The Muslim Council of Elders’ pavilion at the Baghdad International Book Fair held its first seminar, titled “The Role of Reciprocal Visits Between Al-Azhar Scholars and the Najaf Seminary in Promoting Intra-Islamic Dialogue.”

The seminar was presented by Dr. Ammar Aboudi Nassar, Professor of History and Islamic Thought at the College of Arts, University of Kufa, and Dr. Samir Boudinar, Director of the Al-Hokama Center for Peace Research.

Dr. Samir Boudinar said that Iraq is a land of rich history and civilisation, serving as a model of unity and cooperation. He noted that this collective spirit has played a key role in building a profound and comprehensive civilisation that has made its mark on the world and contributed to the growth of Islamic civilisation.

Dr. Boudinar further emphasised that the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, places great importance on promoting intra-Islamic dialogue to establish a new era of understanding
among all Islamic sects. This initiative stems from the Grand Imam’s call during the Bahrain Dialogue Forum in 2022, which stressed the need to enhance Islamic solidarity and unity, highlighting that religious fraternity is the foundation of human fraternity. The call was met with widespread acclaim from various sectors of the Islamic nation. The Council is currently preparing a range of initiatives and events, including the upcoming Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference, which will be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain early next year.

Despite the challenges Iraq has faced over time, including divisions and conflicts, it continues to hold its historical and cultural significance as a symbol of civilization and human achievement. Therefore, the Muslim Council of Elders chose to focus its first participation at the Baghdad International Book Fair on promoting intra-Islamic dialogue. This objective is being pursued through a series of seminars and notable presentations under the theme of “The Unity of the Nation and
Intra-Islamic Dialogue,” along with various publications aimed at fostering dialogue and emphasizing the importance of unity among the Islamic nation’s different components.

Source: Emirates News Agency