Muslim should vote or not to vote

ELECTIONS 2010
Muslim should vote or NOT to vote

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The long-anticipated general elections in Britain for 6 May 2010 kicked off on 6th of April this year as Prime Minister Gordon Brown, 59, stepped out of Buckingham Palace to ask Queen Elizabeth to dissolve Parliament in preparation for a May 6 vote, the final step before campaigning begins. Queen Elizabeth declared the dissolution of the Parliament. The three main political parties, Labour Party, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrat Party are going to declare their Election Manifestoes. The Prime Minister revealed Labour’s manifesto on Monday, the 12th; the Tories published their manifesto on Tuesday, the 13th, with the Liberal Democrats following today, Wednesday, the 14th of May. There will be election for 650 Parliamentary seats at the 2010 general election. There is a rise of four on the number of seats contested in 2005.

In the last general election in 2005, Labour won 355 seats; the Conservatives won 198, while the Liberal Democrats took 62. 15 MPs were elected at the 2005 general election from an ethnic minority background out of that four were from Muslim community. 61.4 per cent voter turned out at the 2005 election, the figure was up from the 59.5 per cent who voted in 2001 but down drastically from 1997, the year Labour returned to power, when 71.4 per cent turned out to vote.

Vote or not to vote
Like last general elections in 2005, a very tiny minority anti-voting brigade was telling everyone NOT to vote and also distributing anti-vote leaflets, especially after the Friday Jumah prayer near Mosques. Now the question naturally comes to the average people who are confused is whether Muslim will participate in the voting and elect their candidates to take part and participate in the policy making and decision-making process of the country or they will abstain from casting their votes and electing their representatives.

In this connection, I would like to point out that the First Muslim MP, Mohammad Sarwar, being elected entered the British Parliament, House of Commons in 1997. The First Muslim Peer, Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham, being appointed entered into the House of Lords in 1998. The First Muslim Baroness, Lady Manzila Pola Uddin, being appointed, entered the House of Lords in 1998. The First Muslim Privy Councillor, Sadiq Khan, was appointed in 2009 and the First Muslim MP, Sadiq Khan, was promoted to sit in the Cabinet, in 2009.

One must not forget that all these successes were achieved due to the Muslim participation in the voting system and participation in the political process. It must also be remembered that all these First Muslim MP, First Muslim Peer, the First Muslim Baroness, the First Muslim Privy Councillor and the First Cabinet Minister were members of the Labour Party and from the Labour Party. Labour Party opened the doors followed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. There was no MP from the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons but there was Baroness Warsi from the Conservatives and Lord Hameed from the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. We are expecting Muslim MPs from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in the 2010 Elections.

Muslims are living in this country as citizens and it is their civic and Islamic responsibility to cast their votes and participate in the political process. Both the Islamic scholars and Muslim leaders and organisations inside the country and around the world expressed their opinion that nothing prevents Muslims Islamically to participate in the political process where they are living.

Islamic Point of View
Followings are the opinions of the Islamic scholars of the Muslim World League, OIC Islamic Fiqh Academy from Saudi Arabia, Dr. Jamal Badawi from Canada, Mufti Ibrahim Desai from South Africa and also the opinions of Islamic scholars, such as Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Shaykh Suhaib Hasan and Shaykh Abdur Raheen from the United Kingdom.

Shaykh Taha Jabir al-Alwani, Muslim World League, Makkah;
OIC Islamic Fiqh Academy
“...it is incumbent upon Muslims to actively participate for the following reasons: 1) In order to protect our rights as citizens, we must be involved in politics. 2) Our involvement can facilitate our support of our fellow Muslims around the world. 3) Our interaction with non-Muslims and our involvement will help to spread Islam's message. 4) It helps to convey the universality of Islam... Our participation is an obligation in Islam, and not merely "a right" that we can choose to forfeit at will. It affords us the opportunity to protect our human rights, guarantee the fulfillment of our needs, and work for the improvement of living conditions for Muslims and non-Muslims in America and abroad... Whatever helps us to achieve these noble goals becomes Islamically obligatory. This includes: ... Supporting (both politically and financially) those non-Muslim candidates whose beliefs and values are most compatible with ours as Muslims, and who most address and support our issues and causes... Registering to vote and then voting. Although separate acts, they are both an essential part of the electoral process. Our participation in that process is mandatory.”

Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari, Dar al-Iftaa;
Darul Uloom; student of Mufti Taqi Usmani
“...In a situation where there is no worthy candidate (as in non-Muslim countries, where at least the ideologies and beliefs of the relevant parties are contrary to the teachings of Shariah), then the vote should be given to the one who is the better and more trust worthy then the other candidates... Vote should be given to the candidate that one believes will give people their rights, prevent oppression, and so on... If it is thought that a particular candidate or party will be of benefit to the general public in their day to day affairs, then the vote should be given to him. And by voting a particular party, it will not be considered that one agrees with all their ideologies and beliefs... At times, voting becomes necessary. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (rAa) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (sAas) said: "If people see an oppressor and don't prevent him, then it is very likely that Allah will include all of them in the punishment" (Sunan Tirmizi & Sunan Abu Dawud). Therefore, if you see open oppression and transgression, and despite having the capability of preventing this oppression by giving your vote, you don't do so, then in the light of this Hadith you will be sinful...”

Dr. Jamal Badawi, Islamic Society of North America;
Islamic Information Foundation, Halifax, Canada
“I'll just give you one specific example. Suppose you have two candidates for president, for example. Both of them might be not even sympathetic to just Muslim causes, suppose. In most cases that is actually the situation... However, in terms of relative harm and benefit which is a rule of Shariah it may be the collective wisdom, for example, of Muslim voters that one of them would do even greater harm to Muslim causes than the other... Well in that case, obviously, the lesser of the two harms, i.e. electing or voting for someone who will do less harm to Muslims obviously would be much better than sitting on the sidelines and just criticizing both and doing nothing about it... Voting for them and supporting them in elections is not necessarily an agreement with everything that the law, by way of laws and regulations. But at least it would be for that particular, limited purpose.”

Mufti Ibrahim Desai, Darul Ifta, South Africa
“Since seeing that voting is a testimony (giving Shahadah) and being aware that a particular party will be more willing to fulfil our Islamic rights, not to vote for this party will he tantamount to transgression and breach of trust in the eyes of Shariah.”

Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Graduate of Dar-ul-Uloom, Holcombe
Al-Azhar University; S.O.A.S, London
I consider Muslim political participation, especially in a non-Muslim country, as a form of jihad. This is our country and it would be foolish not to participate in the political processes which eventually shape our future and that of Islam. I support marching in the streets to raise awareness about certain issues. However, if we really want to change the status-quo then we have to influence those who walk the corridors of power. Muslims need not only to vote but put forward Muslim candidates in all the mainstream and serious independent parties. We need to be represented or be present at the tables around which policies are discussed, made and agreed.

Sayyiduna Yusuf (as) put himself forward in the political process of Egypt - the rest is history! [Refer to Quran 12:55]. He saved countless lives, united people with God and showed how rulers ought to rule. Are Muslims in our country saying they do not want to unite people with God and save them from eternal doom? Do we want to remain "slaves" under the dominion of others without power of any sort? Or do we want to become masters; just, caring and merciful? The right to vote is one of Allah's blessings over us which we can use to benefit society. There are many in the world who do not have this blessing.

Allah says in the Quran: "Allah presents an example: a slave (who is) owned and unable to do a thing and he to whom We have provided from Us good provision so he spends from it secretly and publicly. Can they be equal? Praise be to Allah! But most of them do not know." [Quran 16:75]

So get up and use that blessing!”

Shaykh Suhaib Hasan, Secretary, Islamic Sharia Council of Great Britain; Graduate of Islamic University at Madinah
“Looking at the situation of the Muslim community and their need to have their interests met, it becomes advisable for the Muslims to achieve this purpose through the available political system. Through voting, a man can bring to Parliament such candidates who sympathise with the Muslim cause. The vote can be treated either as a good intercession (Ayah 85, Surah An-Nisa), or as Naseehah (hadith narrated by Tamim Ad-Dari in which Naseehah is to be advanced for the betterment of the Muslims in general), or it can be treated as Tawkeel (deputising someone on your behalf to achieve a certain task). Whichever you take, by voting you can bring a better change in the affairs of this country.

Shaykh Abdur Raheem Green
Central Mosque, London
“However, having read and listened to the sayings of many scholars on this issue, and being faced with the reality of a growing Muslim population here in the UK, who for all intents and purposes consider this their home, it has become clear to me that we must participate in every aspect of society as much as possible to ensure our rights and continued existence and well being in this society. This participation most certainly includes voting for whichever party or candidate best serves the needs and interests of the UK and indeed world wide Muslim population.

