Cholera, Dengue Fever, Malaria Outbreak in Sudan

A crowd gathered in front of a medical laboratory to conduct a test for dengue fever, which is widespread in Gedaref State, eastern Sudan. (AFP)

The "Nouakchott Declaration," issued by the Prophet's Biography Conference in Mauritania, stressed on Thursday the necessity of the initiative of senior scholars and sheikhs to reconcile among people and resolve disputes amicably.

The declaration warned against the growing conflicts in Muslim countries, especially in the countries of the African continent, which was the first place of immigration and the wealthiest continent in material and human resources.

The conference was titled: "The Role of Scholars and Sheikhs in Peacemaking and Enhancing Islamic Relations between Peoples and Nations – Africa as a Model”. It was inaugurated by the Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Sheikh Mohammad bin al-Issa, and Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

The declaration urged Muslims in Africa to listen to what their most honorable Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said as he commanded the rejection of bigotry and warned against internal strife.

Prophet Mohammed likened the Muslim Nation to one body, enacted a system of brotherhood, established the first constitution for the coexistence of residents who differ in their beliefs, and concluded peace contracts with those who accepted peace and were inclined to it.

After the conference, the participants voiced their concern about the expanding campaigns insulting Islam and the escalating waves of extremism and violence, calling for cooperation and solidarity among scholars, rational people, and reformers in combating bigotry, hate speech, and discrimination.

The declaration outlined a set of methods and mechanisms for implementing it by first referring to the upright religion and then by recalling the provisions of the "Makkah Document" launched by the Muslim World League.

Notably, the Nouakchott Declaration represents one of the fruits of the Makkah Declaration's joint praiseworthy endeavor with the Islamic Cultural Group in Mauritania and West Africa.

The declaration approved the formation of a committee of reform advocates and philanthropists to reconcile among people in several hotbeds of tension and conflict on the African continent.

It also approved a committee of influential scholars and sheikhs to seek peacemaking and resolve local conflicts using available methods of prevention and treatment, calling upon governments to review educational curricula and promote value education in particular.

The declaration approved working to instill the values of unity, brotherhood, and fairness in matters of disagreement by improving and developing curricula for teaching the biography of the Prophet, creating a unique, comprehensive curriculum for training preachers and sermonizers.

It called for providing a comprehensive reference that can be used in formulating curricula for the Islamic Call and value education and working to activate the mechanisms of Islamic solidarity.

The meeting announced it would work with all peace-loving countries and the UN to block the sources of provocation and injustice and criminalize insults to sanctities.

Participants extended their sincere thanks to the Muslim World League, praising the speech of its secretary-general, which represented a basic document of the conference.

They also lauded the League's tireless work to connect the people of the nation and for its endeavor to reform and renew the methods of call and suitable conveyance about Allah and His Messenger.

They referred to the cooperation between the MWL and the Islamic Cultural Group in Mauritania and West Africa, calling for strengthening this cooperation.

The conferees also appreciated the Islamic Cultural Group, which set a suitable model for fully serving the upright religion.

President Ghazouani inaugurated the conference with a speech welcoming the guests from fifty-five countries to attend the Prophet's Biography Conference.

He confirmed that the people of Mauritania have a natural inclination for the love of the Prophet (PBUH), pointing out that they always study and teach his Sunnah.

Ghazouani explained that Africa and the entire world need to enhance the role of scholars and sheikhs in reconciling relations between people.

Afterward, Sheikh al-Issa delivered a speech expressing his happiness for attending a meeting that thoroughly discussed the noble Sunnah.

Issa pointed out that Prophet Mohammed is a figure that brings together all virtues and includes the values of moderation in speech and action, especially tolerance, forgiveness, leniency, wisdom, and compassion.

The Sec-Gen touched on the ideas of some ostensibly affiliated with Islam, saying that these ideas are only welcomed by those who lack knowledge and reason.

He pointed out that they are a group of people who have deviated from the pure truth and have perished and destroyed their peers in ignorance and misguidance.