Scholars, preachers in Makkah to discuss unity, moderation

A two-day international conference on unifying the stance of scholars and preachers has been opened in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, under the auspices of the Muslim World League.

Sex in car a crime — Lagos police boss

The conference, which has as its theme: “Islamic Unity, the Perils of Labelling and Exclusion,” has scholars and preachers from all over the world, including Nigeria, in attendance.

Secretary, Muslim World League, Dr Mohammad Abdulkarim Alissa, said the aim of the conference was to harmonise the stance of scholars and preachers, disseminate the values of moderation, strengthen the bond of brotherhood and harmony among Muslims and reject the rhetoric of labelling and exclusion.

He listed other objectives of the two-day conference as to unite the word of Muslim scholars, preachers and thinkers and bring their views together through upholding Islamic and cultural understandings of the universal law of God.

Others include to promote the awareness about the importance of disseminating the values of scientific, ideological and social moderation and to show the factual truth of religion of Islam to all.

Alissa added that the conference would equally propose practical initiatives to thwart all forms of animosity, hatred and sectarian conflict.

“It will equally establish communication channels connecting different followers of Islamic schools of thought and sects to expand bridges of trust, understanding and cooperation based on common Islamic denominators to corner the sectarian and extremist narratives,” he added.

The Muslim World League scribe stressed that the conference would reiterate the concept of Islamic unity with its fullest meaning of harmony, peace, convergence between the notion of Ummah and the nation state.

He reminded all on the need for cooperation with non-Muslims as dictated by Islam and rejection of all forms of extremism, violence and terrorism.

The conference, which is under the custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz, has many Islamic scholars, preachers, human rights activists and thinkers from all over the world participating.