The Muslim Council of Elders\u2019 pavilion hosted its third symposium as part of the activities of the Karachi International Book Fair 2025, titled: \u201cThe Role of Islamic Institutions in Promoting Islamic\u2013Islamic Dialogue.\u201d The session featured Hujjat al-Islam Allama Mawlana Asghar Hussain Shahidi, Board Member at Al-Fatimiya International University, Director of the Leadership and Educational Management System, and Secretary-General of the Association of Scholars and Imams of Karachi Mosques; and Dr. Muhammad Amir Taseen, Executive Director of the Scientific Council Foundation \u2013 Karachi. The discussion was moderated by Muhammad Aslam Raza Al-Azhari, Secretary-General of the World Association of Al-Azhar Graduates \u2013 Pakistan Branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The symposium opened by emphasizing the vital role of religious and educational institutions in promoting Islamic\u2013Islamic dialogue, noting that the Muslim Council of Elders seeks to transform dialogue from a theoretical concept into practical programs that create tangible impact within Muslim communities. Participants praised the Bahrain Dialogue Forum which was organized by the Council and its outcome\u2014the Ahlul-Qiblah Call\u2014as a reference framework outlining the principles and foundations needed for Islamic\u2013Islamic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Muhammad Amir Taseen stressed that Intra\u2013Islamic dialogue is an essential tool for addressing intellectual challenges and combating extremism through constructive engagement. He highlighted the ability of religious and educational institutions to play a pivotal role as platforms for spreading a culture of dialogue, while underscoring the need to leverage technology and social media to broaden discussions, enhance understanding within communities, and involve youth and women as future leaders and guardians of diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For his part, Hujjat al-Islam Mawlana Asghar Hussain Shahidi affirmed that religious institutions bear a major responsibility in promoting a culture of tolerance. He explained that the pulpit represents the voice of society and that moderation in discourse directly influences moderation among people. He emphasized that internal dialogue among Islamic schools and currents is essential to strengthen unity across all components of the Ummah. He called for developing curricula that focus on commonalities among schools of thought, establishing joint councils of scholars from different traditions, and facilitating exchange visits between educational and religious institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further noted that dialogue is not a secondary option but a civilizational necessity to safeguard the unity of the Ummah amid contemporary intellectual challenges. Dialogue, he said, provides a practical entry point to reduce sectarian conflicts and achieve coexistence. He stressed the importance of organizing regular conferences and workshops, supporting youth-led initiatives that promote understanding, and launching training programs for imams and preachers on the culture of dialogue to ensure the spread of responsible and balanced discourse that strengthens Islamic and human fraternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The symposium witnessed broad participation from university professors, students, and researchers from various religious and educational institutions in Pakistan. It concluded with an open discussion session, during which attendees praised the Muslim Council of Elders\u2019 initiatives and efforts to promote Intra\u2013Islamic dialogue and spread values of fraternity and mutual understanding within communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Council\u2019s pavilion at the Karachi International Book Fair is located in Hall 1, Pavilion 45 at the Karachi Expo Center and is open December 18 to 22, 2025.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Muslim Council of Elders\u2019 pavilion hosted its third symposium as part of the activities of the Karachi International Book Fair 2025, titled: \u201cThe Role of Islamic Institutions in Promoting Islamic\u2013Islamic Dialogue.\u201d The session featured Hujjat al-Islam Allama Mawlana Asghar Hussain Shahidi, Board Member at Al-Fatimiya International University, Director of the Leadership and Educational Management […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4104,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n