Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, today received Muslim scholars and intellectuals participating in the National Meeting for Intellectual Dialogue held at King Abdul Aziz Public Library in Riyadh from 15-18 June.
The audience was attended by Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General.
The participants presented to the Crown Prince a summary of working sessions at the conference, which focused on internal and external Islamic discourse, stressing the Kingdom’s adherence to Islam, its ties with the Muslim world, and its national unity within a framework of moderation.
The Crown Prince received the final communiqué and recommendations issued by the forum from Sheikh Salih bin Abdulrahman Al-Hussein, General President of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, who is also Chairman of the National Meeting for Intellectual Dialogue.
The Crown Prince expressed his appreciation and thanks to the Muslim scholars and intellectuals for their pioneering role in maintaining the Kingdom’s national unity based on Islamic Sharia, wishing them all success.
The audience was also attended by Prince Nawaf bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Mamdouh bin Abdul Aziz, Head of the Strategic Studies Centre; Prince Abdulilah bin Abdul Aziz; Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Saud, Undersecretary of the National Guard’s Western Sector, and other princes. All attendees had luncheon at the Crown Prince’s banquet.
The final communiqué and recommendations issued by the National Meeting for Intellectual Dialogue noted that the meeting was the result of a proposal approved by the Crown Prince to discuss issues relating to internal and external Islamic discourse.
It added that the Crown Prince’s inaugural speech at the meeting was delivered on his behalf by Chairman of Shoura Council Sheikh Dr Salih bin Abdullah bin Homaid.
Participants of the meeting held nine working sessions, and a concluding session. The sessions covered a number of topics, including the following: identifying national unity; the importance of unity and the Islamic principles upon which unity is based; the pioneering role of Islamic education and Muslim scholars in preserving national unity; immoderation and inflexibility; women’s rights, duties and roles in society; freedom of expression; the importance of mutual interest in relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other countries; dealing with non-Muslims in the light of the Holy Quran and Sunnah (the tradition of the Prophet), and the concept of Jihad (struggle for the faith).
The participants issued recommendations, which called for the establishment of the National Dialogue Centre to organize future gatherings, and prepare studies and research.
The recommendations urged: preservation of the Kingdom’s national unity based on Islam; laying emphasis on the status of Muslim scholars and their role in maintaining national unity; the importance of promoting developmental programs in all the Kingdom’s regions; the continuation of development of education to accord with the modern age and the interests of national unity, promoting the interests of Saudi youth within development plans. They also called on Saudi media to strengthen national unity and to respect Muslim scholars.
The recommendations urged the continuation of the reform process in all its aspects, and the expansion of popular participation to strengthen national unity, noting that Islam is a religion of moderation. They stressed the need to highlight the real image and role of women in Islam, and called for the expansion of participation in service of women’s issues and interests. They affirmed the guarantee of the freedom of speech in accordance with Islamic conditions.
The participants thanked the Crown Prince and requested the chairman of the meeting to send cables of thanks to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, the Crown Prince and the Second Deputy Premier.
Source: SPA
