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RIYADH: Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, will start on Thursday, ������Ƶ’s Supreme Court announced on Wednesday.

The announcement came after the crescent moon was sighted in the Kingdom on Wednesday evening.

The sighting of the crescent marks the start of the Islamic year 1447, a reference to the amount of years that have passed since Prophet Muhammad migrated from Makkah to Madinah.

RIYADH: The Henry Jackson Society hosted a dialogue with Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general and chairman of the Muslim World League, at its headquarters in London.

The meeting touched on Islam’s message of dialogue, promoting understanding and coexistence among countries and peoples, particularly among the diverse communities in multicultural societies.

Al-Issa commended the British Muslim community for its respect for the law, its commitment to social cohesion, and its active engagement in the United Kingdom.

He said that this positive impact has been well documented in reports issued by the Muslim World League and affirmed by senior British officials during official meetings.

He noted that the British Muslim community ranks among the four largest in Europe and, more recently, the most prominent among Muslim minorities in Western countries, distinguished not only by its population size but also by its growing presence in senior government positions.

The discussion underscored the important influence of a mindful family, quality education, and accountable media in cultivating awareness, reinforcing sound thinking, and combating harmful, misleading, and extremist ideologies.

He noted that during a meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace, he conveyed the greetings and appreciation of Muslim scholars and intellectuals affiliated with the Muslim World League.

Al-Issa commended the British monarch’s thoughtful and sincere perspective on Islam, particularly in light of increasing Islamophobia and hostile campaigns driven by ideological extremism.

Al-Issa said that Islam is best represented through its message of moderation, conveyed by its leading official institutions.

The Muslim World League is the voice of Muslim communities worldwide and was the sponsor of the historic “Makkah Document” — a pivotal contemporary Islamic charter endorsed by more than 1,200 leading muftis and scholars.

At a March 2023 conference in London, British Muslims described the document as a foundational religious charter, reflecting the scholarly consensus of the Islamic world under the MWL umbrella, and carrying profound significance because it was issued from Makkah, the spiritual heart of Islam and home of the Kaaba.

The secretary-general of the MWL said in a statement that “the Organization of Islamic Cooperation serves as a voice for Islam from the standpoint of the Islamic nations.”