The “World Islamic Scholars Consultation Summit" ends upon the announcement of the final declaration

The "World Islamic Scholars Consultation Summit" which was organized by the Presidency of the Religious Affairs in Istanbul with the participation of Muslim religious leaders from 54 countries ended with the announcing of the final declaration with the public by the President of the Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş.

The full text of the "Final Declaration of the World Islamic Scholars Consultation Summit" announced by President Erbaş is as follows:

"The World Islamic Scholars Consultation Summit, convened to examine strategies for mitigating conflicts and wars in the Islamic world, addressing challenges to the ummah's unity, and proposing solutions in a pivotal period when global events are shaping the religious, political, economic, and social fabric of humanity, was held in Istanbul from May 12-14, 2024. The opening ceremony of the Summit was held at Dolmabahçe Palace, with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in attendance.

The two-day Summit included sessions on the following topics:

“The Gaza Crisis and the Test of Humanity,” “Keeping the Understanding of Hilf al-Fudul (The League of the Virtuous) Alive after the Gaza Crisis,” “The Construction of Ummah Consciousness in the Face of Contemporary Challenges,” “The Artificial Agenda Threatening the Peace and Tranquility of Humanity: Islamophobia,” “A Common Discourse and Action Strategy Against Extremism Threatening the Ummah.”

The discussions concluded that the following issues should be shared with the world public opinion:

1. Our world is currently experiencing one of the most challenging periods in its history, with significant social, cultural, political, and economic crises. Wars, occupations, terrorism, hunger, poverty, and social issues are causing immense distress to the majority of the world's population. The social engineering strategies employed by global powers for their imperialist ambitions are leading countries and societies into unprecedented disasters. Unfortunately, children, women, and the elderly are the most affected by this painful and formidable situation. In this chaotic period, it has become increasingly clear that Muslims must take stronger initiatives and assume a pioneering role in solving global problems. They must also present the life-giving universal messages of Islam in a way that is understandable to the modern age. Furthermore, it is an urgent duty and responsibility for all individuals, institutions, organizations, societies, states, and international organizations to end all kinds of occupation, attacks, terrorism, and wars that make the earth uninhabitable and to preserve human dignity and honor.

2. The inhumane Zionist policies and genocide in Palestine, which have been carried out with a perverted belief and dirty politics for 75 years, are dragging the whole world into a disaster. The terrorist organization Israel, which has been mercilessly massacring thousands of innocent people in Gaza with the support of imperialists, must immediately cease its attacks on the Palestinians. The struggle of the Palestinian people, who heroically resist the occupation and invasion of their land, is a legitimate and honorable struggle in terms of religion, morality and international law. It is the responsibility of faith and servitude for every Muslim to support this noble struggle in every respect and to struggle materially and morally to stop the genocide. It must be clearly known that al- Quds belongs to Muslims; Palestine and Gaza are the homelands of Muslims and will be so until the Day of Judgment.

3. The fact that millions of people around the world, from academics to non-governmental organizations, from members of different religions to artistic and political communities, are raising their voices against Zionist atrocities in Gaza is promising for the future of humanity. The marches in support of Palestine, which was organized in many parts of the world despite all the obstacles, herald the fact that the world's collective conscience will prevail over cruelty and genocide. These noble and sensitive attitudes of people defending human dignity, justice, and compassion against Zionist barbarism by listening to the voice of their conscience are above all forms of appreciation. It is essential to make more efforts to increase this sensitivity in order to eliminate the Zionist threat, which scorns law, morality and human dignity, and seeks to destroy the possibility of living together.

4. In our great religion, Islam, knowledge, wisdom and morality form a whole. Coarse, superficial, rigid, literalist, exclusionary, and violent understanding and practices are indicators of distance from the truth of the religion. Likewise, there is a grave danger that sectarian, religious, and interpretive differences will turn into sedition and sectarian strife to erode Islamic brotherhood and unity consciousness. In order to eliminate these interpretations, which serve global imperialism, it is important to strengthen the consciousness of the ummah and develop a common spirit, approach, discourse, and will in all fields. In this context, Muslims should be more wary of interpretations that sow discord and takfirism; Islam's principles of truth, reality, mercy, and compassion, and the principles of science, wisdom, morality and law of our civilization should be well explained and taught to new generations.

5. In the globalizing world, it is impossible to ignore the decisive role played by strong, institutional international structures in all policies concerning people and society. In order to be effective and have their say on the international stage, it is imperative for Muslims to unite their strengths and means in intellectual, political, cultural, financial, and similar fields, and for Islamic societies to define working strategies to strengthen the common ground among themselves. In this direction, areas such as education, science, culture, and broadcasting are among the top priorities. It is necessary to prepare printed, visual, and digital works that will present to the world the universal values, principles and measures of Islam in the best possible way, under the guidance of the Qur'an and Sunnah; to establish solid institutions where young people will receive adequate and correct religious education; and to carry out comprehensive joint projects in every field.

6. Islamophobia, a form of racism characterized by anti-Muslim sentiments, has turned into de facto Islamophobia, reaching alarming levels in some regions. This is a serious human rights problem that is fueled by political insensitivity and underpinned by dubious interests behind it. Attacking the sanctities, symbols, sanctuaries, and members of a faith is literally a crime against humanity and can never be acceptable. The rulers of countries where Islamophobia exists are responsible for taking all measures to prevent such behavior and actions and to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of Muslims. Muslim countries and communities will continue to fight Islamophobia with strength and determination.

7. Terrorist organizations, which are an element of sedition, discord and anarchy in the Islamic geography, exploit Islamic concepts and human values. These terrorist organizations, which constantly target Muslims with their words and actions and try to defame the shining face of Islam, are a global threat and scourge for the entire Muslim existence on earth.  It is important that all Muslims continue to fight against these conceptions and groups consciously, selflessly and cooperatively. It must be known that it is never possible for a speech, an action, an attitude or a behavior that disturbs the environment of security and peace to find its reference in Islam.

8. Certain erroneous and deviant movements in the fields of faith, culture, and morality are causing serious damage to the minds and hearts of young people by using media tools.  Harmful habits, addictions, superstitious movements, deviant tendencies, the negative effects of digital environments, and above all, the activities of illegal structures that exploit the loneliness and helplessness of young people make the crises unmanageable. Within this scope, it is imperative to make more efforts to raise generations endowed with true faith, knowledge, conscience, and good morals that will contribute to the peace of all humanity. In this context, strong policies and joint efforts are needed to sensitize, protect, and support young people against trends, ideas, structures, and habits that negatively affect their outlook on life and hinder their material and spiritual development.

9. It is obvious that the family has an indispensable importance in the construction of a virtuous and peaceful society and life. Indeed, the family is the most fundamental school and the most powerful center for the education of faith, morals, and worship. However, it is also a fact that the institution of the family is facing serious threats from the global challenges that trivialize, ignore, and dismantle every established value today. Therefore, the efforts to protect, strengthen, and support the family are of vital importance today. It has become a necessity to take a collective stand against conceptions and approaches that negatively affect, weaken, and dysfunction the family, and to work effectively on a global scale to protect and strengthen the family.”