Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in the Fifth Edition of the Dar Dmana International Forum for Dhikr and Samaa, held in Ouazzane, Kingdom of Morocco, on 28–30 August 2025. The Forum was organized under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, as part of the celebrations marking the Revolution of the King and the People and Youth Day.

During the intellectual session on “Spiritual Challenges and Stakes in Tomorrow’s World,” Dr. Benarafa delivered a keynote address in which he emphasized the central role of spirituality in addressing today’s global change. He noted that current crises extend beyond the economic and political spheres, striking at the very essence of human existence.

Addressing the spiritual stakes in the age of artificial intelligence, Dr. Benarafa also warned against reducing humans beings to mere data and algorithms, underscoring that true human uniqueness lies in spiritual awareness and contemplative experience, which cannot be programmed or replicated.

The ICESCO official further highlighted the need to advance a humanistic and spiritual civilizational project rooted in universal values and enriched by the Sufi and philosophical traditions, which, he believes, offer a glimpse into the human spirit and restore its compass of meaning.

The 2025 edition, held under the theme, “The Spiritual Question in Tomorrow’s World”, was organized by the Safaa Association for Madih, in cooperation with several partners.

The event featured performances by Moroccan and international Sufi music groups, alongside scholarly and spiritual discussions that brought together leading thinkers, scholars, and cultural figures.