Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Scholars Discuss Muslim Unity

(Video Duration: 2 mins. 36 secs.)

Islamic scholars from 80 countries convened at an international event titled in Istanbul, Turkiye.

The event is titled "Ijma as a Common Roadmap and Collective Awareness".

Islamic scholars gathering for the “Ijma as a Common Roadmap and Collective Awareness” symposium pose at the final day of the event. (Photo: Today's Zaman)

60 speakers will address 4,000 people about reaching a binding religious consensus amongst all Muslims.

The symposium is organized by the Yeni Ümit and Hira magazine. Speeches are translated into in five languages - Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, English and French.

Speakers from Tunisia, Morrocco, the U.S, and Nigeria discuss the importance of ijma, or maintaining the solidarity of Muslims.

Fethullah Gülen, a prominent Turkish author, Muslim educator and founder of the Hizmet movement sent a congratulatory statement to the symposium. Gülen said there was a dire need for closer cooperation and intellectual unity among Muslims in the world.

Mehmet Görmez, the President of Religious Affairs, said Ijma calls for peaceful dialogue to save religion from reformation efforts.

There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world.The conference in Istanbul serves as an international platform for all Muslims to negotiate issues that concern humanity.