The senior muftis, scholars, and thinkers of the Islamic nation from all Islamic schools of thought and doctrines adopted the “Encyclopedia of Islamic Intellectual Harmony” and approved the strategic and executive plan for the document “Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought.” This took place at the conclusion of the second edition of the international conference: “Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought,” which was held on the 6th and 7th of Ramadan 1446 AH, corresponding to the 6th and 7th of March 2025 AD, in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, under the title “Towards an Effective Islamic Harmony,” under the generous patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - and with broad participation from representatives of Islamic schools of thought and doctrines from more than 90 countries.

The high-level scholarly session dedicated to reading the final statement, which was issued at dawn on Saturday, was attended by His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Chairman of the Council of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, and member of the Assembly of Experts of the Leadership in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sheikh Ahmad Moballeghi, and Advisor at the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Imam and Preacher of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, and Head of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, Imam and Preacher of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, and Secretary-General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Mustafa Qutb Sanu, and member of the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Yusuf bin Muhammad bin Saeed, and the Mufti of Sidon in the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Muhammad Asiran.

The conference attendees witnessed the launch of the “Encyclopedia of Islamic Intellectual Harmony,” which was prepared by the Intellectual Protection Center of the Ministry of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and was prepared by 60 scholars, in about 1,300 pages. It was reviewed by the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and a number of Their Excellencies and Highnesses, members of the Council, the Islamic Jurisprudence Academy, and the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League, to be a roadmap for relations between Islamic schools of thought according to the concept of the common Islamic consensus.

The arbitration reports included a description of the encyclopedia as distinguished in its field and objectives, and that it represents a long-awaited qualitative addition to the Islamic library. The Intellectual Protection Center deserves great thanks from the scholars of the Founding Conference for Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought for this qualitative scientific and intellectual effort, while noting that the commissioning of the center to make this encyclopedia, which was completed according to the ambition and hopes, came from the participants in the Founding Conference last year, according to its announced statement.

In the final statement, the conference participants decided to consider the “Document for Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought,” with its 28 articles, as the foundation and starting point for joint Islamic action, both “scientifically” and “intellectually,” with the aim of strengthening fraternity and solidarity among the peoples of the Muslim nation.

They announced their adoption of the “Encyclopedia of Islamic Intellectual Harmony” prepared by the Center for Intellectual Protection in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and their commitment to promoting and disseminating it in various scientific circles and international events, so that it may serve as a roadmap for relations between Islamic schools of thought, in accordance with the concept of the common Islamic principles.

They also announced the adoption of the “strategic and executive plan” for the “document on building bridges between Islamic schools of thought.”.

The conference attendees decided to amend the name of the “Coordination Committee” in the document “Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought” to “Coordination Council Between Islamic Schools of Thought,” and to adopt the Council’s system, and the proposal to name its president, members and secretary, with the Council to undertake work on ways to activate the provisions of the document in Muslim societies, and to supervise the implementation of the “Strategic and Executive Plan for the Document Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought,” and to follow up on the programs and initiatives emanating from it.

The conference participants affirmed their support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land, their rejection of displacement and destruction projects, and their demand that the international community recognize their legitimate rights to establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, and to form delegations of scholars of the document to mobilize global efforts from influential religious and community figures to support their cause and restore their rights.

They announced the launch of an annual award to be given to pioneering institutions and individuals who contribute to achieving the goals of the “Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought” document.

The conference attendees stressed their pride in the collective identity, their adherence to the principles and tenets of Islam, and their belief in the necessity for Muslims to hold fast to the firm rope of God and His straight path, and that they represent one nation no matter how far apart their lands are, how different their doctrines are, and how numerous their schools are, in response to God Almighty’s command to them to unite around the principles of His religion.

They called for the importance of respecting the existence of Islamic diversity, dealing with matters of disagreement within Islamic frameworks based on the etiquette of disagreement, and not being drawn into the pitfalls of takfir (declaring someone an apostate) and the dangers of infighting and mutual recrimination.

They warned against the consequences of the heated debates witnessed in some media outlets, which stir up resentment and incite conflict and division under pretexts that bring about greater evils than they imagine to be beneficial. They have fueled grudges, provoked fanaticism, and generated hatred, oblivious to God’s favor upon the believers: “And He united their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but God united them. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise.”.

The participants appreciated the qualitative efforts of the Muslim World League in reformulating sectarian relations in the “Building Bridges Document,” based on solid foundations of the wisdom and breadth of Islamic law, and its keenness to ensure that this approach is not merely a temporary initiative, but rather practical programs and strategic partnerships that invest in the broad common ground, towards a more integrated and cohesive future among the sons of the Islamic nation.

The conference attendees, including scholars, muftis, and thinkers, affirmed their determination to move forward towards the great ambition of their founding conference document, which laid the foundations for their brotherhood and solidarity based on the principles of Islam and its universal commonalities, and to take further steps in this path of unity, as it is a practical document that has gone beyond the repetition and redundancy of dialogues that have been circulating for years. They stressed that all that remains is activation and action, which is building bridges in the path of Islamic solidarity: “Towards an effective Islamic alliance” according to a systematic approach in which the document is crystallized into initiatives and projects that enhance Islamic awareness, consolidate its moderate approach, and refute the discourse and practices of sectarianism.

The participants in the conference expressed their deep gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to His Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for their outstanding services to Islam and Muslims, with special thanks for the generous patronage of their conference, within the framework of the tireless and persistent efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to unite Muslims, strengthen their brotherhood, and enhance their solidarity, in the context of its pioneering Islamic role.