Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the International Islamic Conference "Communication with Religious Affairs, Fatwa, and Sheikhdoms Worldwide" began in Mecca, themed "Communication and Integration." The conference is organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call, and Guidance, with the participation of 150 scholars, jurists, heads of Islamic centers, and Islamic associations from 85 countries around the world.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's speech was delivered by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Abdulatif bin Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, who emphasized that this conference embodies the great meaning of consultation and originates from this blessed land, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has embraced this great principle since its inception. He added that the Kingdom's approach combines authenticity and modernity, maintaining constants while adopting changes that serve religious and worldly interests. He invited the world to adopt this methodology, which carries goodness, mercy, advocacy, moderation, and the rejection of extremism, radicalism, dissolution, and atheism.
He pointed out the importance of today's meeting in consultation and cooperation, which serves the moderate Islamic approach due to the escalation of violent and extremist rhetoric and the manipulation of certain groups by corrupted agendas that have misrepresented the tolerance and justice of Islam.
The Saudi Minister indicated that the political exploitation by some partisan groups of Islamic activism has turned religion into a means to achieve their goals, often at the expense of the faith. He called for intensified efforts to address the use of religion for political purposes, highlighting that the necessity for such a gathering has grown amid the prevalence of innovations in religion and attempts to simplify the understanding of Islam, reducing it to made-up rituals, distancing its followers from the true following of Muhammad, peace be upon him, who came with a clear methodology that balances spiritual and worldly requirements while promoting goodness and civilized construction.
After the speeches, the first session of the conference began, attended by Abdulatif Al Sheikh, the conference president, and chaired by Saleh bin Saad Al Suhaimi, a faculty member at the Islamic University and the Fatwa Commissioner in Medina. The conference, held next to the Sacred House of Allah, will take place over two days, featuring eight sessions with seven main axes, presented by a select group of Islamic scholars.
