Frequently Asked Questions

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa was born in the Riyadh Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 10 June 1965. 
He completed his academic studies, earning a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Jurisprudence from Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University. He then pursued postgraduate studies, obtaining a master’s degree followed by a doctorate in Sharia and Legal Studies.

Throughout his academic path, he combined rigorous training in the Islamic sciences with the study of contemporary legal systems.

His scholarly work has focused on the field of public law, with particular emphasis on constitutional law and the related issues of governance, legislation, and sovereignty.

From 2009 to 2015, he served as Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Justice. 
On August 4, 2016, the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League elected him Secretary General of the League and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, one of the leading pan-Islamic religious bodies in the Muslim world.

The Organization brings together a distinguished group of prominent figures, scholars, and intellectuals from across the Islamic world, in addition to representatives of Muslim minority communities in both the East and the West, lending its resolutions broad religious authority and considerable moral influence.

H.E. Sheikh Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa is one of the foremost religious figures and leading scholarly and intellectual voices of the modern era.

Through his distinguished roles as Secretary General of the MWL; Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, the Geneva Foundation for Dialogue and Coexistence, and the Responsible Leadership Center established through a conference held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, together with the broad international recognition he has received through his articles, interviews, and lectures at leading Western media outlets and intellectual institutions, he has succeeded in bringing about fundamental transformations in the course of religious discourse, particularly with regard to perceptions of others and the right to live in peace, free from the influence of religious extremism ideologies.

In the field of interfaith and intercultural dialogue, an area in which his approach has been distinguished by exceptional depth and effectiveness, he has achieved tangible success in opening promising new avenues for building relations among nations and peoples. He has never been merely a global religious leader or an international thinker content with theoretical discourse and media appearances.

Rather, he has been a bold and effective interlocutor who has challenged conventional approaches to dialogue that have reduced most encounters to repetition, courtesies, and superficial propositions that neither engage with the underlying issues nor address the challenges. 
Through his ideas and writings, he has moved beyond the narrow confines of the religious establishment into the broader arena of international engagement, guided by an open vision and a moderate methodology. In the present context, he may be regarded as a pioneer in the field of religious diplomacy. 
Yet his influence has not been confined to that field; it has extended to the broader concept of international diplomacy itself. 
Unlike many religious leaders, he does not tie his efforts to proselytization, whether directly or indirectly. Rather, he operates within a purely humanitarian framework, making human dignity and human rights the cornerstone of his discourse and the point of departure for his programs and initiatives around the world.

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa has assumed a leadership role that has led to his being described in international circles as “a global voice of moderate Islam.”

This role has been embodied in a number of significant initiatives, most notably his leadership of a historic visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland in January 2020. During the visit, he courageously expressed Muslims’ solidarity with the victims of the Holocaust, reaffirming the unequivocal rejection of antisemitism and all other forms of religious hatred.

Addressing both Muslims and Jews, he said: “To demonstrate the credibility of our dialogue and the sincerity of our calls for human fraternity, our next destination would be Auschwitz, the site of the Nazi Holocaust, where we would speak of our genuine solidarity, grounded in our shared humanity.” 
Through this extraordinary stance, His Excellency transformed the dynamics of interfaith dialogue from repetitive, purely formal engagement into genuine and effective dialogue that captured the world’s attention and exposed the falsehood of hidden agendas concealed behind the slogans of understanding and reconciliation.

On numerous occasions, H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa has stated unequivocally: “There is no place for political Islam, and no place for double standards in humanitarian work, whether overt or covert.” He has reiterated in numerous interviews, articles, and lectures that religion should express spiritual and humanitarian values rather than serve political polarization or instrumental interests, and that humanitarian work should make no distinction on religious, ethnic, or political grounds.

Guided by this vision, he led global humanitarian campaigns over the course of a decade, encompassing initiatives and programs in food assistance, healthcare, and education that benefited nearly one and a half billion people across Africa, Asia, Western Europe, and South America. These efforts also included projects to provide energy and clean water. 
He also worked with United Nations organizations to provide shelter for refugees, support their rehabilitation, and empower them within their communities. 
In addition, he contributed to the operation of Red Cross relief ships and supported initiatives to promote equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in partnership with the World Health Organization.