“This does not mean approval or acceptance of the ideal of democracy, but the intention is to use the means and avenues available to benefit the Muslims. The Prophet (saws) did not approve of the system of tribalism in Arabia, in fact he condemned it, but this did not stop the Prophet (saws) from accepting the protection of his uncle and the tribe of Banu Haashim. In addition to that it seems to me that the evil of participation is far less than the evil that will befall the Muslims if we do not, and the Shariah teaches us always to choose the path of lesser evil. This has been expounded and clarified by the scholars.”

Muslim leaders and organisations in the UK
Following the guidance of Islamic scholars all over the world, the Muslim leaders as well as Muslim organisations in the UK are advising Muslims to exert their civic and Islamic responsibility to cast their votes and participate in the elections. Followings are the messages and advice from Imam Shahid Raza, chairman of MINAB, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Dr. Syed Aziz Pasha, General Secretary of the Union of Muslim Organisations of UK & Eire (UMO), Judge Khurshid Drabu and the Muslim Student Community, FOSIS.

Imam Shahid Raza
Chairman MINAB
Imam Shahid Raza, chairman of Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) said to me in an interview: “I am very very strongly recommending to vote and participate in this general election because through this institution we can exercise our civil power in the best interest of the Muslim community and Britain.”

“Those who are saying not to vote and quoting Qur’an, they are misinterpreting references they are quoting from the Qur’an. In our opinion, voting and elections provide us a mechanism through which we can express our opinion in the form of Mushwara (Shoura),” said Imam Raza.

In reply to another question, Imam Raza said, “Yes, I believe that from the Islamic perspective, it (voting) is permissible and it is the opinion of the vast majority of Muslim scholars and Ulemas in this country and all over the world.”

Sir Iqbal Sacranie
Former Secretary General of MCB
Sir Iqbal Sacranie, former Secretary General of MCB and presently Chairman of Muslim Aid, said to me in an interview: “During this election, Muslim vote will be very crucial in determining who is elected as the MP in more than 50 constituencies around Britain.”

“It is now becoming apparent that the guidance given by prominent Islamic scholars around the country as well as all major Muslim organisations that it is their duty as a responsible citizen who cares for the welfare of the community in which he lives that he exercises his fundamental right to vote in the election,” said Sir Iqbal.

Dr. Syed Aziz Pasha
General Secretary UMO
Dr. Syed Aziz Pasha, General Secretary of UMO said to me in an interview, “Our position in this regard has always been we should participate fully in the mainstream of society and make our contribution for the welfare of the society as a whole retaining our religious and cultural values. Therefore, elections is a good opportunity to express their views on the manifestoes of the political parties and ensure that numbers to the Parliament should be elected who are favourable to the requirements of the Muslim community in terms of all aspects of their day-to-day life, like equality in jobs, housing, financial institutions, society as well as religious needs like planning permission for Mosques, Halal foods in school, workplace, hospital and at all public places and application of Muslim Family Laws.”

“From the Islamic perspective, we are living in this country and we should avail of every opportunity to promote the cause of Islam and eradicate all misunderstandings surrounding our religious practices. Therefore, voting is one of the opportunities Muslims have which they should not abdicate and they should not abdicate their responsibilities,” said Dr. Pasha.

Muslim Association of Britain (MAB)
Muslim Association of Britain has issued a press release on 6th of April, urging Muslim to vote in the UK 2010 general elections and also calling upon the Muslim community to exert its civic and Islamic duty by making sure to come out and vote in the next general elections. MAB President Al-Amin Belhaj said “Muslim voters must give their votes to those best able to serve the British people as a whole without any kind of segregation or alienation towards any section of the society”.

“The Muslim Association of Britain suggests to the Muslim community to vote for the best candidates belonging to the major political parties including the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Party and according to the best manifesto serving the social justice, the environment and a more humane policies in fighting poverty, Islamophobia and any kind of occupation of other people countries’.

“MAB is urging the Muslim Community to participate and vote in UK 2010 General Election and inviting Muslim Community to participate in media campaigns and a series of TV adverts being broadcasted on Islam Channel and others,” said the press release.

Judge Khurshid Drabu
Judge Khurshid Drabu said to me in an interview, “We are free to practice our deen, we are free to make a difference; that is the beauty that we have here. The youth of this country, the Muslim youth, have a duty, just as the elderly folk has duty, to engage in the political process and to make sure that our voice are heard.”

