Academic Institutions Vital For Intra-Islamic Dialogue: Muslim Council Of Elders

The Muslim Council of Elders' pavilion at the 25th Baghdad International Book Fair hosted a seminar titled "The Role of Academic Institutions in Promoting Intra-Islamic Dialogue". The event featured Prof. Salah Al-Din Al-Samarrai, Dean of Imam Al-Azam University, and Dr. Mohamed Jamal from the Heritage Revival Office at Al-Azhar.

The seminar underscored the significant role academic institutions play in addressing shared challenges within the Islamic world. It stressed the need to raise awareness about intra-Islamic dialogue to foster mutual understanding and strengthen ties among different Islamic schools of thought and sects.

Prof. Salah Al-Din Al-Samarrai commended the Muslim Council of Elders, led by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, for their efforts in promoting dialogue. He noted that focusing on minor differences rather than fundamental issues has hindered progress within the Islamic nation.

Prof. Salah highlighted that academic institutions specialising in Islamic jurisprudence have a duty to educate students about the origins of differences in jurisprudence and the necessity of peaceful coexistence. He pointed out that Islamic history has shown success in advancing science and civilization when it rose above such divisions.

Dr. Mohamed Jamal emphasised the vital role that Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders continue to play in promoting unity and dialogue within the Islamic world. He explained that these efforts are a direct response to His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb's call during the Bahrain Dialogue Forum in 2022.

Efforts to Promote Unity

This call urged for strengthening Islamic unity and reaffirmed that religious fraternity leads to broader human fraternity. According to Dr. Jamal, this marked a pivotal step toward initiating serious and productive dialogue across all Islamic sects.

Prof. Salah praised the council’s work in laying the groundwork for a new era of mutual respect and understanding across the Islamic world. He stressed that academic institutions must focus on teaching students about peaceful coexistence despite differences in jurisprudence.

The discussion highlighted how educational institutions can address common challenges by promoting intra-Islamic dialogue. This approach aims to foster mutual understanding and strengthen ties between different schools of thought within Islam.

The seminar concluded with an emphasis on continuing efforts to promote unity within the Islamic world through dialogue and education, as championed by leaders like His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb.

With inputs from WAM