Senior Islamic delegation to visit Auschwitz, on the 75th anniversary of its liberation (Jan 2020)
Countries visited as part of the MWL’s interfaith efforts
Countries engaged through interfaith and anti-extremist efforts
Countries visited so far this year to promote humanitarian missions
formal commendations received to date
of its kind agreement forged between MWL and the Vatican at a 2017 meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis, to advance interfaith cooperation
Recognized in two U.S. State Department reports (2019 & 2020) for advancing moderation, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue.
Acknowledged by AJC, the American Sephardi Federation, and the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement for leadership and initiatives.
His Excellency Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa is the Secretary General of the Muslim World League and a globally recognized advocate for moderate Islam. A distinguished scholar with advanced degrees in Comparative Islamic Jurisprudence and Judicial Studies from Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, he has authored influential works on law, human rights, and Islamic thought.
Dr. Al-Issa has been at the forefront of interfaith and intercultural dialogue, fostering cooperation among religious and political leaders worldwide. He has led historic initiatives that brought together diverse faith communities, including groundbreaking agreements with the Vatican, high-level interreligious conferences, and humanitarian missions across multiple continents. His leadership has earned international recognition from heads of state, religious figures, and academic institutions for advancing peace, tolerance, and mutual understanding.
Through his work with the Muslim World League and beyond, Dr. Al-Issa continues to play a pivotal role in countering extremism, promoting coexistence, and building bridges between civilizations.
Dr. Al-Issa assumed his current role as Secretary-General of the Muslim World League on August 9, 2016. In the same year, he became Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars and a member of the Council of Senior Scholars in Saudi Arabia.
As Secretary-General, Dr. Al-Issa has travelled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia, meeting with dignitaries and parliamentarians from the fields of justice, law and human rights, as well as major faith-based and community leaders. He has also delivered academic lectures and discussed scholarly dissertations at major universities within the Kingdom and abroad, particularly in Europe and the United States.
To advance his vision of civilizational and cultural dialogue, Dr. Al-Issa visited the Vatican in September 2017 to meet Pope Francis and the late Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, Chairman of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Those discussions led to an unprecedented partnership between the MWL and The Holy See, and paved the way for the most senior visit ever by a Vatican official to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2018.
An outcome of the 2017 Vatican engagement, paving the way for unprecedented interreligious diplomacy.
In 2019, Dr. Al-Issa visited Sri Lanka to meet with Buddhist and Muslim religious leaders to promote healing and integration in the wake of the country's deadly Easter attacks. He received the Order of Peace from Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.
Under Dr. Al-Issa, the Muslim World League has expanded representation of various sects of Islam within the Muslim World League Supreme Council and other subsidiary bodies to ensure the inclusion of all Muslim communities around the world. He was elected by seventy Islamic figures from across the Islamic world, representing all Islamic schools of thought, to the Supreme Council of the League.
He also orchestrated the first agreement between leaders of the Abrahamic religions in Paris, joining Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christian leaders in an agreement committing to harmony and solidarity. This initiative built upon his work in bringing together the Abrahamic faiths in France, resulting in the “Paris Agreement for the Abrahamic Family for Solidarity and Peace,” which united Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox, and Islamic religious leaders.
In January 2020, Dr. Al-Issa became the most senior Islamic leader to visit the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp.
Over the past two years, Dr. Al-Issa has signed several cooperation agreements with some of the largest Jewish institutions operating in the United States and globally, they focus on promoting common values, protecting religious sites of worship and building greater interfaith understanding. In 2020, Dr. Al-Issa finalized a cooperation agreement with the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, in another interreligious initiative without precedent.
Dr. Al-Issa joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the AJC Virtual Global Forum opening plenary in June 2020, joining in their call for dialogue and cooperation to create a better, more equal world free of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and any other form of prejudice. Later that month, he joined Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg in a virtual symposium focused on fighting hate and discrimination.
Throughout 2020, Dr. Al-Issa oversaw a comprehensive research project in partnership with the United Nations University for Peace, which culminated in a launch of the book “Promote Peace, Human Rights and Civilized Dialogue,” in November 2020. The research project and book included input from 32 prominent religious, political, academic and civil society leaders representing the vast cultural diversity on display around the world. The book outlines a model for achieving stronger international cooperation and uniting the global visions to address some of the world's greatest problems.
In June 2021, Dr. Al-Issa brokered a groundbreaking agreement between government ministers and senior scholars from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The “Declaration of Peace in Afghanistan” creates a roadmap for reconciliation in the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan.
Most recently, in March 2022, Dr. Al-Issa completed a seven-day visit to three U.S. states as part of an effort to strengthen relations between Muslims and other faith groups. As a part of the Global Faith Forum, Dr. Al-Issa was 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 visit represented the largest-ever gathering of Muslims and Evangelicals. He has been chosen as a keynote speaker and exclusive representative of Islam at major international conferences and events.