“We can not continually keep mourning about the image created by the media. We have to look within ourselves as well and make sure that we give out good stories,” Judge Drabu observed and added, “Of course, there is Islamophobia, we all know that.”

Muslim Student community - FOSIS
FOSIS is calling upon Muslim students, led by Islamic Societies, to make a change. That change can be delivered, with the permission of Allah, this Spring through the general election.

FOSIS said in its message: “The general election presents an awesome opportunity to help shape the future of this country. And it only comes every half a decade. You now decide who the politicans will be and shape what they should stand for. The politics of those who spread fear and difficulty must be overcome, the politics of those who share our common concerns must be promoted, and policies must now be shaped around what we - the electorate - demand. Politics must change.

“We urge you to get involved, firstly for the sake of Allah to gain His pleasure and through that to benefit justice for Muslims and for Britain. We aren’t saying that we can change the world tomorrow, but at the very least we can have a significant impact in a number of local seats as per our calculations,” the FOSIS Message runs.

Conclusion
From the above, it becomes clear that a tiny minority group is trying to dissuade people through their anti-vote brigade from participating in elections which has neither the support nor the backing from the Islamic scholars or Muslim leaders and organisations. Rather the Islamic scholars and Muslim leaders and organisations are urging the Muslim community to exercise their fundamental right to vote in elections because during this election, Muslim vote will be very crucial in determining who is elected as the MP in more than 50 constituencies around Britain.

Islamic scholars also said that as for participation in politics itself, we should consider that if the parliaments and congresses of these countries do not have any Muslim members, then this will pave the way for the opposition to come forth with their harmful views and policies, which will consequently be incorporated into the laws of their countries and bring harm to the Muslims. That’s why, Shaykh Mogra considers Muslim political participation, especially in a non-Muslim country, ‘as a form of Jihad’ and Mufti Desai considers not to vote ‘be tantamount to transgression and breach of trust in the eyes of Shariah’.

So do join in the elections, cast your votes and participate in the political process of the country. In the next issue, I will, Insha Allah, try to give you the clear picture of the candidates, constituencies and the analysis of the manifestoes for your consideration to choose and select whom to vote, whether the candidate or the party.

King Abdullah's Vision of World Peace and Stability

King Abdullah’s Vision of
World Peace and Stability

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Saudi Arabia marks its 79th National Day on Wednesday, 23 September 2009, not only to remember the country’s unification at the hands of King Abdul Aziz to bring peace to the region and to restore the true faith of Islam but also to celebrate the dramatic development in the educational, health and economic sectors. “The National Day of Saudi Arabia is different from other countries. It is not an occasion to remember liberation from colonialists but rather an occasion to celebrate the unity of our people,” said Prince Abdul Rahman, Deputy Minister of Defence and Aviation.

King Abdullah’s vision of world peace and stability was demonstrated in the field of education, international politics and religion. His quest for world peace drives him to establish a university which will bring world scholars and scientists in a platform to bring world peace and solidarity. Similarly, in order to bring conflict-free world, King Abdullah gave an Arab Peace Initiative which can be basis to bring peace and permanent solution to the Middle East conflict. Thirdly, King Abdullah’s first historic initiative to bring world peace through interfaith dialogue and understanding makes the Saudi National Day something which makes the country can feel proud of.

King Abdullah’s gift to the nation: KAUST
On Wednesday, Saudis are celebrating the double booms: because of National day, a day to commemorate the unification and establishment of Saudi Arabia and the second is the inauguration of a high tech multi-billion King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) outside of Jeddah in September 2009. A dream came true when the Custodian of the Two Holy mosques inaugurated the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). “I have been thinking and dreaming about it for the last 25 years,” the king has said many times. The new university is King Abdullah’s dream project.

King Abdullah said, “Undoubtedly, scientific centres that embrace all peoples are the first line of defence against extremism. And today this university will become a House of Wisdom.”

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of the SR10 billion university on Oct. 21, 2007, King Abdullah said, “As a new Bait Al-Hikma, KAUST will be a beacon for peace, hope and reconciliation, and shall serve the people of the Kingdom and benefit all the peoples of the world in keeping with the teachings of the Holy Qur'an, which explains that God created mankind in order for us to come to know each other.”

He added, “Throughout history power has attached itself after God to science. And the Islamic nation knows too well that it will not be powerful unless it depends on after God, science. For science and faith cannot compete except in unhealthy souls and God has graced us with our minds, which we use to understand and recognise God’s laws of nature.”

