Muslim Council of Elders calls for spread of peace, coexistence for benefit of humanity

Under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar the Muslim Council of Elders has called for work towards spreading peace and coexistence based on harmony, love, and cooperation for the benefit and well-being of humanity with these principles serving as a lifeline for everyone.

On a statement published on the occasion of the International Day of Living Together in Peace which coincides on the 16th of May of each year, the Council reiterated that Islam is the religion of peace, love, and fraternity between people and that it commands people to live together in peace to build the earth and cooperate in goodness and righteousness. Almighty Allah Says: 'And cooperate in righteousness and piety' [Al-Maidah : 2]. Likewise, Islam prohibits evil deeds and the harming others. 'And do not cooperate in sin and aggression' [Al-Maidah : 2].

The statement also pointed that the Council, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar has made various efforts to promote the values of peace, love, and cooperation among people for the happiness of humanity. Some of these initiatives included;

- Dispatching 15 Peace Convoys across the world with the aim of spreading peace, tolerance, and coexistence. These convoys have visited many countries, including the Central African Republic, Colombia, Kenya, Italy, the United States, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia, Chad, Nigeria, and France.

- Organizing international conferences in collaboration with Al-Azhar to enhance the values of goodness, love, and peace. One of the notable conferences is the 'International Conference on Freedom and Citizenship: Diversity and Integration' in 2017, with participations coming from over 50 nations. Another important event was the ‘International Conference on Peace’ in 2017, attended by His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church alongside various prominent religious leaders and representatives from around the world.

- Adopting the 'Document on Human Fraternity' which is considered a landmark document in contemporary human history. The Document was co-signed by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, alongside His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church in the United Arab Emirates under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

- Launching the Emerging Peacemakers Forum, which brings together a select group of young people with innovative initiatives from the East and the West to lead discussions on their respective roles in building peace and spreading coexistence and integration. The second edition of the forum will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from the 6th to the 14th of July 2023.