پریس ریلیز

The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, has expressed its deep solidarity with the Republic of Indonesia following the tragic collapse of a school in Sidoarjo, East Java. The incident resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, while several students remain trapped beneath the rubble.

In a statement, the Council extended its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Indonesia, as well as to the families of the victims. It prayed that Almighty God may envelop the deceased students in His boundless mercy, grant them a place in His eternal gardens, and bestow patience and solace upon their loved ones. The Council also expressed hope for the success of ongoing rescue operations and wished the injured a swift and full recovery.

The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, affirmed that the annual celebration of the International Day of Older Persons on October 1 is not merely a symbolic event. Rather, it serves as a reminder of the esteemed position of older persons, an opportunity to honor their lifelong contributions, and a moment to acknowledge their pivotal role in building societies, nurturing generations, and upholding values.

In a statement marking this occasion, the Council underscored that Islam accords the elderly an exalted and dignified status. God Almighty has linked kindness to parents with His own worship, saying: “Worship Allah ˹alone˺ and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents” (The Qur’an, 4: 36). Likewise, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) urged respect and compassion, saying: “He is not one of us who does not show respect to our elders and mercy to our young” (Narrated by Ahmad). These teachings affirm that caring for the elderly is a religious, moral, and social obligation — one that embodies the essence of humane values founded upon mercy and benevolence.

The Muslim Council of Elders further highlighted the importance of safeguarding the dignity of older persons, recognizing them as the living memory of humanity — the custodians of its identity and accumulated wisdom. They embody a wealth of life experience and insight. The Council emphasized that passing down such wisdom and experience across generations strengthens societies in times of crisis and lays the groundwork for a more balanced and resilient future. It called for the enactment of laws and policies that ensure a dignified life for older persons, including access to comprehensive health, social, and psychological care, as well as programs that promote their active participation in community life in appreciation of their worth and in affirmation of their right to live with dignity.

The Muslim Council of Elders also reaffirmed its firm commitment to protecting the rights of older persons. In May of this year, it launched — in collaboration with the Catholic Church and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) — a global document in support of older persons and the preservation of their dignity. This initiative presents a unified vision aimed at strengthening collective efforts to support the elderly and uphold their rights to independence and full participation in society. It also seeks to shield them from all forms of discrimination, abuse, exploitation, and neglect, and to provide effective remedies where such violations occur. Moreover, it calls for empowering older persons to make informed choices for themselves and their families, and for ensuring access to high-quality healthcare that responds to their personal needs and respects their individual preferences.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the attack targeting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, USA, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of a number of people.

The Muslim Council of Elders unequivocally rejects all forms of violence and terrorism, which are contrary to the teachings of divine religions, international laws, norms, and human and moral values. These principles prohibit attacks on places of worship and assaults on innocent civilians. The Council calls for intensified international efforts to promote the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its heartfelt condolences to the United States of America and to the families and loved ones of the victims of this heinous attack, praying that Almighty Allah grants a swift recovery to those injured.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar affirms that the right to access information is a cornerstone for upholding justice and transparency, fostering dialogue and mutual understanding among peoples and cultures, and contributing to a more equitable and unified world.

In a statement on the International Day for Universal Access to Information, observed annually on September 28, the Muslim Council of Elders emphasized that providing youth with access to reliable knowledge is a vital step toward empowering generations to contribute meaningfully to humanity’s progress and to build a more informed and cohesive future. The Council urged media, cultural, and educational institutions to fulfill their ethical responsibilities by disseminating accurate information and combating misinformation, thereby promoting societal harmony and reinforcing the values of human fraternity.

Additionally, the Muslim Council of Elders reaffirms its commitment to supporting initiatives that ensure universal access to information without discrimination, rooted in the belief that knowledge is an inherent human right and a key instrument for achieving sustainable development and fostering cooperation and solidarity among nations and peoples. The Council also underscores that universal access to information plays a critical role in shaping a future built on justice, transparency, and shared responsibility.

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, extends his heartfelt condolences to His Eminence Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani on the passing of his wife. May Allah envelop the deceased in His boundless mercy and grants her family and loved ones patience and solace.
“Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.”

