Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Islamic Affairs Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh emphasized to Asharq Al-Awsat that moderate Islam will prevail, and extremism and fanaticism will come to an end irrevocably, despite the historical incidents of attacks on Islamic sanctities in certain countries.
Al-Sheikh added that Islamophobia has been exploited by feeble minds and enemies of Islam, or by certain Muslims who do not represent the true essence of Islam. Instead, they represent sources of discord and destruction worldwide, including within the Islamic world itself.
The minister pointed out that there is a collective awareness at the level of nations and societies to combat such extremism.
Al-Sheikh’s remarks came in the wake of the kickoff of the international Islamic conference under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
The conference, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Makkah, involves the participation of 150 scholars and muftis from the heads of Islamic centers and associations in 85 countries around the globe.
Moreover, Al-Sheikh addressed the ongoing assault on moderate Islam and the collaboration of malevolent forces in sowing seeds of discord and division among people, spreading atheism, extremism, and fanaticism.
He clarified that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has worked to uproot elements he labeled as “noxious and malignant.”
“We continue to monitor, and these matters will hold no sway,” Al-Sheikh told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The minister also emphasized that the conference serves noble objectives by spreading true Islamic values grounded in the Quran and the Prophet’s Sunnah.
These values promote moderation, compassion, and reject violence, extremism, fanaticism, and terrorism.
“This is Saudi Arabia's message, and we thank the Saudi leadership for organizing this international conference, which has garnered widespread approval,” said Al-Sheikh.
“Saudi Arabia is steadfast in its faith, proud of its values, and calls upon the entire world to embrace this approach that embodies goodness, mercy, advocacy, moderation, and the rejection of extremism, radicalism, decay, and atheism,” he added.
The minister also pointed out that the political exploitation by certain partisan groups of Islamic work has turned religion into a tool for achieving their partisan objectives, even at the expense of the true essence of the faith, which they have used as a cover for falsehoods.
He deemed this as an extreme interpretation of religious discourse, deviating from the path of moderation and balance.
Furthermore, Al-Sheikh called for intensified efforts to address the politicization of religion.
Al-Sheikh pointed out that the need for unity is paramount today in light of the emergence of innovations and distortions in religion. There is an attempt to oversimplify the understanding of Islam and confine it to some newly invented rituals, which distances its adherents from the true essence of the religion.
According to Al-Sheikh, Prophet Muhammad brought a clear methodology that harmonizes the spiritual and physical aspects of life, combining worldly endeavors with goodness and constructive civilization.
The minister also expressed optimism about the gathering hosted by Makkah, which was attended by religious leaders, scholars, and individuals concerned with Islamic affairs.
For his part, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha remarked that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of this significant conference underscores its genuine role in supporting the positive trends of our nation and working towards its progress.
The Kingdom has succeeded, drawing from its elements and rich human and cultural heritage, in becoming a beacon of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
It has translated this human value into tangible actions, further enhancing its leadership in promoting interfaith dialogue. He extended his gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their substantial efforts in serving Islam and the Muslim community.
