Muslim Council Of Elders Hosts Seminar On Dialogue And Coexistence In Islamic Heritage

The Muslim Council of Elders hosted a seminar titled "Dialogue and Coexistence in Islamic Heritage: Firm Foundations and Lasting Values" at the 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. This event featured notable speakers, including Dr. Ahmed Abdel Zaher from the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, Dr. Mahmoud Najah from the Abrahamic Family House, Professor Zikrur Rahman from the Indian Arab Cultural Centre, and Dr. Mohand Mechenene from Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities.

Dr. Mahmoud Najah opened the seminar by emphasising Islam's foundation on reason and diversity. He highlighted that terms like understanding and reasoning appear over 120 times in the Quran, showcasing Islam's commitment to dialogue. Historical examples such as the Constitution of Medina were cited to illustrate how Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) engaged in dialogue throughout his mission.

Professor Zikrur Rahman discussed India's religious and linguistic diversity as a divine sign promoting dialogue. He noted that India hosts various religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, and Islam, whose followers coexist peacefully. He mentioned India's growing efforts to foster peaceful coexistence based on security, well-being, and justice.

Dr. Mohand Mechenene praised the Muslim Council of Elders for its role in promoting dialogue and peace. He stressed that dialogue should be rooted in human dignity, a value shared across all religions and philosophies. He also highlighted the need for tolerance and mutual respect amid rising hate speech and extremism globally.

Counsellor Dr. Ahmed Abdel Zaher commended the UAE's pioneering law against discrimination and hate speech. He revealed that a new legislative proposal is being developed to uphold human fraternity principles like equality among people, respect for religious pluralism, justice, personal faith responsibility, respect for other religions, and rejection of mockery or insult.

The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the 2025 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair showcases over 250 intellectual publications. These include recent releases from Al-Hokama Publishing addressing pressing cultural issues while reflecting the Council’s mission to promote peace and instil values of tolerance.

Engagement with Diverse Communities

Professor Zikrur Rahman also praised the Muslim Council of Elders' participation in the New Delhi International Book Fair. The Council’s publications attracted significant interest from India’s diverse communities eager to engage with works reflecting Islam’s message of dialogue, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.

Dr. Najah expressed concern about platforms misrepresenting Islam by spreading distorted messages contrary to its essence. He urged for accurate representation of Islam’s core values through dialogue and persuasion.

The seminar underscored Islam's emphasis on reasoned discourse and diversity acceptance as fundamental principles. It highlighted ongoing efforts by various stakeholders to promote peaceful coexistence through legislative measures and cultural engagement across different communities worldwide.

With inputs from WAM