Al-Azhar Calls for Formation of Urgent Mediation Committee to End Conflicts and Wars in the Arab Region

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed al-Tayyib, has issued an urgent fraternal appeal to all brothers and sisters across our Arab and Islamic countries, urging them to prioritize the spirit of brotherhood and the bonds of faith, kinship, and language, to elevate the voice of wisdom, and to adhere to the language of reason and dialogue. He called for an immediate and comprehensive halt to all acts of war, fighting, destruction, and sabotage that drain the resources of peoples and claim the lives of the innocent.

Al-Azhar reminded its brothers and sisters of the ties of religion, Arab solidarity, and historical fraternity that unite them, in compliance with the command of Allah the Almighty: “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers.” It also recalled the Prophet’s saying (peace be upon him): “When two Muslims meet each other with their swords, both the killer and the killed will be in the Fire...”

He warned that division and infighting are the primary causes of the nation’s weakness, the violation of its sanctities, the collapse of other nations upon it, and the squandering of its achievements and wealth. This comes at a time when the nation is in greater need than ever of unity, cohesion, protection of innocent blood, and investment in its resources and the endowments and capabilities bestowed upon it by God, rather than squandering them on wars and conflicts.

In implementation of this fraternal appeal, Al-Azhar called for the immediate formation of a mediation and de-escalation committee comprising representatives from various Arab and Islamic countries, drawn from wise and sincere individuals committed to goodness, peace, and stability. This initiative aims to fulfill the divine saying: “And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two.” The committee would be tasked with immediately working to defuse escalating crises and conflicts, bridging differences, and resolving existing disputes among members of the same faith and nation, thereby preserving the strength and sovereignty of Arabs, and safeguarding the lives of their children, the resources of their peoples, and the well-being of future generations.

Al-Azhar also affirmed its full readiness to exert every possible effort to support the work of this blessed committee, placing full trust in the wisdom of all parties and their ability to overcome differences and turn the page on the past, to protect innocent blood, preserve the lives of the innocent, and prioritize the public interest. He prayed to God, the Exalted, to protect our Arab and Islamic nation from all harm and evil, and to spare our region from the calamities of war and conflict. Indeed, He is the Guardian of such matters and All-Powerful.