Category: Front Page|News

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at the prestigious Ez-Zitouna University, in Tunisia, delivered a scientific lecture, entitled “Verifying heritage masterpieces: Ad-Dīwān Al-Kabir of Ibn al-Arabi as a model”, which saw the attendance of a large number of professors, researchers and students. The university leaders then paid tribute to Dr. Benarfa for his scientific contributions and on the occasion of receiving the Arab World Heritage Book of the Year Award 2024.

The lecture, organized by the Department of Fundamentals of Religion at the Higher Institute of Islamic Civilization at Ez-Zitouna University, came at the invitation of its president, Dr. Abdellatif Bouazizi, and was presented by Dr. Abdeljalil Salem, who elaborated on the biography of Dr. Benarfa, his scientific achievements and the occasion of honoring him.

The lecture constituted an opportunity to enhance communication and enrich discussion with students and researchers, and share ideas, proposals and experiences in such a way as to contribute to developing the scientific and academic skills of university students given the importance of the topic in enriching scientific research in this field of studies.

Following the lecture, Dr. Benarfa met with Dr. Bouazizi, to discuss aspects of cooperation between ICESCO and Ez-Zitouna University. ICESCO Deputy DG also visited the Tunisian Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts “Beit al-Hikma”, met with its President, Dr. Mahmoud Ben Ramadan, and discussed holding a joint international symposium between ICESCO and the Academy.

The verification of the four-volume Dīwān, of Ibn al-’Arabi, issued by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, won the “2024 Arab World Heritage Book Award” from the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts and ALECSO. ICESCO Deputy DG was honored during the official celebration of the Arab Heritage Day, on April 19, 2024, in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco.

The sixth edition of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, UNESCO, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization, is still ongoing. The Forum, hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, from May 1 to 3, 2024, features distinguished participation from the ICESCO delegation, led by the Organization’s Director-General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik.

During the course of the session titled ” Dialogue for Peace and Global Security: Cooperation and Interconnectivity,” Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of ICESCO’s Center of Civilizational Dialogue, stressed the need to revitalize interfaith dialogue mechanisms, update its discourse, and trust in its importance during a plenary titled ” Confidence building through Interfaith Dialogue.” Moreover, he called for the inclusion of comparative religion topics in curricula to cultivate competent scientific capabilities in interreligious dialogue. Amb. Fathalrahman concluded by outlining ICESCO’s role in supporting dialogue among diverse cultures.

Dr. Webber Ndoro, Head of ICESCO’s Center of Heritage in the Islamic World, provided an overview of the Organization’s efforts in protecting and preserving heritage from climate change, highlighting key initiatives in this regard. He further emphasized the necessity of involving communities in heritage preservation to ensure the continuity of cultural values. Dr. Ndoro underscored ICESCO’s view of cultural heritage as a vital element in community recovery and resilience.

During his participation in a session titled “Safeguarding Our Past and Future: Cultural Heritage in the Face of Climate Change,” Dr. Hisham Al-Askari, Advisor to ICESCO’s DG, addressed the threat posed by climate change to cultural heritage and historical sites. Furthermore, he urged the protection of cultural heritage by enhancing dialogue and international cooperation, noting that innovative solutions from earth system sciences, big data science, and the exchange of best practices can mobilize collective action to protect cultural heritage, ensuring its resilience and accessibility to future generations.

ICESCO held a discussion session titled “Bridging Horizons: Silk Road’s Modern Dynamics and Global Impact,” moderated by Dr. Nazim Samadov, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Morocco, with the aim of introducing the Silk Road as one of the ancient trade routes, and highlighting its pivotal role in the development of civilization and fostering dialogue among peoples.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called for giving proper attention to Sufi or mystical poetry, considering it a stream of Arabic poetry, in the same vein as Madeeh (eulogy of the Prophet Muhammad), noting that despite its importance in the lives of Muslims throughout history, it has not received the attention it deserves in the books of Arab literary history and public education.

This came in a scientific paper titled “Sufi Poetry as a Translator of Divine Knowledge,” presented by Dr. Benarafa on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the scientific seminar of the World Poetry Festival program at the Faculty of Arabic Language affiliated with Al-Qadi Ayyad University in Marrakech. The festival is organized by the House of Poetry in Morocco, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, ICESCO, and the Marrakech City Council, as part of the celebration of the Ochre City as the capital of culture in the Islamic world for 2024, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

After reviewing the major historical milestones of Madeeh poetry, Dr. Benarafa drew a clear distinction between Madeeh and Sufi poetry, emphasizing the characteristics of the latter and its prominent figures. He also indicated that Sufi poetry is an expression of States, Stations, Openings, Tastings, stages of spiritual education, and wayfaring. It may ascend and transcend, under the guidance of the realized ones among the Knowers (of Allah), until it becomes a purely mystical poetry, gravitating around the stages of true knowledge, and the levels of existence.

