In response to Islamophobic rhetoric after the 11 September attacks, Abdullah issued the Amman Message in November 2004.[1] The Message is a detailed statement which encouraged Muslim scholars of all sects from around the world to denounce terrorism, practice religious tolerance and represent the true nature of the Muslim faith.[136] The statement was adopted unanimously in a conference hosted by Abdullah in Amman in 2005 by 200 leading Islamic scholars.[136] The Message stressed three points: the validity of all eight schools of Islam, the forbidding of takfir (declaration of apostasy) and standards for the issuance of fatwas.[136] The Islamic religious consensus was unprecedented in contemporary times.[1] Abdullah presented the Message in 2010 to the United Nations General Assembly, where he proposed a World Interfaith Harmony Week.[137] The initiative was adopted, and is an annual celebration during the first week of February to promote peace and harmony among people of different faiths.[137] Abdullah also established an award, based on this initiative, for interfaith dialogue.[138]