness to people and to promote the values of goodness, love, justice, coexistence, and peace.

Judge Abdelsalam: Today’s world is in dire need of upholding the values of tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity.

His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, took part in the Global Justice, Love and Peace Summit held at Expo City Dubai from April 12 to 13, with the participation of 12 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, along with several heads of state, leaders, dignitaries, senior officials, international figures, and religious leaders. The summit is held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking during a session titled “Beloved Mother Earth, Our Home: Can Love for the Planet Inspire a More Sustainable Future?”, the Secretary-General stated that this important summit, hosted by Expo Dubai in the United Arab Emirates—a land of tolerance, coexistence, love, and peace—represents a valuable opportunity to unite efforts to protect our planet and secure a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations. He emphasized the importance of strengthening joint action to promote the values of justice, love, and peace, especially in light of the many challenges, wars, and conflicts facing the world today.

The Secretary-General called for a unified international strategy to confront global challenges, noting that religions were revealed to bring happiness to people and to spread the values of goodness, love, justice, coexistence, and peace. He highlighted the pressing need to elevate the values of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity. He also stressed the importance of restoring the role of religions in activating the values of love and inspiring humanity’s goodwill towards others, making our shared home more balanced and capable of sustaining its role as a dwelling place for the honored human being worthy of dignity and esteem.

Judge Abdelsalam pointed to the efforts undertaken by the Muslim Council of Elders since its establishment in Abu Dhabi in 2014 to promote peace, dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence. He highlighted the role of religious leaders in addressing global challenges—foremost among them environmental peace and the preservation of our shared home, Earth, and confronting climate change, a decisive issue threatening life on this planet. He cited several initiatives in this regard, including the Global Summit of Religious Leaders, which culminated in the release of the Call of Conscience: The Abu Dhabi Joint Declaration on Climate, and the organization of the Faith Pavilion at COP28 in Dubai—the first of its kind in the history of UN Climate Conferences—as well as its second version at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Secretary-General concluded by affirming that the Muslim Council of Elders extends its hand to all parties to work together in raising awareness, developing policies and legislation, expanding green innovation and technology, and engaging all sectors of society in a collective effort to achieve a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for humanity and the preservation of Planet Earth.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Erbil International Book Fair hosted a seminar titled “The Call of the People of Qiblah and Prospects for Civil Peace in Muslim Societies”, presented by Dr. Samir Boudinar, Director of the Al-Hokama Center for Peace Research. The seminar was part of the Council’s efforts to promote intra-Islamic dialogue to unify the Muslim Ummah and foster its solidarity.

At the start of the seminar, Dr. Samir Boudinar explained that the “Call of the People of Qiblah” is the outcome of the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference held in the Kingdom of Bahrain in February 2024, chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders. The conference brought together prominent scholars from various Islamic denominations and schools of thought to formulate a shared vision for enhancing Islamic brotherhood and countering sectarian division.

The Director of the Al-Hokama Center for Peace Research clarified that the Call of the People of Qiblah is a charter containing key principles for preserving the unity of the Ummah. These include promoting scholarly and doctrinal understanding among scholars and academic institutions, confronting schemes of discord, mitigating risks that threaten the fabric of Muslim society, acknowledging the legitimacy of doctrinal differences, and prioritizing Islamic unity.

Dr. Boudinar concluded by urging religious, academic, and media institutions to implement the principles of the Call of the People of Qiblah through programs and workshops, emphasizing the importance of involving youth in these initiatives to ensure the sustainability of civil peace in Muslim societies.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating at the Erbil International Book Fair from April 9 to 17, 2025, showcasing over 250 diverse intellectual and cultural publications to promote the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence.

The Muslim Elders Council, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, along with the esteemed members of the Council and its Secretary-General, His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, extends its heartfelt condolences to His Eminence Prof. Dr. Salama Dawood, President of Al-Azhar University, on the passing of his father.

The Muslim Elders Council expresses its deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased, praying that Almighty Allah envelops him in His boundless mercy, grants him a place in the vastness of His paradise, and bestows patience and solace upon his family, loved ones, and all those who cherished him.

