On the sidelines of the fifth regular session of the Higher Council of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema, to take place in the city of Fez, on 23-25 Jumada I, 1445H, corresponding to 6-8 December 2023, the Foundation will hold a ceremony on Friday 25 Jumada I, 1445H, corresponding to 8 December 2023, in the library of the Al-Qarawiyin Mosque, for the official announcement of the African Oulema Charter. This doctrinal guide will serve as a reference document for the promotion of the scholarly work of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema, while also taking care of its scholars and achieving the Foundation’s goals.

The Higher Council of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema, in its third regular session held in Fez on Tuesday and Wednesday 20-21 Rabi’ II, 1441H, corresponding to 17-18 December 2019, had unanimously recommended the preparation of a draft African oulema charter by a committee of scholars. Composed of scholars from the Kingdom of Morocco and their counterparts from the Foundation’s Sections, the committee was entrusted with drafting the charter’s chapters and provisions.

Meantime, the Foundation held several meetings in Morocco and abroad in order to coordinate efforts regarding the contents and objectives of the Charter, until an agreement was reached on the final version to be presented during this official ceremony.

The Foundation’s ambition is for the African Oulema Charter to serve as a doctrinal document and as a pivotal element for the promotion of the joint work of African scholars. The aim is to achieve the lofty goals set out for the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema by the Commander of the Faithful, His Majesty King Mohammed VI – may God protect Him.

Perceived as a platform for the promotion of interaction between scholars and as a landmark in the Foundation’s life, the Charter is based on five intertwined, complementary chapters designed to enhance and strengthen the common faith on the African continent – in practice as well as at doctrinal level – so as to preserve the spiritual security of African peoples and ensure their happiness, here and in the hereafter, through the reasoned practice of religion; the chapters of the Charter are as follows:

Chapter One: The Oulema of the Ummah: the specificities and the missions

– Chapter Two: Preserving the common African religious immutable values

– Chapter Three: Islamic values and the protection of the common religious legacy

– Chapter Four: Safeguarding spiritual security in Africa;

– Chapter Five: Africa: the prospects and the aspirations.

In light of the evolving tasks shouldered by African scholars as transmitters of the prescriptions of the Almighty and as followers in the footsteps of the Messenger of God – may peace and blessings be upon Him – our current times require concerted efforts, coordinated action and a unified vision in order to rise to the challenges facing Africa – a continent characterized by cultural diversity, different religious schools and spiritual quests.

This document will be passed on by the current generation of scholars to the following ones as a treasured legacy. This will be a continuous process whereby African scholars will address the requirements of African realities as well as cultural developments and the relationship with the scholars’ diligence and with the diversity of views, ideas and perceptions within a framework of unity and integration.

It is hoped that this endeavor by the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema will achieve the desired goals so that everyone may benefit from them, by the grace of the Almighty – He is Oft-Responding.