The 11th Scholars’ Meeting, organized by the Union of Scholars and Madrasas (İTTİHADUL ULEMA), will bring together scholars, academics and prominent figures from across the Islamic world in Diyarbakır on Oct. 10-11 under the theme “Method in Dawah and New Approaches.”

The two-day gathering aims to address some of the major challenges facing Muslim societies, particularly those affecting young people and families, while exploring effective and contemporary methods of conveying Islamic values to younger generations.

Details of the program were announced during a breakfast meeting with members of the press in Kayapınar district, where İTTİHADUL ULEMA administrators outlined the objectives and scope of this year's gathering.

Molla Beşir Şimşek, deputy chairman of İTTİHADUL ULEMA, said scholars and distinguished guests from Türkiye and various parts of the Islamic world would participate in the meeting.

“We are inviting scholars from many parts of the Islamic geography,” Şimşek said, noting that participants are expected from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Qatar and various African countries.

Focus on reaching younger generations

Explaining this year's theme, Şimşek said the gathering would focus particularly on how scholars and Islamic educators can communicate with young people and respond to the challenges facing the younger generation.

“What language should be used? What is the method and approach that our young people can understand and benefit from?” he said, describing these questions as central to the discussions.

He said scholars would examine different issues over the two-day program, identify social problems and offer practical solutions.

İTTİHADUL ULEMA has organized the annual Scholars’ Meeting in Diyarbakır every October since 2015, bringing together scholars to discuss issues affecting Muslim communities and share their recommendations with the public.

Youth and family challenges on the agenda

Şimşek warned that social problems affecting young people and families were becoming increasingly serious, pointing in particular to substance abuse and what he described as the spread of harmful moral influences.

“Our young people are unfortunately becoming addicted to substance abuse and every kind of harmful morality. The youth is slipping from our hands,” he said.

He added that difficulties facing families and the political and humanitarian crises affecting different parts of the Islamic world would also be addressed during the gathering.

According to Şimşek, the scholars will present their assessments and recommendations in a final declaration that will be shared with the public and relevant officials.

The organizers said the aim is not merely to identify problems but also to develop solutions grounded in Islamic knowledge and responsive to contemporary social realities.

Scholars and officials from Afghanistan, Syria and Palestine expected

Şimşek said officials and scholars from Afghanistan and Syria were among those expected to attend the meeting.

He noted that Syria's new political environment had led to participation from figures who combine scholarly backgrounds with state responsibilities.

He also highlighted expected participation from Palestine and Gaza, saying the Palestinian cause and the suffering of Gaza would remain among the central issues addressed at the gathering.

“Valuable officials from Palestine and Gaza, which are always on our main agenda, will come and make presentations, sharing the Gaza issue with us,” Şimşek said.

Scholars and academics from Egypt, Africa, Iraq and other parts of the Islamic world are also expected to attend.

Diyanet representatives and regional scholars to participate

The gathering will also include participation from Türkiye's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet).

Şimşek said Burhan İşleyen, the former Diyarbakır provincial mufti, would attend and deliver greetings on behalf of the Presidency.

He added that İTTİHADUL ULEMA had invited muftis, scholars and religious figures from Diyarbakır and neighboring provinces without distinction.

“Those who are available will attend, and those who cannot come will pray,” he said.

The organizers described the 11th Scholars’ Meeting as an opportunity to strengthen scholarly cooperation across the Islamic world, encourage dialogue between scholars and younger generations, and develop constructive responses to the social, educational and humanitarian challenges facing Muslim communities.

The gathering is expected to conclude with a final declaration outlining the participants' assessments and recommendations on youth, family, Islamic education and developments across the Muslim world. (ILKHA)