Manama: The Muslim Council of Elders recently held its 18th session in Bahrain, chaired by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders. The session witnessed the participation of council members, along with a distinguished group of scholars and religious leaders from various Islamic sects worldwide, to address intra-Islamic dialogue and the challenges facing the Ummah, with a focus on the Palestinian cause.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the participants expressed gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his patronage and support of the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference, and to the Government of Bahrain for its warm hospitality. Appreciation was also extended to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, for supporting the Muslim Council of Elders' global peace efforts.
The scholars endorsed the outcomes of the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference, particularly the "Nida' Ahl Al Qibla" declaration, which outlines a vision for Islamic dialogue aimed at promoting brotherhood and countering defamation and hate speech. They agreed to translate these visions into practical initiatives, including the formation of an Islamic Dialogue League to oversee the implementation of conference recommendations.
The session also highlighted the scholars' support for the upcoming Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference at Al Azhar in Egypt next year, and their rejection of displacement attempts undermining the Palestinian cause. They reaffirmed support for a unified Arab and Islamic stance and commended the resilience of the Palestinian people.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the impact of artificial intelligence on ethical values, calling for an ethical charter to guide AI development. Participants urged Islamic institutions to lead in using AI tools to effectively communicate with younger generations and ensure access to accurate religious knowledge.