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa is committed to building broad partnerships and agreements with religious and human rights organizations around the world, consistently emphasizing that a genuine partnership is one that delivers meaningful and measurable impact and pursues practical and achievable goals with integrity and courage.

Accordingly, he is committed to collaborating only with organizations that demonstrate credibility and the courage to confront extremism within their own ranks, ensuring that such partnership serves as a means of reform and positive change rather than a platform for flattery and empty praise.

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa’s call to convene unprecedented gatherings of religious leaders and intellectuals, such as the forum on “Common Values among Religious Followers”, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its capital, Riyadh, and the overwhelmingly positive response it received from prominent leaders of the world’s major faiths: 
Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shinto, together distinguished intellectuals, scholars, and leaders of prominent think tanks from the East and the West, became a powerful symbol of human unity and marked a historic turning point in dialogue between Muslim scholars and other religious leaders around the world. It also carried a call to embrace shared humanity in the service of peace in our diverse world and harmony among its varied societies, earning worldwide admiration for the courage of the initiative and the vision for civilization and coexistence it embodied.

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa’s reform-oriented approach is founded on a broad, human-centered vision grounded in “diplomacy of dialogue,” in its most complex arena: religious conflicts, both explicit and underlying, as well as cultural conflicts that at times manifest themselves as political tendencies or social tensions.

Drawing on his study of ancient and modern human history, he firmly maintains conviction that the roots of most major wars and periods of heightened tension have been either religious in origin or shaped by the exploitation of religion, given its profound influence on the hearts and minds of peoples. Even among those who are not religiously observant, religious identity remains present in the background, making it can easily be invoked in the service of intolerance whenever awareness is lacking, a genuine understanding of religious values is absent, or there is insufficient appreciation of the dangers and catastrophic consequences of religious conflict.

It is for this reason that he has consistently emphasized an educational and awareness-based approach throughout his efforts.

He explains that what most encouraged him to pursue this path was the body of theories that emerged in the post-World War II era following the establishment of the United Nations, following the period of optimism inspired by the United Nations Charter, which held that civilizational conflict was inevitable, particularly between Western and Islamic civilization, as argued by Samuel Huntington in his influential book The Clash of Civilizations.

Guided by this vision, he launched the “Building Bridges between East and West” initiative, a landmark global initiative welcomed by the United Nations Secretary-General of the United Nations, who hosted the initiative at United Nations Headquarters in New York to host it.

The conference was attended by the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, some of the world’s most influential religious leaders, distinguished parliamentarians and subject-matter experts, as well as representatives from leading international research centers and universities, in recognition of and support for his international efforts in this field.

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa brought about a qualitative shift in relations between Muslims and Jews through his dialogue initiatives and joint engagements, and, in particular, through his historic visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp alongside major international Jewish organizations, particularly the American Jewish Committee (AJC).

From there, he affirmed that Muslims and Jews are capable of becoming partners in acknowledging the history of suffering and the conspiracy against humanity. This stance conveyed a powerful symbolic message, and through his exceptional dialogue skills and persuasive leadership, he succeeded in reshaping attitudes among senior Islamic religious leaders, convincing them of the value of such visits within a framework of reconciliation and mutual understanding, free from short-term political considerations.

the Charter of Makkah marked a milestone in the history of contemporary Islamic thought. It was endorsed by more than 1200 Muslim muftis and scholars and received the support of over 4500 Muslim intellectuals and researchers from around the world.

Comprehensive in its scope, it addressed issues affecting humanity, the environment, climate, and the rights of women, children, and young people. It also called for coexistence among peoples and dialogue among civilizations in the face of exclusionary tendencies and theories of civilizational conflict.

It was also noteworthy that His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa succeeded in bringing together religious leaders who had previously been known for holding hardline or reserved positions on some of its provisions. He demonstrated an exceptional ability to manage dialogue and persuasion using a measured and realistic approach, thereby opening channels of communication with those leaders, gaining their trust, and overcoming long-standing barriers.

He successfully transformed entrenched positions into positive contributions within a comprehensive project aimed at elevating the voice of wisdom and moderation within the framework of Islamic unity.

