With over 220 publications and various cultural events and activities, the Council’s pavilion at the Sharjah International Book Fair offers a rich experience

This marks the third participation of the Muslim Council of Elders with a special pavilion at the Sharjah International Book Fair, now in its 43rd edition, which begins today, Wednesday, November 6, under the theme 'It starts with a book' and will run until November 17 at the Sharjah Expo Center. The Council’s participation in international book fairs aligns with its mission to promote peace, reinforce values of dialogue and tolerance, and build bridges of cooperation among people of all backgrounds and beliefs.

The Council's pavilion at the book fair will feature over 220 publications, including a selection of scholarly and intellectual works. Prominently featured are more than 20 works by His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and President of the Muslim Council of Elders, which illustrate the tolerance of Islam and the richness of its intellectual and philosophical heritage. Notable among these are the three-volume Al-Qawl Al-Tayeb (The Good Word), Muqawmat Al-Islam (Essential Features of Islam), Ra'y Fi Hiwar Al-Sharq Wal-Gharb (A View on East-West Dialogue), Al-Awda ila Al-Iman (The Return to Faith), Kalima Ila Al-Shabab (A Message to the Youth), Fi al-Mustalah al-Kalami wal-Sufi (On Theological and Sufi Terminology), Nazarat fi Fikr al-Imam al-Ash'ari (Reflections on the Thought of Imam Al-Ash'ari), Min Dafateri al-Qadima (From My Old Notebooks), Inna al-Deen Yusr (Religion is Easy), Nahw Ijtihad Fiqhi Mu'asir (Towards Contemporary Ijtihad), Hadith fi al-'Ilal wal-Maqasid (On Shari’a Rulings and Objectives), Al-Tariq ila Allah (The Path to Allah), Hadith Fi Al-Salam (On Peace), Al-Turath wal-Tajdid.. Munaqashat wa Rudud (Heritage and Renewal: Discussions and Responses), Ahl Al-Sunna wal Jama'ah (Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama'ah), Adab wa Qiyam (Morals and Values), among others. 

The Muslim Council of Elders' pavilion will also feature several significant scholarly and intellectual works aimed at addressing key intellectual and cultural areas, correcting misconceptions, and promoting enlightened moderate thought. They include ‘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 feature 24 new titles published by Al Hokama Publishing in 2024, including ‘The West and the Rediscovery of Islam’ by Professor Tijani Boulaouali, ‘Conceptualizing Peace During the European Renaissance’ by Dr. Bennacer El Bouazzati, and ‘Interfaith Encounters in Al-Andalus and Morocco: Exploring Muslim-Christian Interactions’ by Dr. Jaafar Ben El Haj Soulam. 

The pavilion of the Muslim Council of Elders will also organize a diverse cultural program that includes a series of seminars and lectures discussing various contemporary issues and topics. These include the issue of climate change and the shared responsibility to build a sustainable and improved future for upcoming generations, how to use Islamic heritage to spread and establish a culture of tolerance, coexistence, acceptance, and respect for others, the role of digital media in serving humanity, and strategies for empowering youth to use social media platforms to enhance peacebuilding.

Coinciding with the Council's ten-year anniversary, the Muslim Council of Elders' pavilion at the Sharjah International Book Fair hosts a number of intellectual and cultural events, programs, and activities designed to meet the expectations and needs of its visitors. This includes a special area for book sales and a distinctive children's corner, offering a number of specially designed entertaining and educational activities for children.

It is worth noting that the Sharjah International Book Fair attracts over two million visitors annually. This year, it will host more than 2,500 publishers and exhibitors from 112 Arab and foreign countries, and organize 1,357 diverse events featuring over 250 guests from 63 countries. The Muslim Council of Elders' pavilion is located in the Arab Pavilion, Hall 6, Stand M8.