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, mourns the passing of Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President of the Council of Senior Scholars, and Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Fatwa. Sheikh Abdulaziz passed away today after a distinguished career marked by profound scholarly and religious contributions.

The Muslim Council of Elders extends its heartfelt condolences to His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia; His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister; and the people of Saudi Arabia on the loss of the esteemed Sheikh. May Almighty Allah envelops him in His boundless mercy, grant him a place in the vast gardens of Paradise, and provide his family, loved ones, students, and admirers with patience and solace. “Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him, we shall return.”

The Muslim Council of Elders Urges International Community to Recognize the State of Palestine with 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 welcomes the decision by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal to recognize the State of Palestine. This milestone represents a historic and vital step toward achieving justice for the Palestinian people and ending their suffering, which has endured for over seven decades.

The Muslim Council of Elders calls on the international community to follow suit by recognizing the State of Palestine by granting it full membership in the United Nations, and affirming the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Council also renews its appeal to the international community to take urgent and decisive action to halt the aggression on the Gaza Strip by ensuring the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and relief aid and by confronting policies of killing, starvation, and forced displacement, and working toward a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue which are essential to fostering security and stability for the region and the wider-world.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the bombing of a mosque in the city of Al-Fashir in Sudan’s North Darfur State, which resulted in tens of deaths and injuries among innocent civilians.

The Council states that this attack contradicts the tolerant teachings of Islam, all divine religions, and international conventions and norms and represents a clear violation of international law, which prohibits attacks on places of worship and mandates their protection, preservation, and respect.

The Muslim Council of Elders renews its call for an immediate ceasefire, urging increased international efforts to end the war in Sudan and to protect innocent civilians, and implement the Jeddah Declaration to prioritize the interests of the Sudanese people and fulfill their aspirations for peace and stability.

The Council extends its deepest condolences to the Sudanese people and the families of all the victims, praying to Almighty Allah to grant the injured a swift recovery.

Muslim Council of Elders: Celebrating the International Day of Peace Amid Gaza’s Horrific Humanitarian Crisis Tests the Global Conscience

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, calls for unified international efforts to halt all conflicts and wars that have claimed tens of thousands of lives around the world.

In a statement issued on the International Day of Peace, observed annually on September 21, the Muslim Council of Elders emphasized that peace is the core of Islam’s message and all divine religions, which were revealed to bring happiness to humanity, not to incite wars or conflicts. The Council clarified that peace transcends the mere absence of conflict, encompassing harmony, justice, and mutual respect among people. It warned against the rise of violent and hateful rhetoric, the ideological misuse of religious texts, and their exploitation to justify the killing of innocent civilians.

The Council stressed that celebrating the International Day of Peace while Gaza endures a horrific humanitarian crisis presents a critical test for the global conscience which also demands that the international community uphold its legal, moral, and humanitarian responsibilities by taking urgent action to protect innocent civilians in Gaza, end the killing, starvation, and forced displacement policies, ensure the delivery of humanitarian and relief aid, and pursue a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause, affirming the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Muslim Council of Elders is diligently working to promote peace and foster the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence through numerous inspiring initiatives, such as the ‘ Emerging PeaceMakers Forum’ and the ‘Student Dialogues for Human Fraternity Program’. These efforts culminated in the launch of the ‘Document on Human Fraternity’ which was co-signed in Abu Dhabi in 2019 by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and the late Pope Francis, former Pope of the Catholic Church. The document called for rediscovering the values of peace, justice, goodness, and human fraternity to end the wars and conflicts afflicting the world today.

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the Israeli occupation army’s invasion of Gaza City. The Council warns of the grave consequences of this dangerous escalation for the lives of innocent civilians and its adverse impact on efforts to achieve peace, security, and stability in the region.

The Council urges the international community to uphold its legal, humanitarian, and moral responsibilities to halt this brutal aggression, protect innocent civilians, oppose policies of killing, starvation, and forced displacement, and ensure the immediate and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and relief aid.

The Muslim Council of Elders reaffirms its unequivocal support for the Palestinian cause and the inalienable, legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, thereby ending their suffering, which has endured for over seven decades.