With more than 220 publications addressing key intellectual and cultural issues, the Muslim Council of Elders is set to feature a special pavilion at the Jeddah International Book Fair 2024.
For the second time, the Muslim Council of Elders will have a dedicated pavilion at the Jeddah International Book Fair 2024, which kicks off tomorrow in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Council’s participation is driven by its mission to foster peace, instill values of dialogue and tolerance, and enhance cooperation and coexistence.
The pavilion of the Muslim Council of Elders will present more than 220 publications and books that address significant intellectual issues, contribute to correcting misconceptions, and combat hate speech, racism, bigotry, and discrimination. Additionally, these works promote values of goodness, love, and peace. Notably, it includes 20 works by His Eminence Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders. The publications aim to introduce the tolerance of Islam and the richness of its intellectual and philosophical heritage. Among them are "Al-Qawl Al-Tayyib" ("The Good Word"), "Min Dafatery al Qadeema" ("From My Old Notebooks"), "Ra'y Fi Hiwar al-Sharq wa al-Gharb" ("An Opinion in the Dialogue between East and West"), "Madkhal Fi Dirasat al-Mantiq" ("An Introduction to the Study of Logic"), "Hadith fi al-'Ilal wa al-Maqasid" ("A Discussion on Causes and Purposes"), "Fi al-Mustalah al-Kalami al-Sufi" ("On Theological and Sufi Terminology"), "Al-Turath wa al-Tajdid" ("Tradition and Renewal"), "Min Ajl al-Salam" ("For the Sake of Peace"), "Nazrat Fi Fikr al-Imam al-Ash'ari" ("Insights into the Thought of Imam Al-Ash'ari"), and "Adab wa Qiyam" ("Ethics and Values").
The Muslim Council of Elders' pavilion will also feature several significant works including ‘Love in the Holy Quran’ by HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders, ‘The Grand Imam and the Pope and the Thorny Path: A Testimony to the Birth of the Human Fraternity Document’ by the Council's Secretary-General, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, ‘Rules of Understanding and Dialogue from Thought and Language’ by Dr. Mustafa Benhamza, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders, and ‘Studies on the Similarity of Style in Quranic Stories: A Comparative and Analytical Study’ by Abdul Ghani Al-Rajhi. The pavilion will also showcase "Al-Muslimun fi Muftaraq Turuq" ("Muslims at a Crossroads") by the late Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Hamdy Zaqzouq, along with a selection of the Council's publications for 2024 including "Al-Unf wa al-Silm Nahwa Fahm Mutakamil" ("Violence and Peace: Towards a Comprehensive Understanding"), ‘The West and the Rediscovery of Islam’ by Professor Tijani Boulaouali, ‘Conceptualizing Peace During the European Renaissance’ by Dr. Bennacer El Bouazzati, ‘Interfaith Encounters in Al-Andalus and Morocco: Exploring Muslim-Christian Interactions’ by Dr. Jaafar Ben El Haj Soulami, and the books "Khalid Ibn Al-Walid" and "Uthman Ibn Affan" by Muhammad Al-Sadiq Arjun.
Recognizing the pivotal role that translation plays as a bridge to enhance understanding and constructive communication between cultures, the Muslim Council of Elders has dedicated efforts to translate a number of works aimed at promoting and establishing values of peace, coexistence, acceptance, and respect for others. Among these notable publications are the book "Confronting Islamophobia in Europe" by several researchers, "Islam and Good Governance" by Professor Muqtedar Khan, a professor at the University of Delaware in the United States, and "Islam, the West, and Tolerance: Conceiving Coexistence" by Aaron Tyler.
It is worth noting that the Jeddah International Book Fair is an annual cultural event that brings together authors, publishers, and readers from around the world in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is considered one of the most significant cultural events in the region, providing a platform to showcase the latest literary releases and host numerous accompanying cultural activities. This year, the fair features the participation of 1,000 local and international publishers and agencies from 22 countries, spread across more than 450 pavilions. Additionally, there is a diverse cultural program, comprising over 100 different events. The pavilion of the Muslim Council of Elders is located in the General Sciences and Knowledge section, Pavilion No. A52.