Grand Imam, in an Address at the United Nations: Islamophobia Is neither Reasonable nor Logical and Poses a Real Threat to World Peace
Grand Imam Thanks the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his ‘Fair’ statements about Islam
Grand Imam, in an Address at the United Nations: Islamophobia Is a Result of Ignorance about Islam’s True Message and Deliberate Distortion of Its Principles
Grand Imam, in an Address at the United Nations: History Bears Witness That ‘Islam’ Is a Religion of Peace, Advocating Understanding and Rejecting Conflict
Grand Imam, in an Address at the United Nations, Calls for Confronting Hate Speech Spread through Media and Social Media Platforms
Grand Imam, in an Address at the United Nations, Highlights the Efforts of Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders in Promoting Dialogue and Human Fraternity
His Eminence the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmad at-Tayyeb, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, stated in his Address at the United Nations General Assembly, on the occasion of the International Day Against Islamophobia, that this celebration marks the culmination of commendable efforts led by Muslim nations at the UN. These efforts aim to confront this unreasonable and illogical phenomenon, which has threatened world peace.
In an address delivered on his behalf by Ambassador Osama Abdul Khaliq, Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the Grand Imam expressed his deep appreciation for the honest and courageous stance of Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. He also commended his fair and insightful remarks about Islam, which reflect a true understanding of the religion and its tolerant teachings. Such statements play a crucial role in confronting Islamophobia, resisting the tendency to adopt preconceived judgments, and rejecting the humiliating submission to distorted stereotypes that some seek to associate with Islam. These stereotypes are often exploited in a populist manner by certain far-right groups to serve narrow political interests.
His Eminence the Grand Imam pointed out that the word ‘Islam’ is derived from the same word as “peace” in Arabic. It is an expression of the core values conveyed in the message of this noble religion: mercy, love, coexistence, tolerance, and fraternity among all people, regardless of their color, beliefs, language, or race. This is affirmed by the words of Allah Almighty in His Holy Book: “And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” [Q. 21:107] This verse embodies the essence of Islam’s message, as it upholds the values of fraternity, justice, and tolerance among the children of Adam, as brothers descended from one father and one mother.
Notably, His Eminence added that a testament to the tolerance of this true religion is the fact that Muslims have lived for centuries side by side with followers of other religions in complete peace and constructive cooperation. This coexistence stems from their deep belief in Allah’s words in the Holy Quran: “There is no compulsion in religion” [Q. 2:256]. Hence, history bears witness that Islam is a religion of peace. It advocates mutual understanding, cooperation, and the rejection of conflict and division. The tolerance of this religion is not merely a claim without evidence but a lived reality experienced by many societies, both in the East and the West, over many centuries. Islam has firmly established itself as an integral part of their identity and mission to the world.
Moreover, the Grand Imam emphasized that Islamophobia, or the phenomenon of an “irrational fear of Islam,” is merely the result of ignorance about the true nature and tolerance of this great religion, as well as deliberate attempts to distort its principles of peace and coexistence. He further noted that this phenomenon is a natural consequence of media campaigns and far-right rhetoric that have long sought to falsely portray Islam as a religion of violence and extremism—a lie that stands as one of the greatest fabrications in contemporary history. Such falsehoods are built upon misinterpretations and the malicious exploitation of heinous military actions committed by groups entirely detached from Islam. How can a religion, whose followers’ faith is incomplete without belief in the fundamental principle expressed in their holy book—where Allah addresses all creation, saying: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you into peoples and tribes that you may know one another.” [Q. 49:13], how can it turn into a religion that calls for extremism, terrorism, violence, and bloodshed? Is it not right, just, and fair to refer to it by the name given by Allah Himself—a religion of understanding, tolerance, mercy, and cooperation?! And that the fear of it and its followers is a disease to which hospitals and care homes are allocated!!
