Seminar at RIBF Explores Cooperation Between Islam and West

As part of its cultural program at the 30th edition of the Rabat International Book Fair, the Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion hosted a seminar titled 'Islam and the West: An Approach to the Causes of Tension and Conditions for Cultural Exchange.’ 

The session was moderated by Mr. Hamza Messaoudi, a researcher at the Al Hokama Center for Peace Research, and featured a presentation by Dr. Mohammed Al-Bunayyadi, Professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez. Dr. Al-Bunayyadi also coordinates the Master’s program in Contemporary Occidental Studies at the same faculty and serves as Chairman of the Shuhoud Center for Scientific Research and Civilizational Studies in Fez.

Opening the seminar, Mr. Masoudi emphasized that the Muslim Council of Elders, led by Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, places great importance on the study of the relationship between Islam and the West, particularly through their historical and cultural intersections. 

He explained that the Al Hokama Center for Peace Research, recognizing the importance of this topic, published the book "Islam and the West: An Approach to Causes of Conflict and Monitoring the Conditions of Cultural Exchange" by Dr. Al-Bunayyadi. 

The book highlights the significance of understanding the Muslim world’s relationship with the West by tracing a series of historical and cultural interactions that have unfolded since the early days of the Prophetic mission, all the way to modern and contemporary dynamics.

Dr. Al-Bunayyadi noted that his work explores the potential for cultural exchange as an alternative to conflict. Drawing on the concept of “the Other”—its philosophical roots, social structure, and cultural expression—he called for new intellectual discourses that challenge prevailing stereotypes between Islam and the West.

 He pointed to the pressing need for new intellectual discourses that challenge the prevailing stereotypes between Islam and the West, and aim to establish a more balanced perspective in the mutual perception between the civilizational model of the Muslim world and that of the West—viewing the relationship between both as part of a continuum of past and future civilizational experiences.

In this regard, Dr. Mohamed Al-Bunayyadi emphasized that the book "Islam and the West: An Approach to Causes of Conflict and Monitoring the Conditions of Cultural Exchange" stands out for presenting a perspective rooted in the necessity of understanding the historical context in order to grasp the true nature of the relationship between Islam and the West. 

It adopts a forward-looking and visionary approach that contributes to contemporary discussions on this relationship, lays the groundwork for an enlightened dialogue grounded in historical awareness and mutual respect, and—most importantly—helps chart a path toward future cooperation.