Conference of Muslim Scholars kicked off in Africa for the first time

CAIRO- 12 December 2022:In the presence of His Excellency the President of the Republic of the Gambia, Adama Barrow, His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars,  Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, launched in the Gambian capital, Banjul, the proceedings of the Conference of the Muslim World League of Muslim Scholars in Africa, which brought together for the first time in the history of the continent, Senior muftis, Ulamas and ministers of religious affairs in African countries, with the aim of coordinating their pivotal efforts in promoting societal peace and addressing security and development challenges, especially their attempt to face the waves of extremism, violence, and terrorism through their statement that refutes the claims of those misguided people and establishes the values of moderation.

 

The President of Gambia, Mr. Adama Barrow, delivered a speech in which he thanked His Excellency the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, and called on Muslim scholars to intensify their efforts in order to play their expected role. Then, His Excellency the Secretary of the League addressed the conference attendees, with a speech in which he indicated the important and tangible impact of Ulamas on Islamic societies, and even humanity in general, stressing that they are, by the Grace of Allah, the reliable Islamic front that confronts the scourges of extremism, violence, and terrorism, which have greatly harmed Islam, especially since these scourges have greatly spread in our modern era, and consequently those who do not know the truth of Islam believe that these concepts represent the truth of our religion, and our religion has nothing to do with them. Hence, the responsibility of Muslim scholars is great.

 

His Excellency explained that the role of scholars in our time focuses more on refuting the claims of extremism, violence, and terrorism and establishing the values of moderation, pointing out that these claims are based on a dangerous misunderstanding that misled many people who really do not have real knowledge. These claims are based on detached parts of the religious texts on the one hand, and the ignorance of the methods of inference on the other. This is in addition to their ignorance or rather ignoring of the Islamic rules with which one can clearly absorb the Islamic rules and principles.

Sheikh dr. Al-Issa affirmed that the Islamic nation has great confidence in Allah that He will help them get over the challenge of these ideologies, especially since the Muslim Ulamas are bravely shouldering their religious responsibility while addressing this significant issues and facing this critical stage in the history of the Islamic nation and that includes educating the world peoples about the values of the Islamic religion in order to get the right image of Islam.

Dr. Al-Isa continued by saying, there is no way out for those who spread those false ideas and lies but to arouse unruly religious emotions through their false claims. His Excellency noted that scholars, with what God has bestowed upon them from His bounty, and with what He has guided them to in terms of legal diligence and blessed collective action, are fully capable of studying legal issues in all their aspects.

He said: We were greatly pleased in the Muslim World League with the participation of African Ulamas in drafting the most important Islamic documents in our contemporary history, which is the "Makkah Al-Mukarramah Document" sponsored by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, "may God protect him", and initiated by His Highness, the trustworthy Crown Prince and Chairman of the Council The Ministers, His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, affirming that the Muslim World League is one of the great achievements that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has gifted to the Islamic world with.

His Excellency said: Our happiness was doubled by the adoption of the "Makkah Al-Mukarramah Document" in training imams in a number of countries of the world, including non-Islamic countries as well.

 

The Secretary-General of the Islamic World League and the Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars stated that the "Makkah Document" won due popularity and had a great influence on all Muslims and non-Muslims, which made us absolutely certain that it came at an important and sensitive time to explain, with grace from Allah, the truth of our Islamic religion, and establish the values of its moderation and call for the peace of our world, and the harmony of its national societies. The document also addresses the most important contemporary issues with an enlightened Islamic approach, revealing the solidity of the scholars of the Islamic nation, and the depth of their religious knowledge, and this is the reason that made the Islamic countries at the meeting of their foreign ministers in Niamey in 2020 unanimously decide to adopt this document and take it as a guide in all the religious, educational and cultural institutions.

 

His Excellency concluded his speech by praising African scholars who were determined to form the "African Scholars Council" under the umbrella of the Muslim World League out of their belief in the religious and scientific reference represented in their universal qibla in Makka al-Mukarrama where the new council will be sponsored by the Muslim World League, a matter which is stipulated for in article 29 of the Makka al-Mukarrama Document. He further indicated that the Muslim World League will be happy to host the annual scientific meeting of the African scholars in Mecca. His Excellency thanked the Gambian President for his generous sponsorship.

His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa had arrived in the Gambian capital upon an official invitation from His Excellency the President of Gambia, where he was received by the Vice-President, Mr. Badara A. Joof, and a group of muftis and Ulamas from the African continent, and a number of ministers. Then, His Excellency President Adama Barrow held, in the presidential palace in the capital, Banjul, a reception for His Excellency the Secretary-General of the League, appreciating the League for its global efforts, and for choosing Gambia to hold the Conference of Muslim Scholars in Africa, which he described as "a historic event which will have a great impact on the African continent," He said: It is as important as the African Union summits.

With the approval of the United Nations - The Gambian President handed over the "Ambassador of International Peace" medal, to Sheikh Dr. Al- Issa in appreciation of his efforts in promoting the values of peace and international cooperation, in a large international celebration held in the capital, Banjul, to award His Excellency Dr. Al-Issa, the Republic's highest honor.

 

The Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs accompanied Dr. Al-Issa throughout the visit program, which included the inauguration of the Al-Salam Medical Facility in the Gambian capital, Banjul, in the presence of First Lady, Fatoumata Bah Barrow, and a number of government officials. Al-Salam Medical Facility is one of the development projects of the Muslim World League in the African continent. The facility which has the latest equipment and qualified staff will provide all medical services, thereby contributing to the improvement of health care for the people of Gambia.