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Monday 22 Feb 2016 - 12:09 Makkah mean time-13-5-1437
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Abu Dhabi, (IINA) - Members of a council of high-ranking Islamic scholars flew from Abu Dhabi to the Indonesian capital on Sunday to provide support to fellow scholars in Jakarta, The National newspaper reported.
Led by the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb, the Muslim Council of Elders will share ideas with hundreds of Indonesian Islamic scholars on how to highlight the true moderate essence of Islam to the masses, following extremist attacks in the country last month.
The initiative follows projects carried out by the council since its inception in Abu Dhabi in July 2014, such as sending peace envoys to areas of conflict and sending letters to extremist groups. The members are 14 Islamic experts and scholars who aim to fight extremism by promoting peace and correct religious speech.
Since the country has the largest Muslim population in the world, with about 100 million Muslims, “they are looking up to the council and what it will offer them,” Dubai Grand Mufti Dr Ahmed Al Haddad said.
The visit will strengthen Indonesian religious authorities and scholars, because the head of the oldest and most prominent Islamic University, Al Azhar, are supporting them personally.
“Al Azhar has a great status in Indonesia, especially since many of the country’s scholars graduated from it,” said Dr Al Haddad. “So they share the same ideas.”
Dr Kaltham Al Muhairi, council member and assistant professor at the Zayed University Institute of Islamic World Studies, said the visit in itself delivers a message to the Muslim world that “We are with you wherever you are and whenever you desire”.
Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, secretary general of the council, said the visit was requested by Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
The elders will also share ideas and expertise with heads of Islamic societies and students at universities and institutes.
The council will meet Widodo on Monday. The meeting will be followed by an open discussion with about 300 Indonesian scholars.
The elders’ seventh meeting will take place on Monday afternoon.
Several plans that came out of previous council meetings have been carried out on the ground, such as sending peace envoys to spread awareness on correct understandings of Islam.
The envoys have visited the US, Italy, France, Pakistan, Chad, South Africa and Indonesia, and will visit 16 more countries this year.
SM/IINA
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