The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Chairs the Third Session of the Council of Islamic Leaders in North and South America

The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Chairs the Third Session of the Council of Islamic Leaders in North and South America

Washington:
His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, chaired in the U.S. capital, Washington, the third session of the Council of Islamic Leaders in North and South America. The Council was established in light of the principles set forth in the Charter of Makkah, following its inaugural general conference held in Washington in March 2022, attended by Islamic leaders from across the Americas, alongside supportive participation in its closing session by U.S. government officials, legislators, and leaders representing religious diversity.

At that time, the leaders participating in the inaugural conference selected His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa as Chairman of the Council, given its foundation upon the Charter of Makkah, in appreciation of His Excellency’s call for its establishment, and in recognition of the unifying role he represents among all parties. Consideration was also given to the inclusion of influential Islamic figures supporting the Council from outside the Americas, similar to centers, councils, and bodies of a comparable nature.

During the Council session, a number of topics presented by the Chairman and members were discussed, including the issue of religious and national identity. His Excellency affirmed that there is no contradiction between the two within civilized constitutions and laws that respect religious particularities, and that it is those holding extremist ideologies who fabricate such a conflict.

His Excellency praised the American Muslim community for distancing itself from the agendas of extremist groups, which — through their extremism — reduced the great religion of Islam to narrow political objectives and distorted perceptions. He noted that the American Muslim community is a source of pride within the broader Islamic sphere, as it has embodied the values of religious moderation through its tolerance, coexistence, wisdom, good conduct, and especially its respect for public order and the law. He also commended what he had observed of its active contribution to strengthening social cohesion, as reflected in its distinguished relations with the various components of societal diversity.

The session also addressed the issue of hatred in general and Islamophobia in particular. His Excellency emphasized that civilized constitutions and laws do not permit practices of hatred, expressing his appreciation for the engagement of the Muslim community in confronting voices, slogans, and practices of hatred, regardless of their source or the groups, religions, or ethnicities targeted.

A number of Islamic terms were also discussed, along with a review of misconceptions surrounding them, while emphasizing the importance of correcting such misunderstandings. Drawing on his international surveys, His Excellency reviewed several related terms, presenting in detail examples of their misinterpretation and explaining — through scholarly analysis supported by textual evidence and historical narrative — the best approaches to addressing them.