On the occasion of the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, the Pakistan branch of the Muslim Council of Elders organized a symposium titled “Peaceful Coexistence in Light of the Life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).” The event was held in cooperation with the Shaikh Zayed Islamic Center (SZIC) in Peshawar and attended by a distinguished group of scholars, academics, and representatives of non-Muslim religious minorities in Pakistan, including the esteemed Peer Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, former Minister of Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony; Prof. Dr. Qazi Muhammad Naeem, Vice Chancellor of Peshawar University; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rashid Ahmed, Director of the Shaikh Zayed Islamic Center at Peshawar University; Prof. Dr. Qibla Ayaz, judge at the Shariat Court in Pakistan and former Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII); Sheikh Qari Roohullah Madani, Chairman of the Pakistan Council of World Religions - Faith Friends, and former Minister of Religious Affairs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The symposium, hosted at the University of Peshawar, witnessed a large audience and widespread praise for the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the leadership of His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in promoting a culture of peace, tolerance, and coexistence, calling on the Council to continue implementing such initiatives aimed at building bridges of communication, dialogue, and understanding among different religious and cultural groups. 

At the opening of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rashid Ahmed, Director of the Shaikh Zayed Islamic Center, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Muslim Council of Elders for organizing this event to commemorate the noble life of the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) at a time when the Muslim nation faces difficult challenges. He emphasized that the life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is a living model of the values of peace, coexistence, and tolerance, which should prevail in the world today, noting that the Prophet (PBUH) established relationships based on respect and understanding with various communities.

Prof. Dr. Qibla Ayaz highlighted the importance of the Document on Human Fraternity, signed by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church. He noted that this historic moment in global efforts aimed at promoting understanding, dialogue, and world peace reflects the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, which center on peace, coexistence, and acceptance of others. He emphasized that lessons from Islamic history provide us with models for peaceful coexistence with different religious and cultural groups.

Sheikh Qadri Roohullah Madani stated that the life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) serves as a role model for all humanity, explaining that differences in opinions and positions are natural in any human society and cannot be avoided. However, what matters most is how these differences are handled through constructive dialogue and mutual respect. He further stated that no religion advocates violence or extremism, and that attacking others in the name of religion stems from a misunderstanding of its teachings. He underscored that all divinely revealed religions, including Islam, promote peace, justice, and tolerance, and that no true faith endorses violence or extremism. Therefore, the instances of religiously motivated violence we see today do not reflect the core principles of religion but are the result of misinterpretations of those teachings.

In his message to the youth, Peer Noor-ul-Haq Qadri encouraged them to draw inspiration from key events in Islamic history, such as the migration to Abyssinia and the Charter of Medina. He noted that these moments set powerful examples of peaceful coexistence between different religions and cultures, as Muslims of that time were able to live harmoniously with non-Muslims while respecting everyone’s right to freedom of belief.

It is worth noting that the Muslim Council of Elders has established several international branches in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan, serving as beacons of hope and bridges of communication and coexistence in a world facing many challenges. These branches are among the Council’s key tools for promoting the values of dialogue and human fraternity, expanding its global engagement with Muslims to gain a deeper understanding of their most pressing issues and to learn from their experiences in fostering civil and societal peace.