Senior British Imams, Scholars and Alimahs gathered in London to share an evening with Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah (President, Forum for Peace), Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (President, Zaytuna College) and Dr Mohammad Matar Salem bin Abid al Kaabi (Minster of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, UAE).

Entitled “Islam in a Globalising World”, the evening facilitated by the Forum for Peace and Imams Online, bought together a diverse range of senior British Islamic leadership from across the country, representing different schools of thoughts and traditions.

The scholars in attendance listened to a special address from Shaykh Abdallah in which he emphasised the critical role positive religious guidance played in today’s complex and confusing world and how strong faith leadership and a strict adherence to the ways and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) were the perfect antidote to the ills and evils that have become predominant in today’s world.

The Islamic leadership in attendance took the opportunity to direct some pertinent questions to Shaykh Abdallah of both a scholastic and social nature. Some of the points raised and questions asked centered around the need to inspire and revive scholarship, how to instill confidence in Islamic thought leadership to speak on complex socio-political issues such as Western foreign policy, the need to integrate more women in faith institutional leadership and on discussions of intellectual disagreements and how to approach these.

Rabat – As anti-Muslim sentiment appeared to have increased across the world, the agenda of the second edition of the American Peace Caravan has focused on new initiatives intended to dampen Islamophopia and extremism.

The event, which took place from October 24 to 26 in Rabat, aimed to build a bridge of co-existence between religions. The conference participants wanted to find concrete ways to allow Jews, Christians, and Muslims to cooperate more as a collective of ethical communities rather than ideologically-drive self-interested lobbies, according to a statement issued by the organizers.

The conference reunited imams, rabbis, and pastors from 20 countries, with the view to build peace by advancing human dignity and the common good.

The religious leaders renewed their vows to the fight against extremism and religious violence through dialogue and respect among all religions.

The second edition of the conference also highlighted a set of recommendations to eradicate Islamophobia, which was the result of a “clear lack of leadership,” according to a statement by the organizers.

The event, which was held in cooperation with the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies

Organization , took place at the headquarters of Morocco’s Ministry of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs.

The agenda of the three-day symposium included several workshops and discussions on different topics, including mutual vision amongst co-religionists and their impact on peace, the role of religion in public life and challenges facing co-existence and opportunities to enhance it.

The Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies statement has also praised Morocco for hosting “graciously” the event under the patronage of King Mohammed VI.

Speaking the opening session of the event’s second, Moroccan Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Taoufiq, and President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies Organization, Sheikh Abdallah Bin Bayyah, stressed the importance of religious leaders in espousing the values of peace and in the protection of minority rights.

The first edition of the Peace Caravan took place in Abu Dhabi, Emirate. The third edition of the event will be organized in Washington, US.