تمام

As part of its participation at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2024, the Muslim Council of Elders organized a seminar titled “Importance of Human Fraternity in Contemporary Times.” The session was presented by Professor Sameena Hameed, a researcher in Western Asia and the Gulf at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Sanjay Kapoor, General-Secretary of the Editors Guild of India, and Rohin Marker on behalf of Ava Khullar, President of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman.

During the seminar, Dr. Hameed emphasized the importance of applying the principles and values of the Document on Human Fraternity, integrating individuals within a unified human system. She stated, “The Earth should be a homeland for all humans, requiring intellectuals and influencers not to tire of discussing the importance of the concept of human fraternity and achieving its practical application in various local, regional, and international forums.” She highlighted the significance of teaching the Document on Human Fraternity to school and university students and proposed its inclusion in master’s studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in the upcoming meeting of the university’s Supreme Scientific Council.

Sanjay Kapoor, the General-Secretary of the Editors Guild in Delhi, stressed the urgent need for applying principles and values that safeguard humanity, particularly the values of human fraternity that bring people together regardless of their beliefs and backgrounds. He emphasized the crucial role of the Muslim Council of Elders in promoting peace, peaceful coexistence, and acceptance of others worldwide. Kapoor highlighted the importance of raising awareness among the current generation about the principles of fraternity, not only among religions but also within the entire Indian society.

Representing the President of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman, Rohin Marker, in his speech addressed the concept of human fraternity and that Zoroastrianism relies on absolute faith in the unity of humanity and its interconnectedness. He emphasized the significant responsibility that comes with this belief, requiring concerted efforts to align words with actions. Marker added that collaboration among diverse members of society contributes to realizing the principles and values of human fraternity, spreading the values of tolerance and coexistence.

This is set to be the second consecutive time that the Muslim Council of Elders participates at the New Delhi World Book Fair, one of the largest book fairs in the region which is particularly known for its large turnouts. The pavilion features over 220 publications in 5 languages, addressing various issues and aiming to correct misconceptions while rejecting extremist rhetoric and hatred.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expresses deep concern about the threats from the Israeli occupation forces to launch a military operation in the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, which is densely populated with Palestinian refugees. The Council also expresses its alarm by the serious humanitarian repercussions that military operations may cause.

The Council warns of the dangerous consequences of invading and targeting the city of Rafah, which houses hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian civilians forced to flee various areas of the Gaza Strip due to Israeli aggression which poses a serious threat of a humanitarian catastrophe and further bloodshed. The Council strongly rejects any attempts at the forced deportation of the Palestinian people and any practices that violate international and humanitarian law.

The Muslim Council of Elders calls on the international community to take urgent measures to stop the aggression against the Gaza Strip and to protect innocent civilians and allow the entry of humanitarian aid, and reach an immediate solution to end the conflict. It also supports the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, emphasizes that Islamic and Arabic history is enriched with influential and positive examples of inspiring women and girls in the field of sciences. It pointed out that Islam honors women as mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives, elevating their status in all aspects and urging kindness, good conduct, and care for them. The Council referred to Prophet Muhammed’s (PBUH) hadith, “Treat women kindly” (Narrated by Muslim). Islam prioritizes education as a fundamental right guaranteed by Islamic law for women, providing them with equal opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills in various fields without discrimination.

In a statement on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, on February 11 of each year, the Muslim Council of Elders affirms that this day is a crucial opportunity to highlight women’s contributions in the fields of science and technology. It calls on relevant institutions and organizations to intensify efforts to promote women’s participation in science and technology by ensuring equal opportunities for education and scientific training. The Council also urges addressing challenges and difficulties hindering their full participation in these fields while providing a safe and supportive working environment.

The statement further emphasizes that women constitute half of society, and supporting and empowering them is an investment in the future that benefits the world as a whole. It points out that the Document on Human Fraternity, co-signed by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church, in Abu Dhabi in 2019, affirmed women’s right to education and work and also stressed the necessity of working to free them from historical and social pressures that contradict the principles of their faith and dignity.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, mourns the martyrdom of four members of the UAE Armed Forces, an officer from the Bahrain Defence Force, and several members of the Somali Armed Forces which occurred following a terrorist attack inside a military base in the Somali capital, Mogadishu during a training of the Somali Armed Forces as part of the military cooperation between the UAE and the Republic of Somalia.

