On May 28, 2019, the “Charter of Makkah” was endorsed unanimously by an unprecedented group of the world’s leading Muslim scholars, who gathered in the Holy City of Makkah for the purpose of promoting moderate Islam.
“The Charter of Makkah” offers Muslims around the world guidance on the principles that speak to the true meaning of Islam.
The Charter of Makkah is organized around the following principles:
1. That all people, regardless of their different ethnicities, race, and nationalities, are equal under God.
2. That all religious and ethnic claims of “superiority” should be rejected and equality of humanity in dignity be upheld.
3. That all differences among people in their beliefs, cultures and natures are part of God’s will and wisdom.
4. That religious and cultural diversity should never justify conflict, rather what humanity needs is positive, civilized partnerships and effective interaction, and that diversity must rather be a bridge to dialogue, understanding and cooperation for the benefit of all humanity and not a reason for conflict.
5. That no religion should be defined by the false and politically motivated practices of those claiming to be its adherents and that God revealed Himself to all mankind and is the origin of all monotheistic religious beliefs, and its various messages and methods, when practiced in their true form.
6. That civilized cultural dialogue is the most effective way to achieve tolerance and understanding, deepen community ties, and overcome obstacles to coexistence; and that we recognize and respect the legitimate rights of others to exist and further resolve to set aside preconceived prejudices, historical animosities, conspiracy theories and erroneous generalizations. Those who were alive when the mistakes of history occurred are the ones responsible for them. No one should be held accountable for the mistakes and sins committed by another, irrespective of when in history it occurred.
7. That all religious beliefs and ideologies should be exonerated from the sins committed by their adherents and claimants and that these sins should reflect the opinions of the adherents and not the religions. The role of religious leaders is to call people to worship their Creator and seek His satisfaction by caring for his creations, protecting their dignity, and making positive societal and family contributions.
8. That all Muslims should work together to prevent all forms of destruction, while at the same time working to bring benefit to humanity. Humanity should work together to establish a noble and effective alliance that goes beyond theory and empty slogans and tackles the root causes of terrorism.
9. That all should resolve to advance laws which deter the promotion of hatred, the instigation of violence and terrorism, or a clash of civilizations, which foster religious and ethnic disputes.
10. That we remind all of how much Muslim contributions have enriched human civilization in the past and can further enrich it today through their many contributions to addressing ethical, social, and environmental challenges.
11. That all individuals should work to combat terrorism and injustice and reject exploitation and the violation of human rights. This duty should neither be discriminatory nor partial.
12. That the planet we enjoy is a gift given to us by God, therefore pollution and the destruction of our natural resources are both a violation of our own rights as well as the rights of generations to come. To protect the right to live in a clean environment, we call on all countries to sign climate treaties, cease polluting the environment, and manage industrial progress in a manner that safeguards mankind now and in future.
13. That we should all avoid the kind of clash of civilizations that leads to conflict and the spread of fear between one another, which are nothing but symptoms of isolation and hegemony, caused by racism, cultural dominance, and seclusion; symptoms which work together to deepen animosity among nations and peoples, and prevent peaceful coexistence and positive national integration, especially in multi-religious and multi-ethnic countries. Hatred is the raw material of nourishment for the industry of violence and terrorism.
14. That the phenomenon of Islamophobia results from an inability to truly understand Islam. True understanding of Islam requires an objective view that is devoid of stereotypical and prejudicial notions, which are often projected by those falsely claiming to be true Muslims.
15. That all individuals should work to promote noble moral values and encourage responsible social practices. They should cooperate in fighting moral, environmental, and familial challenges according to concepts shared by Islam and humanity.
16. That personal freedom cannot, and should not, justify violating human values or destroying social mores. Freedom does not equate to chaos. Every freedom must stop before it limits the values and freedoms of others and should respect the boundaries of constitutional and legal frameworks, while taking into account public conscience and societal tranquility.
