The Muslim Council of Elders hosted its third seminar at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 under the theme: \u201cIntra Islamic Dialogue \u2013 A Reading of the Call for the People of Qiblah.\u201d The session explored the importance of unity, coexistence, and shared human values in light of the \u201cCall for the People of Qiblah\u201d. The seminar featured distinguished speakers: Prof. Dr. Syed Irfan Habib, prominent historian and author; Prof. Dr. M.A. Sikandar, Director of the Centre for Distance Education at Jamia Hamdard; and Prof. Dr. Zikrur Rahman, Founding Director of the India Arab Cultural Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opening the discussion, Dr. Zikrur Rahman emphasized that the Call for the People of Qiblah, issued in the Kingdom of Bahrain, seeks to foster unity and strengthen relations within the Muslim community. He noted that the initiative aligns closely with the values championed in the Document on Human Fraternity, particularly the principles of coexistence, compassion, and solidarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Rahman highlighted that Islam, like all religions, calls for togetherness and categorically rejects extremism. Citing Qur\u2019anic teachings, he stressed that humanity was created in nations and tribes \u201cto come to know one another,\u201d underscoring the centrality of human fraternity. He also addressed the role of cultural centers in bridging differences across schools of thought and strengthening national cohesion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof. Dr. M.A. Sikandar underscored the essential role of educational institutions in deepening intra Islamic understanding through sustained dialogue and inclusive curricula. He emphasized that universities serve as vital spaces where diverse cultures and perspectives meet, enabling students to cultivate mutual acceptance and respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Sikandar also highlighted the growing importance of digital learning environments, noting that they provide safe and encouraging platforms for interfaith and intra faith engagement. He pointed to new opportunities for madrasa students who can now access modern education, learn languages, and develop skills for global integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Syed Irfan Habib stated that both the Call for the People of Qiblah and the Document on Human Fraternity are essential for strengthening coexistence within Muslim societies and fostering goodwill among nations. He argued that genuine unity becomes possible when people see one another first as human beings rather than solely through religious identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Habib stressed that building bridges requires mutual engagement and a willingness to share space, particularly to safeguard the well being of minorities. He concluded by noting that living a moral life filled with coexistence is a personal commitment, and that religion, at its core, should not be a source of division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Muslim Council of Elders\u2019 participation in the New Delhi World Book Fair stems from its belief in the pivotal role of knowledge and culture as fundamental pillars for fostering understanding, countering division, reinforcing social cohesion, and affirming the importance of religious and intellectual institutions in addressing global issues and building bridges of communication and dialogue among societies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The seminar was the third in a series of seminars and cultural activities held by the Muslim Council of Elders at its pavilion in Bharat Mandapam, Hall No. 4, Pavilion H 06, as part of the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Muslim Council of Elders hosted its third seminar at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 under the theme: \u201cIntra Islamic Dialogue \u2013 A Reading of the Call for the People of Qiblah.\u201d The session explored the importance of unity, coexistence, and shared human values in light of the \u201cCall for the People of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4161,"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-4160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n