Secretary-General of the Muslim World League: The Charter Unified Muslim Scholars

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League: The Charter Unified Muslim Scholars

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held on Friday, May 21, 2020, at its headquarters, in Rabat, a scientific symposium in partnership with the Muslim World League (MWL) under the theme: ”Makkah Charter: Achievements and Perspectives.” The event, during which Dr. Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa delivered the main lecture, enjoyed high-level participation and witnessed rich discussions with the aim to achieve the goals of the Charter, which scholars and intellectuals coming from 27 Muslim sects and schools of thought approved. 

The symposium began with the recitation of some verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an address  Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), delivered during which he welcomed Dr. Al-Issa and his delegation. Dr. AlMalik stressed that the symposium is an opportunity to exchange views and explore ideas on the Makkah Charter hoping that the efforts of Arab and Muslim countries will put an end to the sufferings of the Palestinians and help restore Al-Quds Al-Sharif and Al-Aqsa Mosque, after having reached a truce in the occupied territories.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Cultural Advisor to ICESCO DG, highlighted in his introduction the urgent need for issuing the Makkah Charter from the Qibla that unifies all Muslims to disseminate enlightened Islamic thought and respect all religions.

During the symposium’s main lecture, Dr. Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa explained the achievements and perspectives of the Charter that was able to unify Muslim Scholars. He noted that Muslim intellectuals were well aware of their scientific and intellectual duty to issue the Charter which was signed by more than 1200 Muslim Muftis and Scholars representing various Muslim sects and schools of thought. More than 4500 Muslim intellectuals attended the conference which issued it.

MWL Secretary-General stressed that the Charter tackled several key contemporary issues, raised awareness and transmitted enlightened Islamic thought, especially to the youth of the Muslim world. The document was based on the Madina Charter that the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) signed, which calls for the respect of religious and civil rights. The Makkah Charter is considered an extension of that historical document.

Dr. Al-Issa added that Makkah Charter reinforces the need for religious, cultural and civilizational dialogue for coexistence, mutual understanding, development and fighting corruption.

The Secretary-General also praised the roles that ICESCO plays, hoping that the Organization will carry on its mission of publicizing the Makkah Charter, which was approved by Muslim World Countries during the Meeting of Foreign Ministers.

Following the main lecture, the participants expressed their views during which Dr. Ahmed Sennouni, Secretary-General of the Mohammedia League of Scholars, reaffirmed that the Makkah Charter should be a source of inspiration, both at the personal and collective level, for it is regarded as a humanist document considering its goals and functions.

Dr. Khalid Samadi, Director of the Moroccan Center for Studies and Educational Research, noted that the Charter corrected some misconceptions, enshrined various values, and developed skills to overcome differences.

Dr. Mahjoub Bensaid, a researcher in the fields of communication sciences and cultural dialogue, presented many proposals to strengthen the universal character of the Charter. Dr. Mustapha Zabbakh, Rapporteur of the Academy of the Moroccan Kingdom, then praised the document’s aim to free the Muslim mentality from misconceptions to build a renewed understanding of Islam.

The symposium’s recordings are available on ICESCO Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/ICESCO.En/videos/759106971446672