| المستخلص: |
This paper is an attempt to explore the role that Muslim scholars play in maintaining peace and social harmony in their respective societies. To achieve this objective, this paper offers a socio-historical perspective of the African past and present in order to observe the attitudes of imams, judges and Ulama in various parts of Africa, with particular emphasis on West Africa. The six main areas defined by Simpson Cynthia for the activities of religious peace-builders are adopted in this observation. These six areas are: advocacy, intermediary, observation, education, transnational justice and intra-interfaith dialogue. In this regard, it was found that Muslim scholars in ancient Africa, such as in Mali and Songhay empires, were first-class peace promoters. They strived to maintain social harmony and peaceful cohabitation among various ethnic and religious groups. They also played mediatory roles, at a high level, between kings in time of wars and sever conflicts. Also, it was found through the reading of the present conflicts in Africa, that the peacebuilding activities of the scholars compasses all the aforementioned six peace-building areas. This is true in all the African conflicts explored here, such as the Nigerian inter-ethnic conflicts, the Sierra Leonean civil war, the Rwandan genocide, the Ivorian post electoral conflict, and, very recently, the Central African Republic conflict. In all these cases, Muslim scholars took the lead by involving in peaceful activities, calling their Muslim fellows to the calm and non-violence attitudes, protecting the weak parties, helping the needy people, involving actively in the national dialogue and reconciliation projects. These attitudes were internationally saluted and recognized by various international peace organizations, and many of those Muslim religious peacebuilders in Africa are today among the World most respected leaders.
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