The Makkah Conference issued an important document to build bridges between Islamic sects, which included 28 articles that focused on tolerance and unity between all sects, while the attendees pledged to fulfill the contents of this document and work to consolidate it in their scientific academies and national communities, without violating the applicable systems and international laws, and they called on all scientific bodies, community figures and national institutions to support and back it.

The statement pointed out that a joint coordination committee will be formed under the name: “The Coordination Committee between Islamic Sects”, and the General Secretariat of the Muslim World League will propose its system, presidency, members and secretariat, in consultation with senior Islamic figures from various sects, to be approved during the next aforementioned conference.

Document Terms

The document, dated 3/18/2024, states:

1- Muslims are one nation, worshipping one Lord, reciting one book, following one prophet, and uniting them – no matter how far their lands are – is one Qiblah. God Almighty has honored them with the comprehensive name of Islam in a bright statement clearer than the face of the day, and nothing else can replace it. God has chosen it for us: “He has named you Muslims.” There is no place for any of the foreign names and descriptions that divide and do not unite, and distance and do not bring closer, except for what clarifies the method and motivates Islamic work, provided that it is not an alternative or a competitor to the name of Islam with which God named us. This includes its widespread prevalence in the Islamic arena at the expense of the comprehensive name, especially what the deviant parties that have isolated themselves do. The unity of the nation by weaving together unique names that describe its misguided group.

2- A Muslim is anyone who testifies to God Almighty alone as Lord and Divinity, and to His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the Messenger and Seal of Prophethood, and holds fast to the strong rope of God, and believes in the decisive verses of the Sharia and the constants of religion, and acts upon them, and does not commit or believe – knowingly, intentionally and by choice – an act of disbelief that Muslims agree is a disbeliever.

3- The message of Islam is divine in its source, monotheistic in its belief, sublime in its objectives, humane in its values, wise in its legislation, and carries good for all (And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds), and Muslims are called upon to further restore their civilizational role; To contribute to creating a more conscious and beneficial future, and more lasting security and peace.

4- The truths of Islam are derived from revelation, represented in the Holy Quran and what has been proven to have been transmitted from the Prophet (peace be upon him) or agreed upon by the nation. As for what has been transmitted from the efforts of the people of knowledge and faith, it is a place of respect, reverence and benefit, and to deal with its diversity and differences, there are known etiquettes and rules.

5- Islam is the final message of God, revealed to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him), and no one, no matter how knowledgeable or righteous he is, has the right to add or subtract anything from Islam: “Say: It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed, if I disobey my Lord, I fear the punishment of a tremendous Day.” 6- Achieving the objectives of legislation in preserving the five necessities; (Religion is the foundation and axis of Islamic identity), (the sanctity of the soul means dignity, security, and life), (caring for the mind preserves the balance of society from excess and neglect, or from deviating from the path of wisdom and guidance, or from being led into the pitfalls of error and foolishness), (protecting honor is the preservation of the values ​​of society, especially preserving the sanctity of its individuals and the safety of its group), (preserving money includes guarding it from aggression, and protecting it from transgression and corruption), and since the nation-states have multiplied in the contemporary era, there is a sixth necessity, which is (preserving the homeland, from any infringement on its identity, security, gains, or general interests).

7- Forming a moderate personality is the responsibility of the divine scholars and jurists who are firmly rooted in their individuals and the system of their institutions, especially those who are responsible for clarifying the facts of Islam and highlighting its virtues in its nature, generosity, and tolerance, as well as correcting the misconceptions about it.

8- The multiplicity of doctrines and visions among Muslims is considered part of the cosmic laws of destiny that have decreed the inevitability of difference and diversity for a wisdom intended by the Creator, the Almighty, and it – in its entirety – goes back to methodological factors related to the foundations of the starting points of Islamic schools, and to variables related to spatial, temporal and customary circumstances. It is necessary to understand this law and deal with it with awareness and wisdom, and at the forefront of that is caution against the causes of division and dispersion; for what unites the followers of Islamic doctrines is greater than what separates them, especially the two testimonies and acting in accordance with them, and what unites them from the requirements of Islamic brotherhood is greater than the multiplicity of their visions, and the Muslim must in all circumstances search for the right path and follow it. 9- Islamic sects were formed within the Muslim community as a result of a methodological starting point and scientific movement, based – in its agreement and disagreement – on respecting the principles and constants, and it is necessary to keep the sects within the facts of their emergence on the basis of Islam and its noble guidance in the context of the solidity of their schools and the continuity of their giving, without disrupting their positive roles, nor distorting their correct path, or having bad thoughts about their owners, or inflating their differences.

10- The religious and cultural unity of Muslims is a religious duty rooted in the conscience of Muslim peoples, and the project to achieve it is the field of competition between Muslim components, and it requires strengthening the Islamic commonality that establishes that unity in its broad title and major issues.

11- Muslims, with all their components, are partners in building their pioneering civilization and facing their present challenges, looking forward together to a promising future filled with the spirit of brotherhood and harmony, in which commonalities eliminate the causes of division and conflict, and in which their high values ​​rise to achieve understanding, coexistence, and cooperation.

12- The events and incidents of history are lessons and morals that inspire successive generations, so they can copy the useful experiences and avoid their mistakes. It is not acceptable, by law or logic, to invoke past events, debates that have passed, or differences that are at the core of sectarian pluralism, to undermine the unity, brotherhood, and cooperation of the nation.