At the Makkah Conference led by Dr. Al-Issa, attendees representing every sect of Islam endorse the Charter of Makkah, a defining document of modern Islamic thought.
The Charter follows the precedent of the Charter of Medina, emphasizing that diversity is a basis for cooperation, not conflict, and calling for dialogue, understanding and joint action against injustice and oppression.
Commits to combatting hate speech, violence, extremism and terrorism; advancing moderate Islam; protecting the environment and cultural traditions; and affirming national sovereignty alongside interfaith partnership.
Dr. Al-Issa has received numerous prestigious awards and honors for his contributions to interfaith dialogue, counter-extremism efforts, and humanitarian causes. His recognitions are chronologically listed as follows:
In April 2017, Dr. Al-Issa was awarded the Kingdom of Malaysia’s highest honorary title, “Dato’ Sri,” in recognition of his efforts to promote moderation, during a grand ceremony convened by the Sultan.
Special recognition for promoting moderate Islam.
Received the Galileo International Award from the Galileo Foundation in Florence, Italy.
Awarded the Moderation Prize by the Governor of Makkah Region.
Honorary doctorate from the Institute of Orientalism in the Russian Federation.
Awarded by the President of Sri Lanka.
Received the Grand Order of the State from the President of Senegal.
Received the “Children of Abraham” Award at Italy’s Rimini Meeting.
In February 2019, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations presented its Global Interfaith Peace Award to His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa, in recognition of his distinguished efforts to promote peace and understanding among followers of different religions.
In September 2019, the French College of Bernardins awarded its Medal to His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa for His Excellency’s efforts in spreading peace and solidarity.
IIn November 2019, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations awarded Dr. Al-Issa a medal, making him the first international expert to receive this distinction.
Inaugural recipient of the Combat Anti-Semitism Award.
Honorary doctorates from Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University (Indonesia), University of Management and Technology – Lahore, and Alfa BK University – Belgrade.
Golden Shield Award from the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Honorary doctorate from the U.N. University for Peace.
Prophet’s Hijra Award from the King of Malaysia.
Awarded for building bridges between individuals, nations, and societies.
Honorary doctorate in Law from Pattani University, Thailand.
Order of the Republic from the President of Maldives.
Bestowed by President Dr. Arif Alvi.
National Order of Merit from the President of Mauritania.
Honorary Medal from the President of Kazakhstan.
Medal of the Ambassador of International Peace, conferred by the President of The Gambia (U.N.-approved).
Honorary doctorate from the University of The Gambia.
Recognized for his support of the Rohingya people.
Honorary doctorate in Political Science from the University of Malaya, Malaysia.
In May 2024, His Excellency Dr. Al-Issa was presented with the Key to the City of Alexandria by Mr. Mohamed El-Sherif, Governor of Alexandria, during an official reception. This honor was bestowed in recognition of Dr. Al-Issa’s outstanding international contributions to interfaith cooperation and humanitarian relief. The Key to the City is regarded as the highest distinction awarded by Alexandria.
Received the Key to the City of Sarajevo and the Republic’s highest award (first Islamic figure to receive this honor).
Honorary doctorate from Beder University, Albania.
In August 2024, Dr. Al-Issa was awarded the Presidential Award by His Excellency President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera of the Republic of Malawi. This esteemed honor was bestowed during an official reception at the Presidential Palace in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, in recognition of Dr. Al-Issa’s contributions to fostering societal harmony, stability, and sustainable development across the African continent.
On 28 September 2024, the first Islamic religious leader to be invited to lecture at Harvard University delivered a lecture on the topic of “Law and Religion,” attended by a large gathering of policymakers and senior international legal experts.
In December 2024, the Italian State University of Bologna awarded His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa the Honorary Postdoctoral Fellowship in Law, in recognition of his significant contributions to advancing the goals outlined in the preamble of the United Nations Charter, which embodies the global aspiration for peace. His efforts include mitigating conflicts between cultures, promoting mutual understanding among societies, and building bridges between diverse communities—grounded in respect for differences and cooperation based on shared values.
In February 2025, Dr. Al-Issa was awarded the highest medal of honor by the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. The award was presented by His Excellency Mr. Umaro Sissoco Embaló, President of Guinea-Bissau, at the Presidential Palace. Dr. Al-Issa received this honor in recognition of his efforts in religious diplomacy, promoting civilizational peace and fostering international cooperation.
In September 2025, Dr. Al-Issa received the “Order of Dostyk,” the highest award of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It was awarded by H.E. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the Presidential Palace in the capital, Astana, in recognition of his distinguished efforts in strengthening friendship among peoples and his significant contributions to promoting interfaith partnerships and advancing cooperation, understanding, and religious harmony.
In September 2025, Dr. Al-Issa was awarded an honorary doctorate and an honorary professorship by Eurasian National University, in Astana.
Download H. E. Biography