Nouakchott Conference on the Prophetic Biography Concludes with Call to Turn Diversity into an Opportunity for Complementarity
The 39th edition of the International Conference on the Prophetic Biography concluded on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in Nouakchott, after three days of discussions held under the theme “Prophetic Guidance in Managing Diversity and Differences and Strengthening Common Values.” The conference brought together scholars, thinkers, researchers and imams from Mauritania and several Arab, African and Muslim countries.
During the closing session, Mauritania’s Minister of Islamic Affairs and Original Education, El-Fadil Ould Sidaty Ould Ahmed Louly, said the conference addressed an issue directly connected to the realities and future of societies. He stressed that diversity is part of the divine order of creation, while the real challenge lies in managing and addressing it wisely.
The minister noted that the presentations and discussions highlighted how diversity, when managed with wisdom, can become a source of enrichment, while differences, when guided by knowledge, ethics, justice and fairness, can provide opportunities for complementarity. Common values, he added, constitute a foundation for strengthening unity and cooperation.
He also stressed that the Prophetic Biography should not be viewed merely as a historical subject, but as a renewed reference for building individuals and managing society. He called for translating the conference’s outcomes into practical initiatives that promote dialogue, moderation and social cohesion.
For his part, Sheikh Mohamed El-Hafez Ennahaoui, President of the Islamic Cultural Gathering in Mauritania and West Africa, said the conference provided an opportunity to highlight Prophetic guidance based on mercy, fraternity and cooperation. He called for strengthening common values, respecting the plurality of opinions and avoiding inflammatory discourse. He also reaffirmed the importance of supporting Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Speaking on behalf of the participating delegations, Sheikh Abdel Aziz Sarba of Côte d’Ivoire praised the significance of the conference, which brought together scholars, thinkers and researchers to exchange views on how Prophetic guidance can inspire the management of diversity and differences and promote dialogue, coexistence and harmony.
The conference sessions addressed various religious, cultural and social dimensions of Prophetic guidance, focusing on justice, fairness, dialogue, coexistence and the preservation of human dignity, while exploring ways to transform differences from sources of division into opportunities for mutual understanding and complementarity.
The 39th edition builds on a scientific and cultural journey launched in 1989, which has developed into a platform bringing together scholars and researchers from Mauritania, the Arab world, Africa and the wider Muslim world.
The conference concluded with an emphasis on implementing its recommendations and broadening access to its outcomes, with the aim of making the study of the Prophetic Biography a bridge between knowledge and practice, and a source of inspiration for mercy, dialogue, coexistence and the wise and just management of differences.