13- The Islamic commonalities are firm principles that bring together in their vast space the diversity of the nation, and in which the components of unity, feelings of familiarity, and shared responsibility are manifested, to plant in its internal awareness a self-immunity with which to confront the dangers of sectarian fanaticism and sectarian strife.

14- Regularity of effective and fruitful dialogue forums between Islamic sects to strengthen their fraternal bond is an urgent necessity that must be assumed responsibility for. The success of this ambition depends on good intentions and sincerity of will, with the beginning of monitoring the obstacles and challenges and addressing them.

15- Sectarian and partisan slogans, with their practices that provoke conflict and sectarian strife, are at the forefront of the nation’s calamities, in a painful historical extension that witnessed – between ebb and flow – the ignition of the fuse of sectarian extremism and the incitement of sedition, and the resulting tragedies, the misfortunes of which were numerous, and ended in grudges and hatreds, and there was strife and hostility, and practices of hateful marginalization of components linked by brotherhood in religion and the greater objectives of Islam, and Islam was not afflicted and its enemies were not happy with such sectarian madness and partisan foolishness, in addition to other seditions that are driven by ambitions and whims.
16- The ruling of Islam is certainly deserved by everyone who utters the two testimonies of faith and acts in accordance with them, believing in the principles of Islam, and it is not permissible to dare to declare him an infidel except with certain evidence equivalent to what proves his Islam, which the people of knowledge and faith do not disagree on.

17- Takfir, innovation and misguidance are legal rulings that cannot be imposed except with conclusive evidence, otherwise there will be consequences and destruction; therefore, it is not permissible for ordinary Muslims or students of knowledge to apply them to those who disagree with them “individuals, institutions, schools or the like”, and this is only entrusted to the collective institutional work that is known for its scientific solidity, fairness and moderation, supported by its legal evidence that is not disputed by the people of knowledge and faith.

18- Cooperation between Islamic societies, with their various diversity, is an important pillar in achieving the desired integration and gaining more presence power for the Muslim Ummah, and this can be done within national societies and between them and other Islamic societies within the framework of their national systems.

19- Muslims are unanimous in supporting just causes at the Islamic and international levels, and they bless the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the face of genocide crimes, and support their right to establish their independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, while preserving the historical and Islamic identity of the city of Jerusalem.
20- The Islamic identity represents the belief of every Muslim, which requires protecting its components in non-Islamic countries, especially seeking peaceful means to recognize their rights guaranteed by civilized constitutions.
21- The family is the nucleus of society, and the most important incubator of education and refinement, protecting the young from the pitfalls of paths, and establishing the foundation for instilling the values ​​of Islam, including strengthening brotherhood among Islamic diversity, and guiding towards the values ​​of its understanding, harmony and cooperation.
22- The efficiency of education strengthens the foundations of family building, and contributes greatly to shaping the minds of the young and their educational refinement, and takes them towards a bright future with the help of God, especially the efficiency of the teacher and the soundness of the curriculum, so that everyone is included in this interest in all stages of education, boys and girls, all of this according to the guidance of Islam and its lofty values ​​that urged all Muslims to learn and did not exclude one gender over another, or restrict this legal requirement to one type of education over another, or to certain stages over others.
23- Women, within their legal framework, have a tangible contribution to achieving the aspirations for the goodness of the nation, which this document seeks, and this is evident in the care taken to establish the first incubator for the young, which is the educated and aware family according to the comprehensive concept of empowering the family; because it is the nucleus of society, and the most important incubator of education and refinement.

24- The Islamic media discourse aims to enhance brotherhood and cooperation among Islamic diversity, spread awareness of this and correct misconceptions within Islam, while confronting campaigns and concepts that are offensive to Islam, regardless of their source or location, while urging Muslims (especially Muslim components in non-Islamic countries) to represent the truth of their religion and to bear their grave responsibilities in presenting a correct image that defines their true religion.

25- The negative use of traditional and new media escalates differences and provokes hostility within Islam, and it is incumbent upon the media message to rely on kind words and purposeful dialogue that unites and brings people closer, in accordance with the values ​​of Islamic brotherhood, and the exchange of sincere advice without exaggeration, arrogance, violence or defamation.

26- Warning against sedition, avoiding its causes, confronting its instigators and promoters, and denouncing its incitement among the people of one nation, and in the Islamic community in general through sectarian phrases, slogans and practices that aim to undermine the Islamic brotherhood stipulated in the words of God Almighty: “The believers are but brothers,” and the words of our Master and Noble Prophet (peace be upon him): “And be, O servants of God, brothers.”

27- Insulting Muslims, inciting their sectarian feelings, undermining their symbols, and disdaining their efforts does not achieve a goal, nor does it hurt an enemy. Rather, it is a form of immorality that brings them harm in their individuals, their sects, and the reputation of their religion, and the congestion of their souls. It is often what others pick up on about them and attribute it – ignorantly or deliberately – to the nature of their religion.

28- Holding an annual conference that renews the vision, message, goals and values ​​of this meeting, strengthening the work of the contents of this document, and carrying the arrangements for holding it in the following year under the title: (The Second Conference for Building Bridges between Islamic Schools of Thought), discussing developments in the Islamic arena.