World Council Muslim Communities conference focuses on Islamic unity

Agencies | Abu Dhabi

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Participants from over 150 countries have congregated in Abu Dhabi to discuss Islamic unity. The World Muslim Communities Council (TWMCC) was launched on Monday under the patronage of Tolerance and Coexistence Minister Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.

The conference coincides with the fourth anniversary of the council's founding, UAE news agency WAM reported. The two-day event is addressing the challenges related to belonging to contemporary Islamic society, confirming the pioneering role of scholars and thinkers in leading the nation and providing intellectual and legitimate proposals.

Shaikh Nahyan lauded the participation of a high-profile gathering of Islamic thinkers who represent high levels of serious and committed thinking, and broad experience with reality, history and the future in Muslim societies.

The UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence emphasized that "Islamic unity" is important in light of the grave challenges to the existence of some Muslim societies as well as in light of the existence of favorable opportunities for the Islamic nation to take its proper stature.

He stressed the need to an overall and clear strategy to achieve Islamic unity in order to become a global force, noting that Islam has always been a source of a system of values that accomplish justice, freedom, a decent life for the individuals, progress and prosperity for society.

Themed "Islamic Unity: The Concept, Opportunities and Challenges", the TWMCC’s international conference explores the history of Islamic unity and its effects on all aspects of life, as well as its role in establishing human civilization.

It explores the historical circumstances that led to the decline in the understanding of Islamic unity and the misconceptions around it. UAE Fatwa Council's Chairman Shaikh Abdullah bin Bayyah said that the conference should focus on the importance of peace as one of the most important goals on which Islam was built.

Egypt's Minister of the Endowments Dr Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa indicated that that Islamic unity requires coordination in international forums to criminalize blasphemy and to stand united against extremist and terrorist groups.

He also called on scholars and specialists to expose extremist groups and pointed out that fatwas should change according to the circumstances of place and time.