“We hope that the university carries out its noble humanitarian message in a pure and clean atmosphere, taking the help of God and then that of enlightened intellectuals all over the world, without any bias or discrimination,” he added, desiring that the new university serves as a bridge between cultures and nations.

The launching of KAUST was nothing short of historic. It will serve as a lighthouse of knowledge for all mankind. The new university has been described as the King’s gift to the nation, but it develops and sets out as an international centre of research excellence where students and their professors have been selected purely for academic qualities and potential. Thus it will also be the King’s gift to the world.

The establishment of the new university with a $10 billion endowment has created huge excitement in the world academic community. The university received more than 7,400 applications from potential students. To date, KAUST has registered 817 students representing 61 countries; of this group, 374 postgraduate students began classes this month (September), while the rest will enrol at the beginning of 2010. Incoming students in the inaugural class represent 116 undergraduate institutions from many regions of the world including China (14 percent), Mexico (12 percent), Saudi Arabia (11 percent) and the US (8 percent). The university’s aim is to expand to 2,000 students within eight to 10 years.

Consider another fact: KAUST personnel represent 45 countries. These accomplished research scientists and educators hail from around the world. The top countries of origin are the US (14), Germany (7), Canada (6) and China (6). By all accounts, KAUST is a unique graduate research university that has brought the world to Saudi Arabia — and Saudi Arabia to the world.

King Abdullah’s Arab Peace Initiative
The other source of pride for the Saudi nation is King Abdullah’s contribution in the field of international politics to bring fair, comprehensive and permanent solution of the the Middle East conflict. King Abdullah’s Arab Peace Initiative remains the foundation of all efforts to bring justice to the Palestinian people.

In 2002, King Abdullah proposed Arab Peace Initiative, considered by many as a promising Saudi attempt to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This Arab Peace Initiative, proposed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah during a 2002 Summit in Beirut, was adopted in Beirut in 2002 and reconfirmed by other Arab Summits, including the 2006 and 2007 Arab Summits in Riyadh. The plan offers full normalization of relations in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from all Arab Territories occupied during the 1967 War, including Jerusalem.

Recently, Abdullah has visited Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in what the Saudi Arabian government calls “an attempt to restart the stalled Middle East peace process and promote Arab unity and cooperation.’ Saudi Arabian efforts, including the hosting of Palestinians factions at a meeting in Makkah in February 2007 played a pivotal role in the stabilization of internal politics in the country and the commitment to form a national unity government.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal held bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in Washington to emphasize the Kingdom’s determination to move forward with the Middle East peace process. “A bold and historic step is required to end this conflict and divert the resources of the region from war and destruction to peace and development,” Prince Saud said.

Prince Saud called for a “comprehensive approach” addressing final status issues during the negotiating phase. “The whole world knows what a settlement should look like –n withdrawal from all the occupied territories, including Jerusalem, a just settlement for the refugees, and an equitable settlement of issues such as water and security.” Prince Saud stressed the necessity of Israel doing its fair share by agreeing to a complete settlement freeze and providing necessities for Palestinians.

US Secretary of State Clinton reiterated the need for the Kingdom to take a leadership role facilitating peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis. Saudi leadership is “absolutely vital to achieving ....lasting peace,” she said.

King Abdullah’s Interfaith Dialogue
In the field of religion, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah initiated an interfaith dialogue as a way to boost tolerance and understanding, in particular between the Muslim, Christian and Hindu cultures to strengthening world peace and stability.

On the occasion of the fourth interfaith conference, which opens in Geneva, Switzerland on 30 September 2009 with the participation of as many as 166 religious leaders and intellectuals from several countries, the Secretary General of the Makkah-based Muslim World League, Dr. Abdullah Mohsin Al-Turki, said the Geneva conference is a continuation of efforts that began in Makkah to promote interfaith dialogue. “King Abdullah’s interfaith dialogue initiative aims at disseminating human values, promoting coexistence of the people of different faiths, spreading the values of peace and security, fighting evil in the world and promoting cooperation between communities,” Al-Turki said.

The two-day conference at Geneva InterContinental would discuss a number of papers under the banner “The Impact of King Abdullah’s Initiative in Disseminating Human Values.” Religious leaders, academics and other prominent personalities from around the world, including the US, the UK, China, Italy, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Japan and the Philippines, take part in the event, which is scheduled to be opened by the President of Switzerland on Wednesday, 30 September, 2009.

