Under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the international Islamic conference “Communication with the Departments of Religious Affairs, Ifta and Sheikhdoms in the World”, held under the theme “Communication and Integration”, kicked off today in Makkah with the participation of 150 scholars, muftis and heads of Islamic centers and association from 85 countries.
Organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, the conference was inaugurated by citing verses of the Holy Quran before the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh delivered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s speech welcoming participants in the conference. Dr. Al Al-Sheikh noted that this conference embodies the significant meaning of consultation and is held in Saudi Arabia, which has embraced this great principle since its inception by Imam King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Faisal, where Saudi Arabia adopts the true message of Islam and spreads the principles of justice, mercy and moderation in an authentic approach that has become a model to follow.
He referred to the importance of today’s meeting in consultation and cooperation that serve the moderate centrist Islam approach in light of the increasing intensity of hate speech and extremism and adopting some corrupt approaches that affected Islam and its justice.
The minister noted that the political exploitation of some Islamic action party groups made religion a means to achieve their goals even at the expense of religion, calling for intensified efforts to address the use of religion for politics and pointing out that the need to meet today is maximized in light of the spread of heresies and attempts to distort Islam.
At the end of his speech, Dr. Al Al-Sheikh extended his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the follow-up, directives and support for various programs of the ministry.
Supreme Mufti of Kazakhstan Nauryzbai Kazhy Taganuly delivered a speech expressing his appreciation to the Saudi government for organizing this conference.
He referred to the recent incidents of Quran burning and desecration in several European countries, calling on the Muslim nations to adopt a joint statement to condemn these despicable events.
Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments in the UAE Dr. Mohammed Matar Al-Kaabi, said in his speech that participation in this conference came for communication and integration between scholars, muftis, religious leaders and officials involved in religious discourse in the world, adding that this gathering comes amid serious challenges that afflict the human values called for by the Divine messages, and endorsed by sound educational curricula, namely the faith values.
The Grand Mufti of Mauritania and Imam of the Great Mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Murabit Al-Shanqeeti, praised the Kingdom’s efforts under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince in various fields that related to Muslims across the world.
He pointed out that this conference touches on an urgent need for the entire Islamic nation to face emerging developments and changes in complex modern issues whose solution requires insight into the origins of Islamic law, its rules and purposes, and knowledge of its aspects and significance.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, expressed his satisfaction with participating in this distinguished intellectual and scientific event, which tackles an issue that lies at the core of the organization’s primary mission, which is to strengthen Islamic unity, advocate for Islamic values, and achieve integration in all areas to serve the interests of the people.
He said, “The Communication and Integration” conference comes in light of the many challenges facing the Islamic nation, including political developments, intellectual challenges, and aggressive tendencies to distort the image of Islam, which requires us to stand up to these hostile tendencies and currents and evoke the concept of Islamic unity, which adopts a civilized, cultural and human unity based on cooperation, cohesion, interaction and the enrichment of human civilization in all fields of education, culture, thought, and economy”.
Taha added that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of this important conference confirms its position as a real actor in supporting the positive directions of the Islamic nation and working for its renaissance, offering appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince for the tremendous support they provide to OIC in various fields, which contributed to the success of its mission to serve Islam and Muslims.
After that, the first session of the conference was launched in the presence of Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Conference, and chaired by Dr. Saleh bin Saad Al-Suhaimi, a faculty member at the Islamic University. The conference sessions will be held over two days, with eight sessions permeated by seven main axes, with the participation of a group of Muslim scholars.
Source: Saudi Press Agency