JEDDAH: Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, delivered the keynote address at the opening of a high-level meeting of the Expert Group at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies.
His address emphasized the importance of activating religious dialogue in a way that builds bridges and moves beyond repetitive discussions and recurring themes.
Al-Issa said that the league’s impactful dialogue efforts follow two tracks. The first is within the Islamic world, across all schools of thought and traditions, leading to the Charter of Makkah and the Charter of Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought and Sects, both commended by member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The OIC, in particular, recommended adopting the Charter of Makkah in religious, cultural and educational institutions across the Islamic world.
The second track is between the Islamic world and others, resulting in the “Building Bridges Between East and West” initiative at the UN headquarters in New York and the “Protecting Global Youth from Extremist and Violent Ideologies” initiative at the UN Office in Geneva.
Both initiatives were attended by UN leaders and prominent religious, intellectual, parliamentary, academic and youth figures.
Al-Issa also stressed the importance of preventive peace, aimed at averting the early-stage escalation of civilizational conflicts that can lead to war, highlighting the league’s efforts in this field over more than a decade.
He reviewed the key factors behind effective dialogue, as well as the main reasons many dialogues fail to achieve their intended outcomes.
Separately, Al-Issa also met Islamic religious leaders, including business figures from across the UK. The meeting discussed the Islamic civilizational approach to addressing issues affecting Muslim communities in non-Muslim countries.
He commended Muslims in the UK for their example in promoting coexistence and social cohesion, saying: “On behalf of the MWL, we take pride in this distinction, which reflects the values of Islamic civilization and the awareness of its people regarding citizenship and the importance of strengthening social cohesion.”
The attendees praised the league’s global role, expressing appreciation for its initiatives and international standing. They noted, among its UK achievements, Al-Issa’s reception by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, making him the first Arab and Muslim figure received by the king after his accession to the throne.
They also commended the MWL’s efforts to counter extremist ideologies and clarify the message of Islam, saying that its approach has earned respect and trust.
The attendees praised Al-Issa’s address at the UN General Assembly marking the first International Day to Combat Islamophobia, as well as his religious representation of the Islamic world at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