Furthermore, the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation unanimously adopted, during their ministerial meeting in Niamey in Niger, - the Charter of Makkah as a guiding roadmap for member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, to serve as a guiding framework for their religious, cultural, and intellectual institutions.

Additionally, a call was made to integrate the Charter into educational and curricula and institutional programs to foster the values of understanding, coexistence, and dialogue.

Recognition of H.E. Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa’s efforts in issuing the Charter of Makkah was not limited to the Islamic world; it also extended to religious communities beyond it.

His contributions received remarkable acclaim from Evangelical leaders in the United States, where both the Charter and his leadership in its launch were honored across three of the largest Evangelical churches in Kansas City, Dallas, and Maryland.

During their closing gathering in Maryland, the Evangelical leaders described Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa as their “greatest ally outside the United States.” This remarkable tribute reflects the broad international respect he has earned, as well as the Charter’s humanitarian vision, which transcends religious boundaries to promote moderation, balance, peaceful coexistence, and the rejection of violence, extremism, and conflict.

The Charter also represents the first initiative in contemporary Islamic history to articulate a unified Islamic position by bringing together diverse Islamic schools of thought and traditions within an organized institutional framework.

The “Building Bridges Between Islamic Sects” Charter builds upon the “Charter of Makkah” and translates its principles into practice. 
It provides a roadmap for implementing the Charter’s objectives on the ground and represents the first institutional initiative aimed at addressing the historical divisions between Sunnis and Shias communities.

As a former Minister of Justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa played a leading role in developing Kingdom’s judicial system and to the drafting of the Law of the Judiciary, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

This Vision seeks to build a balanced, globally engaged society founded on justice, the rule of law, and respect for diversity. It also reinforces well-established constitutional principles, most notably judicial independence from the Ministry of Justice and the operational independence of the Public Prosecution as an integral component of the judicial system.

During his tenure as Minister of Justice, he granted the first license to practice law to a woman, marking a landmark step in advancing women’s participation and empowerment within the Kingdom’s legal system.

Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa’s dialogue initiatives focus on some of the world’s most sensitive regions affected by religious and ethnic conflict, with the aim of building bridges of communication and fostering common ground in highly complex and delicate environments. 
He has visited numerous major Jewish organizations and delivered lectures at prominent Jewish academic institutions, including Yeshiva University in New York, which is widely regarded as one of the most foremost religious institutions known for educating prominent rabbis. 
His efforts have also extended across Asia. In 2023, he made a landmark visit to India, where he helped facilitate a historic reconciliation between Muslims and Hindus that received broad recognition among Indian religious and political circles. 
In recognition of his efforts, Dr. Al-Issa was invited to deliver the Friday sermon at the largest mosque on the Indian subcontinent, whose pulpit had traditionally been reserved exclusively for Indian preachers for more than 450 years. 
His sermon marked a historic milestone, reflecting the mutual respect and appreciation he earned for his efforts to bridge religious and sectarian divides, strengthen social trust, promote national cohesion, and help ease ethnic tensions.

Dr. Al-Issa also welcomed Hindu religious leaders to the MWL’s regional headquarters in Riyadh, reflecting the strong mutual trust that had been established through the reconciliation efforts in India. He later met with Indian Muslim leaders, reaffirming his commitment to sustaining the achievements of the dialogue initiated in India and promoting constructive interfaith and intercultural engagement among communities across the Indian subcontinent, thereby fostering lasting understanding and peaceful coexistence between followers of both faiths.

In the same context, Dr. Al-Issa was also officially invited by the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, to visit the country, where he played an important role in easing sectarian tensions following the 2019 Colombo attacks. 
During the visit, he emphasized that terrorism has neither religion nor ethnicity; it is bound by neither place nor time; but is the product of an extremist ideology alone. 
In recognition of his distinguished role in promoting religious reconciliation and national unity, and in appreciation of his credibility and leadership in interfaith dialogue, the Sri Lanka President awarded him the country's highest state honor, stating: “We are honored to award Sri Lanka’s highest state honor to H.E. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa in recognition of his outstanding contribution to fostering interfaith peace in Sri Lanka. We are also pleased to appoint him as a Permanent Ambassador for Peace.” 
Responding to the presidential recognition, Al-Issa expressed his gratitude, emphasizing that his work in Sri Lanka was a humanitarian duty guided by the values of faith and its mission to promote peace and harmony among all people.