To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating for the first time at the 17th edition of the Erbil International Book Fair, held from April 9 to 19, 2025. This participation aligns with the Council’s mission to promote peace, reinforce the values of dialogue and tolerance, and build bridges of cooperation and human coexistence.

Throughout the fair, the Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion will showcase over 250 diverse intellectual and cultural publications, including several of the latest releases from Al-Hokama Publishing for 2025. Also, in line with the Council’s efforts to foster intra-Islamic dialogue, its pavilion at the Erbil International Book Fair will present several works addressing this pivotal issue, including Conflict Management in the Muslim World by Dr. Idris Qasim, a researcher in foreign policy and a doctor of public law, and Issues of the Ummah’s Division into Sunni and Shia by the Islamic thinker Dr. Ilyas Belka.

The pavilion will also feature more than 20 works by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders. These works aim to highlight the tolerance of Islam and the richness of its intellectual and philosophical heritage. Titles include Al Qawl Al Tayeb, From My Old Notebooks, An Opinion on East-West Dialogue, An Introduction to the Study of Ancient Logic, Discourse on Causes and Intentions, On Sufi Theological Terminology, Heritage and Renewal, For the Sake of Peace, Perspectives on Imam Al-Ash’ari’s Thought, Manners and Values, Toward Contemporary Jurisprudential Reasoning, and Lady Aisha, Mother of the Believers, among others.

Additionally, the pavilion will offer several significant publications, including Love in the Holy Qur’an by Prince Ghazi Al-Hashemi, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders; The Pope and the Grand Imam: A Thorny Path by Judge Mohammed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders; Rules of Understanding and Mutual Comprehension in Thought and Language by Dr. Mustafa Benhamza, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders; Muslims at a Crossroads by the late Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq; and Horizons of Mutual Recognition in Morocco and Andalusia by Dr. Jaafar Ibn Al-Haj Al-Salami.

Recognizing the importance of translation as a bridge between civilizations for constructive communication, the Muslim Council of Elders continues its diligent efforts to translate numerous books aimed at promoting peace. This year, it will present several translated works, including The Voice of Change, Shared Global Values and the Making of International Peace by a group of researchers, as well as other translated publications such as Confronting Islamophobia in Europe by various researchers, Islam and Good Governance by Prof. Dr. Muqtader Khan, and Islam, the West, and Tolerance: Realizing Coexistence by Aaron Tyler, among others.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Erbil International Book Fair will also host numerous cultural and intellectual activities focusing on key issues, such as promoting peace, human coexistence, spreading the values of dialogue, and reinforcing the unity and solidarity of the Muslim world. The pavilion is located in Hall D, Pavilion 5D, at the Erbil International Book Fair, running from April 9 to 19, 2025.

The Muslim Council of Elders, led by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, affirmed that caring for orphans is among the most virtuous acts that bring a person closer to Allah, and it is a societal and ethical responsibility that strengthens social bonds and community cohesion. The Council emphasized the necessity of providing for their material needs and offering psychological, social, and educational care to enable them to become constructive members in their countries and societies.

On the occasion of Arab Orphan Day, which falls on the first Friday of April each year, the Council stated that the noble Islamic faith encourages Muslims to be guardians of orphans, to treat them well, honor them, and look after their welfare and interests, considering these actions among the best deeds that earn Muslims rewards and blessings from Allah Almighty. Allah says: “Give orphans their wealth ˹when they reach maturity˺, and do not exchange your worthless possessions for their valuables, nor cheat them by mixing their wealth with your own. For this would indeed be a great sin.” [The Quran, 4:2]. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “I and the guardian of the orphan will be in the Garden like that,” indicating his forefinger and middle finger, slightly separating them (Sahih al-Bukhari).

The Muslim Council of Elders calls for the necessity of providing support and care for those who have lost their parents due to the wars and conflicts our world is witnessing today, which have claimed thousands of innocent civilian lives and left tens of thousands of children without families, homes, and shelter. These children are now in dire need of attention, care, and social and psychological rehabilitation, and it is crucial to extend a helping hand to them.

