The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Muslim World League (MWL), and the Mohammedia League of Scholars held a major international celebration to launch the “International Day of Mercy” initiative at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, and via video videoconference, on Thursday, April 21, 2022.

The celebration, which witnessed the attendance of high-level participants, began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by introductory remarks by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General (DG) of ICESCO, in which he indicated that this initiative was recommended in the declaration of the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah, held by ICESCO in cooperation with MWL and the Mohammedia League of Scholars in May 27, 2021, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him.

Participants in this conference urged the incorporation of the system of civilizational values into the international action mechanisms in the fields of education, culture, environment and public-interest issues, and called on the international community and bodies, as well as all peace-loving people, to proclaim the 21st of April as the International Day of Mercy.

He added that ICESCO submitted this initiative to the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held last March in Islamabad, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which issued a decision to adopt the initiative and called for its implementation in the rest of the international community.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, DG of ICESCO, began his address by noting that mercy is a divine matter that is embedded in all divine religions. “The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) scattered mercy upon the world like rain drops upon arid lands” added ICESCO DG.

He pointed out that the Organization has proudly taken the initiative to proclaim 21st of April as the International Day of Mercy, an endeavor that has come to fruition thanks to the joint efforts between ICESCO, MWL and the Mohammedia League of Scholars, to disseminate values of tolerance, concord and compassion.

In conclusion of his address, ICESCO DG called on all people to ponder upon the signification that the International Day of Mercy bears, and to cultivate mercy in younger generations, before reciting a poem entitled “The Gifted Mercy” that he composed in praise of the Prophet (PBUH).

In a video-recorded address, Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of MWL, underlined that this initiative deserves our utmost praise and appreciation as it stems from our constant need for more mercy among people of all races and religions.

He pointed out that before being a human emotion that sparks a sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress, mercy is a divine attribute and command that has been glorified by the wise and the moralists. Dr. Al-Issa noted that MWL’s Charter of Makkah, that is grounded upon mercy, among other principles of Islam, is a historical document bearing messages of awareness and enlightened Islamic thought.

For his part, Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary-General of the Mohammedia League of Scholars, emphasized that this is an exceptional celebration that translates the thought-out initiative to proclaim the 21st of April as the International Day of Mercy, following a recommendation by the participants in the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah.

He added that mercy is a value and an outcome at the same time that is entrenched in the Prophet’s message, noting that mercy is a multi-dimensional system that follows a certain pattern and ultimately seeks Allah’s satisfaction.

His address was followed by the screening of a video summarizing the proceedings of the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah, another ICESCO video on the Prophet’s lineage, and then a discussion.