In Cambodia, Dr. Al-Issa presided over an international summit to promote fraternity and cooperation between Buddhists and Muslims. 
The summit was attended by the Prime Minister of Cambodia, members of parliament, and Buddhist religious leaders from neighboring countries, making a significant step toward strengthening understanding between Muslims and Asian communities, advancing civilizational cooperation, and building bridges to interfaith and intercultural dialogue. 
The summit also brought together Buddhist leaders from Myanmar and Muslim leaders representing the Rohingya community in a rare forum that enabled both parties to engage in direct dialogue. 
Dr. Al-Issa further pledged to spare no effort in helping to end the suffering of the Rohingya through what he described as “religious diplomacy”, an approach that draws upon the shared spiritual values of Buddhism and Islam to advance justice and compassion through the ethical teachings of both faiths.

In Africa, Dr. Al-Issa highlighted the role of African youth in community development and national progress through an international forum held at the United Nations Office in Nairobi. During the forum, he called for empowering younger people to play an active role in building a more just, peaceful, and stable future.

Addressing religious tensions within the Muslim world has been one of Dr. Mohammad’s priorities. He has led extensive efforts to ease tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims, as well as among conservative and liberal schools of thought. He has also worked to bridge divisions within Sunni Muslims, particularly between some Sunni schools of thought and Sufi traditions. These efforts culminated in two landmark conferences that brought together representatives from across these schools and sects: The first being the “Charter of Makkah Conference,” and the second was the “Conference for Building Bridges between Islamic Schools of Thought and Sects.” The latter received unprecedented endorsement from the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), reflecting its success in developing a new framework for intra-Muslim dialogue that addresses the root causes of division, rebuilds trust among Muslims of different schools of thought, and highlights Islam’s authentic values and its balanced and moderate approach.

Through his wisdom and strategic acumen, Dr. Al Issa achieved a significant major breakthrough in advancing girls’ education by facilitating the conclusion of more than 20 agreements in Islamabad under an initiative he launched in Pakistan during a major international conference. Through this conference, he demonstrated the effectiveness of what he describes as “religious diplomacy,” a cornerstone of his approach to overcoming religiously based opposition to girls’ education. He brought together representatives from diverse Islamic schools of thought and persuaded them to adopt a unified final declaration that unequivocally affirmed girls’ right to education. This achievement was not the culmination of his efforts. Beyond the declaration itself, he engaged influential religious leaders from regions affected by high levels of religious extremism in the initiative, leading to their becoming signatories to more than 20 agreements with government institutions and civil society organizations. The agreements involved United Nations organizations, leading public and private universities across the Muslim world, and the United Nations-mandated “University for Peace.”  In this way, the initiative evolved from a statement of principle into an expensive network of practical commitments, backed by the signatures of influential leaders operating in the most challenging environments.

