Manama (UNA/BNA) - Under the title "One Nation, Common Destiny", the Islamic-Islamic Dialogue Conference will be held in Manama on February 19 and 20, at a time when the reality experienced by the Islamic world imposes the necessity of embarking on a new path for Islamic-Islamic dialogue, especially after the important historical call issued by His Eminence the Grand Imam, Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, President of the Muslim Council of Elders, during the Bahrain Dialogue Forum in 2022, for "a dialogue for religious and human brotherhood, in which the causes of division, strife and sectarian conflict in particular are rejected, as it stipulates the cessation of mutual hate speech, methods of provocation and excommunication, and the necessity of overcoming historical and contemporary conflicts with all their problems and bad sediments."
The current circumstances that the Islamic nation is going through, whether what is happening in occupied Palestine, or the conflict and dispute that characterises the reality of some of its societies, in addition to the size of the challenges it faces, all of this makes taking the initiative to respond to this call an urgent necessity.
The Kingdom of Bahrain responded to this call for dialogue, through its initiative to host a global conference for Islamic-Islamic dialogue, under the generous patronage of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and in the presence of His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders.
The conference seeks to benefit from all previous experiences on the path of rapprochement between the components of the one nation, and the dialogue initiatives that took place on this path, to complete what it started with a new, stronger and broader vision, by discussing the most important and urgent issues, focusing on the areas of challenge, and providing a real qualitative addition in the field of Islamic unity.
For this reason, there was a keenness to benefit from pluralism and diversity as a source of strength by involving most of the components of the Islamic nation, its schools and intellectual doctrines, in the dialogue through religious symbols and references, scholars and thinkers. It is hoped that this will represent a qualitative shift in the path of Islamic unity, and move from the concepts of rapprochement to understanding about the nature of the required relationship between Muslims, especially in facing their common challenges.
The conference stresses the necessity of benefiting from the broad area of agreement in our common heritage, which was confirmed by the call of His Eminence the Grand Imam during his speech at the Bahrain Dialogue Forum when he called for a dialogue “focusing on points of agreement and convergence, and taking into account in its decisions the golden rule that says: We cooperate in what we agree upon, and we excuse each other in what we differ upon.”
The title chosen for the conference also reflects the meaning of emphasizing the extent of agreement among Muslims in belief, thought, and values, and the unity of the challenges they all face as one nation, which is: “Islamic-Islamic Dialogue: One Nation, Common Destiny.”
The conference aims to cooperate to reunite the Islamic nation with its various components, through supporting and strengthening Islamic-Islamic dialogue, clarifying and confirming the broad areas of agreement among Muslims, and the approach to dealing with them as a starting point for dialogue between the various Muslim sects, strengthening the role of religious and scientific authorities and institutions in spreading moderate thought, rejecting hate speech, and contributing to achieving understanding and solidarity among Muslims regardless of their sects.
In addition to working to renew Islamic thought in order to confront the causes of division and conflict on the one hand, and the common challenges facing Muslims on the other hand, as well as seeking understanding between religious and intellectual authorities and leaders on a permanent plan of action in the field of Islamic-Islamic dialogue; to avoid the escalation of conflicts and the management of differences, and to highlight successful experiences in managing diversity within Muslim societies, and to benefit from the experiences of Islamic-Islamic dialogue.
The Islamic-Islamic Dialogue Conference will be held according to the following work axes: Islamic-Islamic dialogue: vision, concepts and approach, the role of scholars and religious authorities in overcoming obstacles to understanding between Islamic sects, Islamic-Islamic dialogue and issues of citizenship, and the challenges facing the achievement of Islamic understanding.
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