World Ulemas-Muslim Scholars Summit to Discuss Wasatiyat Al Islam

Jakarta, MINA – The High-Level Consultation of World Muslim Scholars, which will held in Indonesian city, Bogor, from May 1 to 3, will discuss the Wasatiyat al-Islam (Islam middle way) concept, Antara News reported.

The Indonesian president`s special envoy for Inter-religious and Civilization Cooperation, Din Syamsuddin, made the remarks at a press gathering here on Monday.

“The high-level consultation is initiated by Indonesia, as the program of the Indonesian president`s special envoy for Inter-religious and Civilization Cooperation, to develop and promote the Wasatiyat Islam concept,” Syamsuddin stated.

According to him, around 100 participants, comprising of world ulemas and scholars, are expected to attend the consultation.

Some of the invitees who have confirmed their participation include Grand Sheikh of the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt; Prof Ahmad Muhammad Ath-Thayyib; and President of Muslim Community Peace Promotion Forum, Prof Abdullah bin Bayyah, who is concurrently the president of the International Muslim Scholars Union.

He further remarked that the high-level consultation will discuss the concept of Islamic “Wasatiyat” and its implementation.

So far, there have been many concepts in various books and book of exegesis (Tafsir) regarding the Islamic Wasatiyat.

Syamsuddin hoped that the discussion will help pursue the concept of the Islamic Wasatiyat as a criterion for the main civilization of Islam.

“We hope the concept can serve as the characteristic and identity of Muslims at the national level of each country, as well as at the global level,” he remarked.

The discussion will be declared open by President Joko Widodo in Bogor and will be closed by Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the Vice Presidential office in Jakarta. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)