The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair presents its visitors with a selection of its latest publications for 2025, including the book Sina'at al-Salam al-Duwali: Istilham al-Siyaqat al-Mushtaraka (The Making of International Peace: Drawing from Shared Contexts), a collective work by the team behind the project "What Contribution Can European and Western Muslims Make in Building International Peace?" The book is edited by Tijani Boulaouali and published by the Al Hokama Center for Peace Research.
The book delves into the values, concepts, and contexts pertinent to international peace. This publication spans three volumes. The first volume, titled "Shared Values and Concepts for Building International Peace," includes an introduction, a preface, and seven research papers. The second volume, "Drawing from Shared Contexts in Building International Peace," comprises eight research papers. The third volume is dedicated to six research papers written in English, under the title "Shared Universal Values and the Making of International Peace."
This volume, the second in the series titled "Drawing from Shared Contexts in Building International Peace," comprises eight scholarly papers. The opening paper by Dr. Karima Nour Issaoui is entitled "Jerusalem: A City of Coexistence between Jewish Ownership and Islamic Particularity." It reveals the historical and religious essence of Jerusalem.
The second paper, authored by Dr. Mohamed El-Me’zouz, investigates the ethical and philosophical intersections between Greek and Islamic civilizations. The researcher uses Greek philosophy, particularly ethics, as an epistemological base to explore the connections between these two cultural contexts—Islam and Greece. This necessitated revisiting the history of how Greek philosophy was assimilated into the Islamic cultural sphere and its subsequent influence on Islamic philosophers who endeavored to reconcile Greek philosophical concepts with Islamic intellectual traditions. This paper primarily focuses on ethics, a domain where philosophical and religious perspectives converge, suggesting that philosophy is embedded in religion and that ethics are intrinsic to philosophical inquiry, according to the researcher’s perspective.
The third paper by Dr. Youssef Nouiouar recounts the story of the Saint and the Sultan, drawing insights from their shared history. The researcher does not merely present the narrative of the Saint and the Sultan; he delves deeply into its historical and religious foundations and its positive socio-cultural impacts on coexistence in the West, interfaith dialogue, bridge-building among civil society groups, and fostering peace among diverse community components. The researcher notes that many gatherings in Europe and the West celebrate the figure of Saint Francis of Assisi and his renowned meeting with Sultan Al-Kamil during the Ayyubid era. Catholic movements, Christian figures, and various associations mobilize to commemorate this event, draw inspiration from its teachings and lessons, highlight the character traits that have influenced Catholic theological thought, and facilitate religious dialogue between Christianity and Islam.
The fourth paper, authored by Dr. Ibrahim Hamdawi, is titled "Morocco, the Embrace of Jews, and the Dynamics of Peaceful Coexistence between Jews and Muslims." This paper revisits the history of Jews in Morocco, a narrative marked by prolonged periods of coexistence and cultural exchange. Dr. Hamdawi utilizes oral histories, particularly from the elderly who lived through the period up to 1961, and historical documents that include multiple agreements between Jews and Muslims. Rather than merely describing these events, the paper delves into the determinants that frame the relationships between Jews and Muslims and the various societal components, examining how these elements contribute to fostering social peace and coexistence both locally and internationally.
The fifth paper by Dr. Anwar Abdel Fadil analyzes Coptic-Islamic coexistence in Egypt. The researcher begins from the premise that the Nile Valley, as the cradle of human civilization, continues to manifest its achievements and influences to the present day—not only through magnificent buildings, beautiful artworks, agriculture, and fishing but also in literary production. Egypt and the Nile Valley are notably hospitable contexts, having been home to peoples of diverse cultures and religions. Dr. Abdel Fadil’s paper focuses on the arrival and entrenchment of Islam in the region and its interactions with other communities, including the Copts. She examines how this shaped modern Egypt, drawing on historical and literary texts.
The sixth paper, titled "Religious Pluralism and the Fate of Islam in the West: The European Context as a Model," by Dr. Mimoun Daoudi, addresses the concept of religious pluralism. It refers to the European and Western contexts that have witnessed the emergence of various pluralistic theories intersecting with the Islamic perspective on multiple levels. The researcher maintains that if the religious experiences of humanity highlight the need for wise and deep listening to others and peaceful coexistence among various faiths, then enacting this tranquility and its associated practices necessitates deep respect for the faiths of others. It also necessitates a serious search for ways to live together, where coexistence and interfaith dialogue become the horizon for this life. This paper presents the contemporary Islamic presence in Europe as a model to discuss the current situation and prospects of Muslims in this context.
The seventh paper, authored by Dr. Khalid Al-Touzani, is titled "Spiritual Peace and the Universal Dimensions of the Sufi: Approaches to Building the Complete Human." It explores the concept of spiritual peace and the universal dimensions of Sufism, presenting a new perspective that recognizes the urgent need for peace and security and the promotion of a tolerant environment in modern societies. This need is particularly pressing in the era of the communication and media revolution that has transformed the world into a global village. Dr. Al-Touzani aims to propose ways to enhance human behavior and combat negative phenomena such as extremism, hatred, racism, and other contemporary issues that impact individual and communal life, ultimately reducing opportunities for communication and cooperation.
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