Tawfiq: Restoring the Ethics of Peace as a Living Model for Inviting to Islam and Peace
The Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Tawfiq, called yesterday in Nouakchott for the restoration of the ethics of peace, making it a practical model for inviting to Islam and peace. He emphasized that reforming individuals is the key to achieving this goal.
During the opening session of the Sixth African Conference for Promoting Peace under the slogan “Africa and the Craft of Hope,” Tawfiq stressed the necessity for Muslims to understand their duty to restore and practice the ethics of peace, not merely in words but as a reality for the common good and the welfare of the world.
He noted that this requires freeing Muslims from their whims and selfishness, which he described as the “focal point of wars,” asserting that selfishness fuels conflicts both within families, communities, and nations. He urged scholars, preachers, and educators to simplify religious concepts in a way that aligns with contemporary culture, explaining notions such as greed, success, happiness, and freedom in a manner that connects them to ethics and genuine religiosity.
Tawfiq also called for distinguishing between the religion completed by God and individual or collective religiosity, highlighting the importance of dispelling the claims of terrorism. He cited a 2007 seminar of Moroccan scholars that clarified and discussed 11 statements about terrorism, proving their non-accordance with true Islamic law and tradition.
The minister emphasized the need for Muslims to recognize their position in the world and to build a moral, political, and social model based on the Holy Quran, asserting that peace should be an individual, communal, and international lifestyle achieved through faith and good deeds.
The opening session featured remarks from Sheikh Abdullah Ould Beih, the President of the African Conference for Peace, Yusuf al-Dubai, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Prime Minister of Mauritania, Mokhtar Ould Akhya. They affirmed that the conference serves as a platform for policy-making and launching practical initiatives for Africa, free from extremism, radicalism, and violence.
The African Conference for Promoting Peace is an annual event that brings together scholars, thought leaders, and decision-makers from across the continent to formulate practical visions for restoring peace and enhancing partnerships between governments, religious institutions, and civil organizations.