Dr. Al-Issa has traveled around the world, bringing together intellectuals, and religious and political leaders in support of his comprehensive reform vision. He has engaged with academic and intellectual figures, listening carefully to their perspectives while sharing his own. A recurring impression among those who have engaged with him is that he approaches issues from a humanitarian lens, maintains an open mind, listens attentively to differing viewpoints, and maintains optimistic about the future. They also emphasize his genuine commitment to the causes he advocates and his willingness to take principled risks in advancing them. He does not view humanitarian work as a means of pursuing proselytizing objectives. Rather, he believes that individuals are free in their religious and intellectual convictions and that no one should be coerced or subjected to unethical means in an attempt to influence their beliefs. He regards such practices as incompatible with fundamental ethical principles. He has repeatedly criticized those who exploit regions affected by poverty and hunger under the guise of humanitarian aid while pursuing religious or political agendas, describing such practices as immoral and inconsistent with values of divine mercy. As he has remarked: “If God is merciful, why should human compassion be subject to double standards? He has also adopted what he describes as “dialogue diplomacy” to address cultural misunderstandings between East and West. He views diversity and difference as natural characteristics of human societies, while firmly rejecting fear, suspicion, and conspiracy theories. He maintains that the individual mistakes, or even or ideological, must not be generalized into collective judgments about entire societies. He has observed that this mindset has, unfortunately, become more prevalent in recent years because of extremist rhetoric, growing mistrust, a declining willingness to cooperate, economic and political conflicts, reciprocal religious accusations, and the growing influence of extremist and terrorist ideologies. While many have struggled to confront these challenges because of limited expertise, insufficient institutional capacity, or fear of violent reprisals, Dr. Al Issa has addressed them with intellectual courage and direct engagement on the ground, using dialogue as the primary means of addressing extremism. His efforts have included confronting the prohibition of girls’ education on religious, cultural, or traditional grounds. He has also worked to address barriers that prevent girls from accessing education due to poverty, through effective dialogue with major governmental and non-governmental institutions. Throughout these efforts, he has consistently affirmed that girls’ right to education is a universal human value that should never be compromised. As part of global human rights, His Majesty the King of Spain hosted Dr. Al-Issa to participate in a high-level meeting that brought together leaders of supreme and constitutional courts, representatives of European human rights organizations, and delegates from Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. Notably, Dr. Al-Issa was the only participant representing the East, across its diverse faiths, ethnicities, and cultures, to take part in this distinguished gathering. International research centers highlighted the significance of his participation, noting that he has earned broad trust across both Eastern and Western societies through his religious credibility, intellectual depth, scholarly distinction, and humanitarian vision. In an unprecedented gesture reflecting the appreciation of the British Royal Family for his global efforts to promote peace and mutual understanding, His Majesty King Charles III received Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa at Buckingham Palace in London following his accession to the throne. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa was the first Arab and Muslim figure from outside the UK to be received by the King. Their extended private meeting focused on advancing civilizational dialogue and fostering understanding among religions and cultures. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa has also been invited to address leading parliamentary bodies across both the Western and Eastern worlds, where he has participated in high-level parliamentary dialogues on religious coexistence, mutual understanding, and intercultural engagement. He has delivered keynote addresses before the legislatures of numerous countries, earning broad respect and recognition for his contributions. Among his notable engagements was his address before the United States Congress, where he emphasized that shared human values provide the foundation of a just and lasting peace. He also highlighted the vital role of religious leaders in advancing civilizational dialogue and fostering understanding among people of different religions and cultures, thereby strengthening social cohesion, and promoting peace within societies.

Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa enjoys a prominent standing at the United Nations. On March 14, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly invited him to deliver the keynote address, in person, on behalf of Muslim communities around the world during the first official commemoration of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. In his address, Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa warned against the hate speech, extremist rhetoric, and discriminatory practices, describing them as serious threats to coexistence and global peace. The then President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Philemon Yang, described Dr. Al-Issa as <<a man of peace for all humanity,>> highlighting the significance of the General Assembly's unanimous decision to entrust him with delivering this historic address from one of the world's foremost multilateral platforms. He also commands exceptional respect throughout the United Nations system, unmatched among contemporary religious leaders. He is the only religious figure in the history of the United Nations whose initiatives have been officially launched at United Nations headquarters in New York, Geneva, and Nairobi. He is also the only religious leader whose initiative has been launched in the presence of both the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the United Nations General Assembly. Furthermore, he is the only religious figure to have been received by the senior leadership of the United Nations in New York with the protocol normally reserved for heads of state. He has devoted significant efforts to promoting environmental and climate awareness throughout the Islamic world, represented by 57 countries. Through sustained dialogue and engagement, he succeeded in encouraging Muslim-majority countries to recognize environmental protection as a shared religious and moral responsibility. His efforts have gone beyond the Islamic world by expanding global dialogue on environmental issues through engagement with religious and intellectual leaders to build a broad coalition of global partners. As part of these efforts, he launched the << Religions for Our Planet >> initiative, deliberately naming it to reflect the fact that ~80% of the world's population identify with a religious faith or tradition and are responsive to messages rooted in shared spiritual values. This represents a significant proportion of humanity, making the religious dimension a powerful means of appealing to human consciences and inspiring action, since spiritual discourse, by its very nature, speaks first to the heart before reaching the mind.

