Muslim Council of Elders

About Us

The Muslim Council of Elders is an autonomous international organization founded in Abu Dhabi on the 21st of Ramadan 1435 AH, corresponding to July 19, 2014 AD. Chaired by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the Council is composed of eminent scholars and dignitaries from the Muslim Ummah, renowned for their wisdom, moderation, justice, and independence. The Council's mission is to foster peace within Muslim and non-Muslim communities alike and to advance the principles of dialogue, tolerance, and human coexistence.

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Goals

To bolster the concept of desired peace, manifested in the presence of social harmony that ensures the protection of the five necessities: life, religion, honor, intellect, and property. This aims to curb the widening violations of the sanctity of life, honor, and property.

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Principles

Adherence to the principles and core tenets of Islam, both in spirit and in letter, following the moderate approach that has been embraced by the Ummah throughout history. This approach has been consistently passed on from one generation to the next, firmly rooted in the Ummah’s collective religious conscience and awareness

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Vision

The vision of the Council is to foster safe societies that honor knowledge and appreciate scholars and uphold the values of friendship, tolerance, and living together in peace.

His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and President of the Muslim Council of Elders

His Eminence, Al-Azhar’s Grand Imam, was born in the village of Kurna, near the city of Luxor, Upper Egypt, on the 3rd of Safar in the year 1365 AH, corresponding to January 6, 1946 AD. He grew up in his hometown before pursuing an Azharite education. While at school, he memorized the Holy Quran and studied theological texts in the traditional Al-Azhar style. He later joined the Department of Creed and Philosophy at the College of Fundamentals of Religion in Cairo, graduating with honors in 1969. Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb has worked at numerous Islamic universities worldwide, participated in many international and Islamic conferences, and has been honored with many awards in recognition of his stature among Muslim scholars globally.

Council Members

Secretary General

Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam

Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders

Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has served as an advisor to His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, for eight years. He is a member of Al-Azhar’s Center for Interreligious Dialogue, a member of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence, Co-President of Religions for Peace (RfP) coalition, and Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity (ZAHF). Judge Abdelsalam also served as the Secretary-General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity for four years, contributing to the drafting of the historic Document on Human Fraternity, which was co-signed by His Holiness Pope Francis and Al-Azhar’s Grand Imam, His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, in Abu Dhabi in 2019. He was a key member of the Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting Egypt's new constitution in 2013, and has participated in preparing documents for Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.