Further, the Grand Imam underlined that the daunting challenges wracking our world nowadays, including wars, conflicts, the growing escalation of hate speeches, intolerance, extremism, and discrimination, urge us to embrace solidarity and unity. Bridges of understanding should be structured on the ruins of ignorance, arrogance, and hatred; indeed, the current challenges compel us to light up the dark tunnels of stereotypes with the bulbs of wisdom. In fact, interfaith and intercultural dialogue is no longer a luxury, however, it has become an existential necessity to save humanity from the grips of ignorance and misunderstanding. Let our words serve as a bridge that might abolish the concerns and fears about Islamophobia by adopting the speech of moderation and opening up to the “Other”.
In the same context, His Eminence urged the need to challenge the hate speech that softly sneaks through the daily speeches and practices on social media and mass media, which is, unfortunately, apparent in the reality of millions of Muslims worldwide. Such a stand should come as a response to our human conscience; we should prioritize the speeches of peaceful dialogue, tolerance, and common existence, work together to issue abiding legislations and launch awareness campaigns to promote tolerance and a culture of mutual respect. Let us cooperate to create a speech capable of restoring the ties of understanding, solidarity, and fraternity among all peoples.
Additionally, the Grand Imam pointed out that Muslims are religiously obliged to believe in religious and cultural diversity as a divine rule, as Allah Almighty says: “Had your Lord willed, He would have made mankind one community, but they continue to differ” [Q. 11:118]. In fact, such diversity is a kind of enrichment, not a conflict. Fighting back against Islamophobia is not a duty to be borne by a certain category over another; however, it is a battle that should be fought by every person whose conscience and heart are devoted to establishing justice.
Furthermore, the Grand Imam highlighted that al-Azhar, the historical reference of Islam and the beacon of moderation, along with the Muslim Council of Elders under the presidency of His Eminence, has long set off the alarm concerning the increase of such intruding phenomenon. Al-Azhar ash-Sharif and the Muslim Council of Elders have joined their forces seeking to open the doors of dialogue between the East and the West, an effort that culminated in the issuance of the Document on Human Fraternity signed by the Grand Imam and his brother Pope Francis of the Catholic Church in Abu Dhabi in 2019. Additionally, al-Azhar ash-Sharif organized several international intellectual conferences, dispatched scientific convoys all over the world, and qualified generations of preachers and international scholars to serve as ambassadors in the international peace convoys that went around the world carrying the tolerant message of Islam that rejects hate speeches and mutual intimidation. Indeed, such endeavors aim to promote human peaceful coexistence, and positive integration based on dialogue and cooperation, not conflict and confrontation.
Moreover, the Grand Imam stated that one of al-Azhar major efforts to address Islamophobia is establishing al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism which is concerned with explaining the righteous concepts of Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide. The Observatory is also responsible for combating extremist thinking, terrorist groups, and violent movements, besides the daily tracking of the world violent acts against Muslims fueled by Islamophobia as well as encouraging positive engagement to combat such serious phenomenon in the communities where it is prevalent.
His Eminence expressed his sorrow over the increasing waves of such phenomenon, despite the great efforts exerted; unfortunately, this phenomenon is widely expanding, fueled by the populist discourses of the extremist far right that exploits both the individual and collective vulnerabilities. This should remind us that we are going through a long-winded battle and that we should redouble our efforts and create new mechanisms to keep pace with the complexities that accompany this phenomenon.
In the same vein, the Grand Imam urged the need to adopt an international definition of the phenomenon of Islamophobia, including the terms and practices, periodically specified, that incite hatred, violence, and intimidation against Islam and Muslims due to their religious affiliation. Again, His Eminence demanded creating updated and comprehensive databases to document the racial crimes and practices against Muslims as well as observing the regulations and policies that might worsen this phenomenon or bring solutions that help in addressing it. All these efforts, ultimately, aim to draft laws and legislations to hinder such phenomenon and substitute it with the values of dialogue, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
The Grand Imam concluded his address by stressing that the fight against Islamophobia is an ongoing practical effort demonstrated in the fields of education, dialogue, media, and the legislations that protect human dignity. Let us work together, governments and organizations, to establish new mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and initiatives aiming at combating Islamophobia. This mechanism includes the main performance indicators to create a world where justice, peaceful coexistence, and fraternity prevail.