Given Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa's distinguished scholarly standing and intellectual contributions, a number of prestigious international universities have sought to engage with his ideas and academic perspectives. Several of the United States’ leading universities, including institutions known for their liberal academic traditions, have invited him to deliver lectures, making him the first religious leader to receive such invitations at some of these universities. At Harvard University, he delivered a lecture on Law and Religion, examining the relationship between legislation and moral values in promoting social peace. At Duke University, he spoke on the theme of shared human values and their role in building balanced societies that transcend religious and cultural divisions. At Stanford University, he addressed dialogue as an instrument of diplomacy for conflict resolution, emphasizing how dialogue can move beyond a theoretical concept to become a practical methodology that delivers tangible and measurable results. He also established, in partnership with several academic institutions, the first research laboratory of its kind at an American university dedicated to interfaith dialogue and combating hate speech. The laboratory focuses on advancing shared values that form the foundation of human coexistence. Its launch ceremony at Columbia University was attended by prominent Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious leaders from across the United States. In his inaugural remarks, Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa emphasized that meaningful dialogue achieves its greatest value only when it leads to practical programs and measurable outcomes that are subject to continuous evaluation, thereby serving as an instrument of practical reform rather than merely an exchange of ideas. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa has traveled extensively, delivering lectures and participating in international conferences and forums, addressing audiences that collectively included tens of millions of followers of the moderate understanding of Islam. Throughout these engagements, he has consistently emphasized universal human values rooted in the shared principles of Islam rather than political or partisan considerations. Through this approach, he has earned the trust of independent international institutions and organizations, further strengthening his credibility as a religious leader, scholar, and reformer enjoys broad international respect. He has also launched a number of initiatives in both the East and the West and overseen their implementation, several of which were carried out under the auspices of the United Nations. These initiatives received the support of both the Secretary-General and the President of the United Nations General Assembly. Among them was the <<Building bridges of understanding and peace between East and West>> initiative, whose implementation programs were launched at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The launch event featured addresses by the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, and prominent religious leaders, scholars, and intellectuals from around the world. It was also attended by senior government officials, parliamentarians, and representatives of leading international research centers. In recognition of these significant contributions, Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa has received numerous national decorations and honors from heads of state and has earned widespread international recognition for his contributions to promoting religious moderation and advancing peace and coexistence among people of different religions and cultures.

Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa adopted reform-oriented approach and launched bold reform initiatives within the Islamic world, often in environments that were less receptive to rapid reform. As a result, his work frequently required him to engage in particularly challenging environments, making his intellectual and reform efforts a mission requiring exceptional courage, determination, and perseverance. His vision for reform and commitment to renewal made him a target of repeated campaigns by violent extremist groups, particularly those associated with is commonly referred to as <<political Islam>>. He brought his reform initiative to conflict-affected countries, including Afghanistan, Sudan, and Pakistan, together with a select group of distinguished scholars, thinkers, and influential figures. There, he sought to promote a reform-oriented narrative that addressed the root causes of extremism. The risks involved did not deter him from continuing his efforts. He has consistently maintained that genuine reform requires engagement on the ground, which making sacrifices in the pursuit of global peace is sometimes indispensable, and that exploiting religion or falsely invoking the name of Allah for ideological or political ends constitutes a grave moral wrong that must be confronted regardless of the risks involved. Among his major initiatives was the <<Girls' Education in Muslim Communities>> initiative from Islamabad. The initiative brought together leading Muslim scholars to address the religious arguments invoked to justify denying girls access to education, including those associated with the Taliban. He deliberately chose Islamabad as the venue, given that many Taliban leaders had studied there and maintained historical ideological links with several of its religious seminaries. The initiative culminated in the signing of more than 20 agreements with international governmental and non-governmental organizations, including United Nations agencies, to advance its objectives. Tragically, after the leader of the Haqqania seminary, Allama Hamid Ul Haq (may Allah have mercy on him), whose institution was widely regarded as having ideological links to the Taliban, signed one of these agreements with Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa, he was assassinated in Islamabad approximately three weeks after the signing.