The Council strongly condemns this cowardly terrorist act, reiterating its unequivocal rejection of all terrorist acts that contradict the tolerant Islamic religious teachings, divine laws, as well as international conventions, and norms.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its heartfelt condolences to the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the government of Somalia, and the families of the victims, praying to the Almighty to grant the deceased the vastness of His mercy and bestow swift recovery upon the injured.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating for the second consecutive year in the New Delhi World Book Fair 2024 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India, which runs from February 10 to 18, and is one of the largest book fairs  in the region. The Council’s pavilion will showcase over 220 publications in five languages, addressing significant issues and aiming to correct misconceptions while rejecting extremist rhetoric and hatred. Notable translated works include “Religious Thought and Contemporary Issues” by Mahmoud Hamdi Zakzouk, “The Pope and the Grand Imam: A Thorny Path” by Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, and “Al Azhar in the Face of Terrorism” by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders.

The Council will also present six books in Hindi, Malayalam, and Urdu by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, including “Concepts of Jihad” and “A message to the Youth.” Likewise, the Council’s pavilion will host various events and seminars throughout the fair’s duration which will discuss human fraternity, interfaith coexistence, mutual respect among religions, and the world as a single human family.

Seminars will feature distinguished speakers such as Sanjay Kapoor (General-Secretary of the Editors Guild of India), Ava Khullar (President of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman), Prof. Dr. Sameena Hameed (Senior Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University), Prof. Dr. Anand Kumar (Social Scientist at Delhi University), Mohammad Salim Ahmed (Secretary-General of Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity), Syed Faisal Ali (Editor in Chief of Rhtriya Sahara Newspaper and TV), Father M. D. Thomas (Founding Director of the Institute of Harmony and Peace), Justice Jaspal Singh (Former Judge at Delhi High Court), Dr. Zikrur Rahman (Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies in New Delhi), and Professor Dr. P.R. Kumaraswamy (Professor of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University).

The Council will also exhibit the outcomes of international conferences and seminars, the Council presents books such as “Proceedings of the International Symposium: Islam and the West – Diversity and Integration” and “The Al-Azhar Global Conference for Jerusalem,” along with “The Dialogue between East and West for Human Coexistence.”

This is set to be the second consecutive time that the Muslim Council of Elders participates at the New Delhi World Book Fair. The first participation took place in 2023 and received significant acclaim from all segments of the Indian society who enthusiastically engaged with the Council’s publications and actively participated in the various events, reinforcing the values of dialogue, tolerance, and shared coexistence.

Widespread Praise for Activities in the Council’s Pavilion as well as the Diversity of Publications and Events

The Muslim Council of Elders concluded its participation in the Cairo International Book Fair 2024, which witnessed a significant turnout from the fair’s visitors who praised the pavilion’s activities and the diverse range of publications that enrich knowledge, reflecting the tolerance of Islamic teachings.

During this year’s exhibition, the Muslim Council of Elders presented 220 diverse publications covering various scientific fields, including over 22 new releases. It also organized various activities and programs promoting coexistence and human fraternity, including interactive workshops, competitions, intellectual seminars, and the celebration of the International Day of Human Fraternity. 

Speakers at the Council’s pavilion addressed various significant intellectual and cultural issues, including the role of the nation in the Prophet’s tradition, modern schools in the modern era, women between Islamic teachings and inherited traditions, the role of science in the bet between atheism and faith, becoming grammatically correct, the status of Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem in heritage. Additionally, several workshops were conducted for members of the Emerging Peacemakers Forum.

This was the seventh participation of the Muslim Council of Elders in the Cairo International Book Fair, aligning with its mission to promote peace, instill values of dialogue and tolerance, and build bridges of cooperation among people of different races and beliefs.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ Pavilion presented, throughout the duration of the Cairo International Book Fair, hundreds of publications on tolerance, peace, and coexistence. These works covered various scientific disciplines, including theology, philosophy, logic, hadith, interpretation, and more. The materials were authored by prominent thinkers in the Arab and Islamic world, as well as translated works by European researchers addressing tolerance in world religions and confronting Islamophobia.

The top 20 best-selling books at the Muslim Council of Elders’ Pavilion in the Cairo Book Fair, written by dignitary Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and other distinguished scholars, include:

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, made a significant contribution to the Cairo International Book Fair with an impressive collection of publications such as “The Foundations of Islam,” “Insights into the Thought of Imam Al-Ash’ari,” “Ahlul Sunnah wal Jama’ah,” and “The Good Saying.” Judge Mohamed Abdel Salam, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, added to this rich collection with his work, “The Pope and the Grand Imam: A Thorny Path.”

The Pavilion also featured other notable works, “Facilitating Logical Rules: Explanation of the Solar Epistle” by Mohammed Shams Al-Din Ibrahim, “Modern Logic” by Ali Mohamed Gabr, and “Religion and Reason” by Dr. Suleiman Donya. Contributions from Sheikh Mohamed Hassanein Makhlouf, Dr. Imad Khafaji, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Maabad Abdel Karim, and Sheikh Abdul Wahab Khalaf covered diverse topics ranging from achieving goals in the science of principles to Islamic philosophy, logic, and jurisprudence. These works collectively embody a commitment to intellectual richness and the promotion of values such as peace and tolerance.