The World Poetry Festival, held over three days under the theme “Marrakech: The Renewed Poem”, features broad participation of poets from Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Türkiye, Bahrain, Senegal, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Mauritania, Yemen, Mali, Djibouti, and Morocco.

The festival’s agenda includes two scientific seminars, as well as a number of cultural, artistic, and educational activities at historical sites in Marrakech, in addition to the launching of two poetry competitions for students.

Responding to an invitation from the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), headed a delegation from the Organization during the proceedings of the annual meetings of the IsDB Group for 2024, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The meetings commenced today, Saturday April 27, 2024, and will continue until the 30th, coinciding with the golden jubilee celebration of the IsDB, marking 50 years since its establishment.

This year’s meetings are held under the theme: “Cherishing our Past, Charting our Future: Originality, Solidarity, and Prosperity,” with the high-level attendance of ministers of economy, planning, and finance from the Bank’s Member States, as well as representatives of various financial institutions, Islamic banks, the private sector, development agencies, and international and regional organizations.

ICESCO’s participation in these meetings comes within the framework of the strong and robust partnership it shares with the IsDB Group, and its commitment to deepening this effective partnership in service of its Member States, in areas of mutual expertise, and in support of developmental programs in the Islamic world, engaging its youth in development and equipping them with the necessary future leadership skills in the fields of education, science, and culture.

The annual meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group aim to provide a global platform for decision-makers to discuss the most pressing economic challenges facing Islamic countries, and to explore current and future opportunities to advance social and economic development in these countries, through organizing a series of seminars, sessions, and meetings focusing on social and economic development, as well as regional and international cooperation.

The delegation from ICESCO participating in this year’s meetings includes Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Dinara Guliyeva, an expert in the sector.

The training session, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, in collaboration with the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) affiliated with ICESCO, was launched as part of a program to enhance educational and digital skills for faculty members in universities and higher education institutions. The Program aims to train 600 professor-researchers from 12 Moroccan universities in the use of digital tools and open educational resources in teaching.

During the launch ceremony at the Ministry’s headquarters in Rabat on Thursday, April 25, 2024, Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to the Director-General for FUIW, emphasized that this Program provides a valuable opportunity for new professors and researchers to acquire digital educational skills and be equipped with innovative educational tools aimed at enhancing the quality of higher education.

The Program’s launch comes in implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed by ICESCO and the Ministry last February. Beneficiaries will undergo four full-year training courses covering five key areas: educational sciences and university teaching methods, digital teaching methods, e-learning, teaching on remote learning management platforms, media coverage basics for studio production, open education and open educational resources (OER), copyright and open license, and professional ethics and scientific integrity.

The second “MasterClass,” organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation and Mohammed V University, in Rabat, kicked off on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The MasterClass, themed “ICESCO Open Education Chair: Towards Equitable Access to Inclusive and Quality Education,” saw the participation of several Moroccan and international experts.

The three-day event, being held in-person and via videoconferencing, at the Faculty of Sciences of Mohammed V University, is held under the rallying call, “Enhancing Scientific Research through Building the Scientific and Educational Capacities of Ph.D. Student, Young Researchers and Professors.” This event, which is part of ICESCO’s efforts to develop scientific research of its Member States in education, educational resources and practices, open science, copyright, authorship and licensing, as well as open data and personal data protection, will benefit all Moroccan universities over the years 2024-2025.

During the opening session, Dr. Mohamed Al-Rakraki, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, praised the fruitful cooperation with ICESCO and its contribution to advancing open educational and digital resources.

For his part, Dr. Khalid Berrada, Acting Director of Higher Education and Pedagogical Development at the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Director of ICESCO’s Open Education Chair, commended the leading role of the Chair in supporting the national strategy to accelerate the transformation of higher education, scientific research and innovation system in Morocco.

Moreover, Dr. Koumbou Boly Barry, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, and Mr. Aziz Al-Hajir, Program Manager at the Sector, have also emphasized the importance of ICESCO’s specialized scientific chairs in education and their role in enabling the universities in the Islamic world and beyond, deepening applied educational research, advocating excellence and innovation through the integration of modern technology and open educational resources, and harnessing artificial intelligence, in accordance with international standards and scientific developments.

The Sector of Science and Environment at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) organized a training workshop on crisis and natural disaster management in Derna, Libya. The workshop was organized in cooperation with the Libyan National Commission for Education, Culture and Science and Zallaf Libya.

The two-day workshop, which concluded its proceedings on Monday, April 22, 2024, discussed and assessed the current policies relevant to crisis and natural disaster management and put forth improvement suggestions. It also aimed to provide the participants with the necessary tools and knowledge to deal with such conditions, explore and provide innovative and effective solutions to manage and mitigate the impact of natural disasters; foster community engagements and raise individuals’ awareness of their roles in preventing and addressing disasters.