17. That all countries should refrain from interfering or intervening in the internal affairs of other countries, which is a flagrant violation of sovereignty. This includes the practice of political domination through economic or non-economic means, the promotion of sectarian beliefs and attempts to impose religious edicts (Fatwas) without respect for local circumstances, conditions, and social conventions. Regardless of the pretext, intervention can never be justified, except in rendering relief aid, humanitarian support, or social development programs, or in answering a legitimate and official request for an obvious public interest to confront aggression or corruption.
18. That all should follow the examples of accountable global development efforts that deter all types of corruption, apply the principle of accountability, and change consumption patterns that interfere with development goals, deplete economic capabilities or waste resources.
19. That responsible educational institutions form the social safeguard of Muslim communities. Such Institutions require effective curricula, teaching tools and the responsibility of promoting centrism and moderation, especially among youth.
20. That all world leaders and international organizations should cooperate effectively to achieve safe coexistence among the religious, ethnic, and cultural communities of humanity. No individual should be discriminated against based on his or her religion, ethnicity or otherwise when it comes to political, economic, or humanitarian assistance.
21. That the principles of Islamic justice advocate respect for all nations, their constitutions, and their laws. While being a global citizen is a necessity, citizens of individual countries must faithfully pledge allegiance to their states. The states have a duty to ensure security and social justice, protect sanctuaries from desecration, and shield religious symbols from ridicule. These reflect the principle of mutual responsibilities, with rights for all elements of society, including religious and ethnic minorities.
22. That we should all regard any attack on places of worship as criminal acts. The world must respond to such attacks with firmness of law, strong political will, and a unified stance against the mindset of terrorism that supports such acts.
23. That all responsible institutions, including governmental, intergovernmental, and nongovernmental organizations, and those active in humanitarian service, should work in solidarity on programs to combat hunger, poverty, disease, ignorance, racial discrimination, and environmental destruction. We should all should strive to preserve the dignity of mankind and the human rights of men and women.
24. That no one should undermine the empowerment of women by marginalizing their role, disrespecting their dignity, reducing their status, or impeding their opportunities, whether in religious, academic, political, or social affairs, including equality of wages and opportunity.
25. That the highest responsibility of states and international organizations is the welfare of children, their health, education, and upbringing; and that families should be responsible for the development of children’s critical thinking to broaden their horizons, nurture abilities and creativity, and develop communication skills, while safeguarding against deviation.
26. That we would work to enhance the identity of Muslim youth with the five pillars of religion, country, culture, history, and language and to protect them against marginalization. We must protect the youth from the ideas of a clash of civilization, and block efforts to mobilize them against those with whom we intellectually disagree. We must combat intellectual extremism along with militancy, violence, or terrorism, by helping raise awareness among youth and guiding them according to the Islamic values of tolerance, peace, and harmonious coexistence. These values teach knowledge and understanding of the other, preservation of the other’s dignity and rights, and adherence to the national laws of the countries in which one resides.
27. That an International Forum should be established to promote constructive dialogue among youth, inside and outside Muslim communities.
28. That we strive to go beyond resolutions, rhetorical initiatives and programs, and theoretical proclamations to achieve effective and authentic results that advance world peace and security, and fight concepts and processes of annihilation, ethnic cleansing, forced migration, human-trafficking and illegitimate abortion.
29. That only learned scholars, such as those gathered at this conference and agreeing to this Charter, can speak in the name of the Muslim Ummah, or on any other matter pertaining to its affairs. We recognize that we share common religious and human objectives to advance the interests of all and that this necessitates the participation of all, without exclusion, racism, or discrimination against anyone, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or color.

Blessings and Peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.

Issued in Makkah Al-Mukarramah in the vicinity of the Holy Ka’bah
By the Conference on the “Charter of Makkah”
Convened between 22 and 24 of Ramadhan 1440AH, corresponding to 27-29 May 2019.