Muslim Council of Elders and South African Council of Churches delegation affirm the crucial role of religions in promoting global peace

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, welcomed a South African Council of Churches delegation at the Council’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The delegation included Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, former General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, President of the South African Council of Churches, and Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of the organization Churches for Middle East Peace. The two sides discussed ways to enhance the role of faith leaders and figures in promoting global peace.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders welcomed the South African Council of Churches delegation, emphasizing the crucial role that faith leaders and figures can play in fostering global peace and spreading values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence. He pointed out that the challenges our world faces today require a united effort to promote the values of goodness, justice, love, and human fraternity. He highlighted the importance of preparing generations of leaders to carry the flag of tolerance, coexistence, and peace, praising South Africa’s efforts and all efforts that advocate for the protection of innocent civilians in Gaza.

The South African Council of Churches delegation expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, led by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and its diverse initiatives aimed at enhancing global peace. They expressed their eagerness to collaborate with the Council and other influential institutions worldwide to enhance the role of religious leaders in addressing the wars and conflicts that have claimed thousands of innocent lives.

Both parties called for the necessity of working towards a fair and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue and achieving peace in the Middle East. They emphasized that religious leaders should have a significant voice in stopping wars, conflicts, and disputes. They also praised the Egyptian initiative and the Arab and international efforts calling for a ceasefire and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, allowing humanitarian and relief aid to enter for innocent civilians. They expressed their appreciation for the humanitarian efforts of the United Arab Emirates in various conflict-ridden countries and its continuous pursuit to spread the values of tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Arab and Muslim nations—kings, princes, presidents, and peoples—on the blessed occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. The Council prays to Almighty Allah to return this joyous occasion to the Arab and Muslim nations, and to all of humanity, with goodness, blessings, compassion, coexistence, and peace.

On this occasion, the Council calls upon all members of the Muslim Ummah to hold fast to the values of Islamic fraternity, to strive for unity and solidarity, and to avoid division and discord. It urges a collective commitment to righteousness and shared purpose so that the Ummah may reclaim its rightful place and leadership among the nations—particularly in light of the many challenges facing our world today.

The Council also emphasizes that Eid Al-Fitr is a time to bring joy and comfort to the hearts of the poor, the needy, the underprivileged, and the marginalized, by extending support, fulfilling their needs, and easing their burdens during these blessed days.

The Council expresses its sincere hope that peace and prosperity will prevail across the Arab and Muslim worlds—and throughout all of humanity. May this blessed occasion return with the end of all crises, wars, and conflicts, and may our world become a place of greater safety, peace, and stability for all.

The Muslim Council of Elders hosted a communal Iftar and an Islamic calligraphy exhibition in Kazakhstan, attended by numerous officials, diplomats, representatives of religious institutions, and civil society organizations. The event aimed to promote dialogue, tolerance, and mutual coexistence.

The Iftar ceremony took place at the National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan, featuring a special exhibition and academic discussion on Islamic calligraphy in Central Asia. The event was organized in collaboration with the Council’s Central Asia branch and the Kazakh Senate. Dr. Bauyrzhan Omarov, Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan, delivered a congratulatory speech emphasizing the importance of preserving and studying Islamic calligraphy as an integral part of the region’s cultural and spiritual heritage. Professor Dr. Metin Akar presented a detailed report on the inscriptions adorning the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkestan, focusing on their historical significance, artistic value, and current condition. 

The event also featured renowned Uzbek calligrapher Khabibullo Saliev showcasing rare Quranic manuscripts, including an Ottoman-era copy and a Kufic script of the Quran. His presentation highlighted the distinctive styles and diversity of early Islamic texts in Central Asia.

The event attracted prominent experts in Islamic art and manuscripts, scholars, Senate members, and representatives from intellectual and cultural circles. Participants expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in promoting the values of dialogue, coexistence, tolerance, and peace.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expresses its solidarity with the Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of Myanmar following the powerful earthquake that struck both countries, resulting in the tragic loss of hundreds of lives and numerous injuries.

The Council extends its heartfelt condolences to the governments and peoples of both nations, as well as to the families of the victims. It prays to the Almighty to grant the injured a swift and full recovery.