Speaking at the opening session via videoconference, Dr. Adel Smeda, Expert at ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, noted that the Organization recognizes the importance of a comprehensive approach in preparing for and recovering from natural disasters and is committed to supporting its Member States’ efforts to build their capacities to mitigate risks and natural disasters.

The Expert added that investing in education and science to build strong and sustainable societies is one of the key principles in ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, a principle which the Organization strives to establish through promoting scientific research and encouraging the use of modern technology to address and recover from environmental risks.

The training workshop benefited a number of workers in the field of disaster and crisis management, local administrations, the Libyan National Authority for Safety, Ambulance and Emergency, the electricity, communications, water and sanitation sectors, environment offices, women’s associations, agriculture and forestry control departments, and a group of public relations and media workers.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has published the book “Marrakech from the Perspective of Contemporary Arabic Literature,” as part of the celebration of the ochre city as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic world for 2024, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him. The Book includes the scientific articles presented during the symposium organized on March 7 and 8, 2024, by ICESCO and the House of Poetry in Marrakech, in coordination with the Faculty of Arabic Language, which saw the participation of a host of professors, researchers, and poets with critical interventions, poetry readings, and a Malhoun music concert.

In the book’s preface, Dr. Majdi Bin Haji Ibrahim, Head of the Arabic Language Center for Non-Arabic Speakers at ICESCO, explained that the book is divided into two main parts; the first focusing on the works of the opening session of the Symposium, chaired by Mr. Abdelhaq Mifrani, which included three interventions, the first by Dr. Ahmed Kadem on “The Suburbs of Marrakech in the Novel ‘Blad Bellarg’ by Ahmed Louizi,” The second by Dr. Adil abdellatif on “Marrakech in the Tales of the Past,” The third by Dr. Warda Al-Bartaie, on “Marrakech in Narrative Discourse, the Historical Novel by Ahmed Taoufiq, ‘Abu L-‘Abbas’s Neighbors,’ as an example.”

The second part of the book is dedicated to the works of the second session of the Symposium, chaired by Dr. Said Aouadi, with three interventions as well. The first is by Dr. Mohammed Zouhair entitled: “Marrakech in Contemporary Arabic Poetry, a Memory of Exchange and a Space of Sharing,” the second by Dr. Abdelkabir Minaoui under the theme: “Marrakech, Source of Writings,” and the third by Mrs. Touria Iqbal titled “Marrakech, Beacon of Radiance.”

The interventions examined literary and critical approaches regarding the image of Marrakech in contemporary Arabic storytelling and poetry; an image inspired by the rich and diverse material and immaterial heritage of this enchanted city as well as the achievements of its scholars, artists, and creators in various fields of knowledge.

Dr. Abdelilah BenarAfa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the 16th edition of Fez Festival of Sufi Culture and World Spiritualities, organized in Fez, Kingdom of Morocco, under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, from 20 to 27 April 2024, themed: “Know Yourself”.

The festival’s program, which features seminars and round tables, includes the participation of many personalities, professors and specialists from several countries, who will address various topics in open discussions. The festival also includes several exhibitions on Arabic calligraphy, photography, poetry and Oud.

The 16th edition of Fez Sufi Culture Festival witnesses the presence of international figures and a large audience, attending concerts and artistic evenings performed by a number of prominent artists from various African countries, including Mauritania, Senegal and Tanzania, in addition to Asian countries such as Pakistan and India, as well as several European countries.

The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts paid tribute to Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, Deputy Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on the occasion of receiving the Arab World Heritage Book of the Year Award 2024 for his book, “Ad-Diwan Al-Kabir”. The ceremony was held as part of the official celebration of Arabic Manuscripts Day, held under the theme “Our Written Heritage and the Elements of Civilizational Communication”, under the patronage of Dr. Mohamed Ould Ammar, ALECSO DG.

The event brought together a host of high-level guests, notably Mr. Mohamed El Mahdi Ben Said, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, and several diplomats, scholars and cultural figures from the Kingdom of Morocco.

Held on Friday (April 19, 2024), at the National Library in Rabat, the ceremony honored prominent figures and institutions from the countries of Morocco, Palestine, Egypt and Mauritania, for their research and practical efforts in preserving and casting light on the Arab manuscript heritage. The Institute stressed that Dr. Benarfa’s book was able to conduct a conscious investigation into one of the key works of the heritage of the Great Sheikh, which holds great significance in the intellectual heritage of the Arab world and Muslim Ummah.

Following the opening ceremony, ICESCO’s Deputy DG took part in a seminar on “The Elements of Civilizational Communication in Arabic Manuscript Heritage,” where he discussed the highlights of his book, “Ad-Diwan Al-Kabir”.

The seminar was followed by exhibitions on manuscript heritage and the elements of civilizational communication, and the Institute’s scientific publications.