Manama: His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, participated in the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference.
His Eminence emphasised that addressing contemporary challenges and crises requires Islamic unity, fostering open communication among all components of the Muslim world while respecting national sovereignty, borders, and internal affairs.
His Eminence expressed gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his patronage of the event. He commended His Majesty’s dedication to Arab and Islamic affairs and his efforts to strengthen the Muslim world’s ability to tackle challenges.
His Eminence expressed hope that the conference would contribute to addressing historical and contemporary challenges and developing dialogue and cooperation to strengthen Islamic unity. He emphasised the importance of maintaining stability and social cohesion, cautioning against actions that may incite division or interfere in the internal affairs of nations. He underscored that such practices are inconsistent with Islamic principles, ethical values, and internationally recognised norms.
His Eminence urged the Muslim world to learn from other nations’ experiences in building a collaborative Islamic union that safeguards the rights of the Muslim world, grounded in shared geography, history, language, religion, and culture.
Citing the Palestinian cause as an example of the need for unity, His Eminence warned of the risks facing Gaza’s population amid reported displacement efforts. He commended the unified stance taken by Arab and Islamic leaders and nations in response, describing it as an encouraging sign of solidarity and hope for Islamic unity.
In conclusion, His Eminence proposed drafting a “charter” or “constitution” that could be named either “The Constitution of the People of the Qibla” or “Islamic Fraternity”. His Eminence said this is based on the Hadith: “Whoever prays our prayer, faces our Qibla, and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim, under the protection of Allah and His Messenger. Do not betray Allah in His protection.” He called on scholars attending the conference to study and develop this proposal further.
