Promoting tolerance, combatting terrorism top agenda of Muslim scholars meet

Dr. Ahmad Al Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar welcomed by Indonesian Miinister of Religious Affairs Lukma Hakim Syaiffuddin on Monday night

Renowned scholars and members of UAE-based Muslim Council of Elders will hold their seventh meeting in Jakarta on Monday to "discuss efforts in confronting terrorism and hear updates from peace envoys sent to various countries to promote tolerant Islam." 
First order of business is a meeting between Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, and members of the Council with Indonesian President Joko Wikododo at the presidential palace. This will be followed by a symposium with around 300 Indonesian scholars before the meeting of the Council will formally open at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Monday afternoon. 
The last meeting of the Council was held in Cairo, Egypt November last year where Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi "reaffirmed the vital role of Muslim scholars to promote the true moderate and tolerant image of Islam and to confront the fierce campaign against Islam." 
The Council was established in Abu Dhabi in July 2014 "to promote peace, discourage infighting and to address the sources of conflict, divisiveness and fragmentation in Muslim communities." 
To ease growing tensions, the Council has deployed peace envoys to several "hotspot countries" including the US, France, Pakistan, Chad, Italy, South Africa, and Indonesia. The Council will deploy envoys to 16 other countries starting March this year. 
Abdel Rahman Moussa, adviser to the Grand Imam, told Khaleej Times: "we would like to send a message to the whole world that all Muslims are against the activities of the extremists like Daesh and other similar organisations." 
"Their ideology is not part of Islam. We are facing the threat by separating the true principles of Islam from few groups that do not represent the majority of peaceful Muslims who are open to other peoples of the world." 
Al Nuaimi said: "it is incumbent upon the Muslim scholars to spread the genuine message of Islam and raise awareness among Muslims by speaking up against extremist ideology." 
Dubai Grand Mufti Dr Ahmed Al Haddad added the Council meeting will provide an impetus to Indonesian religious authorities and scholars in their "crusade to ward off extremist influence." 
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country with 95 per cent of its 206 million people being Muslims.
angel@khaleejtimes.com