Mohammed al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, has affirmed that all people share a commitment to building a world where intolerance, discrimination and injustice have no place in the society.
“We are striving to foster a more inclusive, equal world where no form of prejudice or bias exists,” he said in a keynote at the Global Faith Forum 2022.
Issa, who is widely regarded as the leading global voice on moderate Islam, was honored as the keynote speaker and distinguished guest of the Forum, hosted by Pastor Bob Roberts and the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, in Dallas, Texas.
He later visited thriving evangelical churches in Kansas City, Missouri, and Glenarden, Maryland.
The event, held under the theme “Unlikely Allies Building Flourishing Communities,” was attended by officials from the US government, leaders in several international organizations, representatives of the Muslim community in the United States, as well as a group of influential religious, community, intellectual and academic US and foreign figures.
Issa introduced the Makkah Charter, which is considered a turning point in contemporary Islamic thought and was unanimously endorsed by leaders, scholars and academics attending a historic four-day conference in 2019.
He said the MWL gathered then more than 1,200 prominent Muftis and Muslim scholars and over 4,500 Islamic thinkers from more than 139 countries and 27 different Islamic sects in the Holy City of Makkah.
The conference focused on how Muslims could best combat the global rise in hatred and divisiveness affecting so many of the communities today.
He said the document outlines 29 defined points on how people must put their differences aside, embrace religious, social and cultural diversity, promote inclusivity and equality and attempt to advance peace, coexistence and love.
“It provides a blueprint for how the Muslim world should engage with different faith and religious groups, combat extremism, terrorism and hatred in all its forms, protect the fundamental human rights of all people and empower women, minorities and marginalized groups to achieve their dreams and aspirations.”
The Charter was approved by all 56 Islamic countries at the annual meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in 2020.
Issa affirmed the League is working with these countries to implement training programs and integrate the Charter into educational institutions.
He pointed out that real progress only happens when action and courage are combined with an unwavering resolve for creating a better world for all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, faith, gender, nationality or creed.
“The pursuit of change is certainly not easy. It doesn’t occur overnight, and could take more than a lifetime.”
“It takes constant, consistent, cohesive and intentional effort, not mere good fortune or happenstance. It comes as a result of gatherings and conversations like this event,” he added.
Only through contact, can we start to re-plant the seeds of mutual respect, communal empathy and authentic coexistence, Issa noted.
