Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders: Scenes of Debris and Destruction We Witness in Gaza Every Day Represent a Deep Wound in Our Humanity, and International Movements are Necessary if We Desire Genuine Peace

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam has emphasized that the existence of religions aims to preserve the reservoir of hope in promoting the common good. He pointed out that Islam creates hope for the future through the cosmic relationships of humans with God, the world, and their fellow humans. This includes the relationship of trust and hope in God and confidence in His capability. It also involves considering the world as a field for human succession, where people bear the responsibility of rebuilding and preserving it for the benefit of future generations. This is accomplished through the values of justice, compassion, and solidarity.

During his participation in a dialogue session titled "In Search of Hope for a Better World" at the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi, the Secretary-General stated that the potential of Islam in generating this hope is closely tied to its historical connection with divine religions from the Middle East. This region, where prophecies were revealed and philosophies were formed, remains strongly present in the conscience and thinking of humanity. Unfortunately, it is now suffering from severe and relentless bloodshed, causing innocent civilian casualties every moment. This situation places a collective responsibility on us towards our humanity and the world we live in, which is truly in need of a dose of hope created by our will, sincerity, and belief in justice for all people.

The Secretary-General further explained that the Quran, when considering the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the culmination of the stages of divine revelation to humanity, describes him as a mercy to the worlds. This underscores the significance of revelation or religion as a beacon of hope for humanity and a mercy for all creatures. The message of this final Prophet is directed towards all of humanity without distinction, making universality, based on spiritual faith and voluntary moral commitment, as well as solidarity for the benefit of humanity, one of the features of the religious message.

He emphasized the importance of initiatives that aim to strengthen the globality of religious values while preserving diversity and harnessing the spiritual power of religions to address current human issues and the shared challenges of our world. This aligns with the Document on Human Fraternity, co-signed by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, along with Pope Francis on February 4, 2019. The Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, which opened at the beginning of 2023, also provides a shared space not only for coexistence among these three religions but also for dialogue and cooperation between them.

The Secretary-General concluded by affirming that despite the challenges and risks, it remains meaningful to ask how the three monotheistic religions can work together to realize their fundamental shared values of justice, truth, and peace. He expressed his deep conviction that victory will be the ally of every force that upholds the essence of our humanity, embodies and defends these values.