These books cover various topics such as theology, philosophy, logic, hadith, and interpretation, contributing to the promotion of understanding and coexistence among diverse communities.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Cairo International Book Fair featured a diverse collection of publications, along with a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting the values of peace and mutual coexistence among all humanity.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar strongly condemns the terrorist attack that took place in a popular market in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, resulting in the death and injury of numerous innocent victims.

The Muslim Council of Elders reaffirms its unequivocal rejection of this criminal act and all forms of violence and terrorism that contradict the teachings of tolerant Islam, various divine and international laws, and agreements. The Council calls for the urgent unification of international efforts to eliminate and uproot all forms of terrorism.

The Muslim Council of Elders expresses its deepest condolences to the Republic of Somalia, its leadership, and people, as well as to the families of the victims, praying to the Almighty to grant them His mercy and to bestow swift recovery upon the injured.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, met with His Excellency Dr. Ma’ruf Amin, the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, during the Human Fraternity Majlis held in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. Both sides emphasized the importance of the practical application of the principles of the Document on Human Fraternity, aiming to achieve its noble goals of building a more tolerant and peaceful world.

During the meeting, the Indonesian Vice President expressed his delight in participating in the inaugural session of the Human Fraternity Majlis, coinciding with the International Day of Human Fraternity and the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity. He affirmed that the document represents the correct path to establish a global society based on the principles of peace, justice, and humanity. He also praised the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, led by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in promoting the values of dialogue and common coexistence. He also highlighted the collaboration between the Council’s branch in Indonesia and Indonesian institutions in promoting tolerance and building bridges of communication with all components of the Indonesian people and the Southeast Asian region.

For his part, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam emphasized that the Human Fraternity Majlis, convening for the first time this year, serves as an important global platform for spreading the noble values of the Document on Human Fraternity. It has brought together global leaders and international officials from various parts of the world to crystallize a common vision embodying the principles of the document and translating them into tangible initiatives and projects that address humanitarian crises. He commended Indonesia for its inspiring religious and cultural diversity in the Southeast Asia region, noting that the Council’s branch in Indonesia will collaborate on implementing various joint initiatives and projects with religious and official institutions in Indonesia and the region, aiming to enhance the values of human fraternity and coexistence.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ Pavilion at the Cairo International Book Fair held its seventeenth and final seminar titled “The Modern School in the Modern Era: Its Schools and Trends,” featuring Dr. Salah Al-Din Al-Shami, a member of the Heritage Revival Office at Al-Azhar.

During the seminar, Dr. Salah Al-Shami emphasized that the science of Hadith is a noble field, and whoever associates with it is linked to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and that those who connect with the Prophet (PBUH) are connected to the goodness of this world and the Hereafter. He pointed out that the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, exerted efforts in transmitting the Prophetic traditions as they heard them from the Prophet (PBUH) until they performed them for those who came after them.

The member of the Heritage Revival Office at Al-Azhar stressed the importance of studying the sciences of Hadith and engaging with them due to their connection to various branches of knowledge. Scholars in jurisprudence, exegesis, theology, dialectical theology, and different branches of Islamic arts should all incorporate substantial knowledge of the Prophetic traditions into their specializations.

Al-Shami explained that books on the sciences of Hadith emerged as independent works when doubts and misconceptions arose from various sects, such as the Rawafid, Mu’tazilites, and Jahmiyyah. These books were written to refute these misconceptions. Over time, this science has reached us with expertise and narration, giving rise to contemporary Hadith schools. He pointed out that the Prophet (PBUH) indicated the importance of critically examining reports and distinguishing between authentic and weak narrations when he said, “May Allah brighten the face of a person who hears my saying and memorizes it, then conveys it exactly as he heard it; perhaps he who conveys it understands it better than the one who heard it.”

Al-Shami clarified that the Hadith school at Al-Azhar has made significant efforts in authenticating Hadith, understanding terminologies, exploring the methodologies of scholars of Hadith, and explaining Prophetic traditions. He highlighted the distinctive contributions of Al-Azhar scholars in these areas and urged more activity in Hadith gatherings at Al-Azhar University, including annual events focusing on the six major Hadith books.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Cairo International Book Fair features a diverse collection of publications, along with a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting the values of peace and mutual coexistence among all humanity.

The pavilion is located alongside the Al-Azhar pavilion in Hall 4 at the Egypt International Exhibition and Conference Center in the Fifth Settlement in Cairo.