Riyadh Hosts Conference to Bridge Islamic Sects
In a groundbreaking move, Muslim scholars gathered at the “Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought and Sects” conference in Makkah have handpicked the Saudi Defense Ministry’s Center for Safeguarding Intellect to spearhead a comprehensive study of “The Islamic Intellectual Community” for an upcoming encyclopedia, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The choice reflects the center’s unparalleled expertise in intellectual matters that align with the conference’s core objectives, as stated by the SPA.
Furthermore, three distinguished research bodies have been entrusted with roles crucial to fueling future conferences focused on uniting Islamic sects. These bodies will delve into the specifics of each Islamic sect, exploring their origins and branches in depth.
The Center for Safeguarding Intellect stands out for its emphasis on the comprehensiveness, brevity, breadth, and integrity of Islamic discourse, according to the SPA. This unique approach embodies an Islamic concept of moderation, embracing diversity and shunning exclusionism and factionalism within the sectarian coalition.
Scholars at the conference have lauded the center’s approach, particularly its avoidance of labels that hinder Islamic cooperation and understanding, especially in combating issues like extremism.
While acknowledging the distinctiveness of each school of Islamic thought, participants emphasized the need for a unified stance on major issues such as combating sectarianism and intellectual extremism. They proposed that achieving an “Islamic intellectual consensus” is the key to addressing these challenges effectively.
To facilitate this consensus, institutions like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim World League were established, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts in fostering unity among diverse Islamic sects.