HM King receives Muslim Council of Elders

Manama, Sep. 28 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received at Sakhir Palace today the Muslim Council of Elders led by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb on the occasion of holding the council's special meeting in Bahrain. HM the King welcomed them, thanking them for attending the meeting in Bahrain to serve the Islamic nation and issues. He praised the noble goals of the meeting, commending the role and dedicated efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders in serving Islam and Muslims at a time of growing and fast-paced challenges. HM the King said those challenges have placed the Islamic nation before a true test to preserve its civilisational record, reiterating confidence in the loyal Muslims who are keen on unity of the Islamic nation and emphasising support to all efforts aimed at rallying ranks. HM the King voiced pride in belonging to a nation of moderation, underlining support to all efforts aimed at fostering the inherent moderate approach and praising the pioneering role of of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in this respect. He also lauded the role of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Grand Imam in this regard, expressing happiness about his visit to Bahrain. HM the King thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the tremendous efforts to serve pilgrims and for the good organisation of Hajj seasons, proving, therefore, to the whole world its constant capability to assume this responsibility perfectly. Then, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb gave a speech in which he thanked HM the King for the good hospitality and for Bahrain's hosting of the 8th meeting of the Muslim Council of Elders which, he said, chose to convene in Bahrain, "a country that boasts a glorious civilisational history". He added that for thousands of years Bahrain has been a hub of many civilisations and intercultural dialogue thanks to its unique geographic location and well-experienced people who have learnt from cultural fusion how to stand united and transcend doctrinal, religious and ethnic differences. Dr. Al-Tayeb praised the spirit of authenticity and "disciplined modernity" characterizing the Bahraini people whose glorious history and unwavering fundamentals and values, he said, have become an approach of life. He also pointed out attempts to use sectarianism and religious passion for hegemony and domination by choosing violence as a method to achieve those ends. Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Grand Imam paid tribute to HM the King for his wise policy, pointing out determination of the enemies of the Arab and Islamic nation to divide it and ignite sectarianism and wars in order to keep it under hegemony and domination. He reiterated the call of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the Muslim Council of Elders on religious clerics to be up to the responsibility entrusted with them and end discourse inciting sedition and hatred in order to restore confidence and hope. Dr. Al-Tayeb underscored utmost keenness of the Muslim Council of Elders on unity of the Islamic nation and its categorical rejection of any act or ideology begetting conflict and failure as well as fanning discriminatory sectarianism. HM the King lauded the speech of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Grand Imam, stressing that tolerance and co-existence have always been an approach for Bahrain passed down to the fathers and forefathers over thousands of years. He praised cohesion of the Bahraini community and keenness on its unity and moderation, expressing happiness about Bahrain being one of the centres of the Muslim Council of Elders.