The President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars: A Call for Scholars to Engage with People's Lives and Remove Intellectual Restrictions

Tirana/Albania – (November 2, 2025)

In recent days, an important scientific conference was held in the Albanian capital, Tirana, organized by the Waqf of Islamic Scholars. The title of the conference was "Cooperation of Scholars for the Service of the People," which included a large number of scholars from Albania, Balkan countries (including Bulgaria and Bosnia), and the Republic of Turkey, totaling approximately 210 scientific personalities and high-ranking officials, led by the former head of Diyanet of Turkey.

At this conference, His Excellency Professor Dr. Ali Qaradaghi, President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, attended by official invitation and delivered three main speeches.

Addressing the Situation of the People in the Balkans

At the beginning of the conference, the President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars emphasized the leadership role of scholars in the awakening of the people and guiding Muslim communities in Albania and the Balkans, especially those who have preserved their faith despite historical and cultural difficulties and challenges.

A Call to Change the Working Style of Scholars

The most important point of Professor Dr. Ali Qaradaghi's speech was his call for the duty of scholars to go beyond mosques and pulpits to an active and real integration into people's lives (in cafes, homes, and public gatherings). He stated: "A scholar who isolates himself from the people loses his message. True scholars are those who go into the field to convey the light of guidance to the heart of every human being."

To support this view, he cited an impactful story from the life of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), explaining that "the message of scholars today is to heal hearts before judging actions, and that preaching should be through action rather than dry words."

Six Principles of Civilizational Revival

In another part of his speech, the President of the Union presented six great principles for civilizational revival, derived from verse 157 of Surah Al-A'raf. These principles were:

1. Enjoining good.

2. Forbidding evil.

3. Making lawful the pure and good things.

4. Forbidding the impure and bad things.

5. Removing heavy burdens.

6. Breaking intellectual and social restrictions.

In this context, he stated that the uprising of nations begins when Islam is presented in a civilized and attractive way, as "a mercy to all the worlds," not as "a cold slogan or a harsh speech."

At the end of his speech, Professor Dr. Ali Qaradaghi called on scholars to unite on the word of truth and to make their knowledge and behavior a means of renewing trust in Islam in people's hearts and restoring life to the spirit of the nation.