King Abdullah began this journey of his interfaith dialogue three years ago in the Holy City of Makkah, when he called on all 57 Muslim heads of state to meet in Islam’s holiest city to ponder the issues of extremism and call for a Muslim renaissance. The King traveled to Vatican and met Pope Benedict offering him peace and friendship on behalf of the Muslim world. The visit heralded a new era in the relations between two Abrahamic faiths that have so much in common yet have seldom been at peace with each other.

King Abdullah hosted the first historic interfaith dialogue conference in Makkah in June 2008. The Makkah conference, which was held on 4 June, 2008, brought together about 500 Muslim leaders from around the world in order to set an agenda for the building of better relations between Muslims and followers of other faiths.“We are the voice of justice and moral values, we are the voice of rational and just co-existence and dialogue, the voice of wisdom and admonition, and dialogue with the best way possible as Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, ‘Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and discuss with them in ways that are best’,” the King said.

Kind Abdullah also said, “It is therefore incumbent upon us to declare to the world that difference must not lead to conflict and confrontation, and to state that the tragedies that have occurred in human history were not attributable to religion, but were the result of extremism with which some adherents of every divinely revealed religion, and of every political ideology, have been afflicted.”

The second conference on Dialogue was held in Madrid on 16 July, 2008, which was attended by around 300 eminent personalities and representatives from among the followers of the three revealed religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism, as well as by representatives of Oriental philosophies, cultures and civilizations. Among the attendees were the Secretary General of the World Jewish Congress Michael Schneider and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, in charge of dialogue between the Vatican and Muslims and the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. “If we want this historic encounter to succeed, we must look to the things that unite us: Our profound faith in God, the noble principles and elevated ethics that represent the foundation of religions,” the king told the Madrid conference.

Then King Abdullah took his battle of hearts and minds to the global centre-stage at the UN. A Two-day interfaith conference titled “High-Level Meeting on Culture of Peace” was held at the UN headquarters from 12-13 November 2008 to promote the culture of peace and dialogue among the followers of various faiths. UN General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann invited leaders of 192 member countries and observers, including the Vatican, to attend the conference. Many world leaders including US President George W. Bush, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Israeli President Shimon Peres, King Abdallah of Jordan, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan attended at the conference.

Conclusion
I would like to conclude with a quote from King Abdullah who points out the core values established by his father three-quarters of a century ago:

“The late King Abdul Aziz founded and united this state on the basis of Islamic Shari’ah. Consequently, unity replaced division; love replaced enmity and cooperation replaced antagonism. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a peace-loving country that respects human rights and works to utilise its wealth to achieve the aspirations of its own people as well as those of Arab and Islamic countries within a joint humanitarian concept, just as all the world’s peace-loving countries do. In conclusion, let me appeal to Allah Almighty to preserve our country and let it continue to enjoy security and stability.”

Proceedings of the Historic International Conference for Dialogue at Makkah

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Makkah al-Mukarramah: King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, called on Muslims to counter challenges of rigidity, ignorance, narrow-mindedness so as to make the world accommodate the concepts and prospects of the message of Islam. “We are the voice of justice and moral values, we are the voice of rational and just co-existence and dialogue, the voice of wisdom and admonition, and dialogue with the best way possible as Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, ‘Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and discuss with them in ways that are best’,” the King said, while inaugurating a three-day conference on inter-faith dialogue, organized by the Muslim World League (MWL), held in Al-Safa Palace, in Makkah al-Mukarramah, on Wednesday, 4th of June, 2008.

King Abdullah, the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques
“The way to the others will be through the common values: the values that the Almighty has sent for man’s goodness, the values which discard unfaithfulness and that protect from crimes and fight terrorism, values that belittle lies and establish moral principles, truth, honesty and justice and enforce family ties,” the King said.

“Our hearts are full of tolerance and love that the Creator has ordered us to maintain,” the King said.

The King also said, “We will argue peacefully. In case we disagree, we refer to what Allah has said: “You have your own religion and I have mine.”

This Conference brought together more than 500 scholars, thinkers, officials of Muslim organizations and dialogue centres and academics from all Muslim countries and Muslim minorities living in various countries. More than 300 media representatives from all over the Muslim and Muslim minority countries, armoured with their professional tools, were seen cruising the conference halls of the International Conference looking for interviews and stories.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia
Addressing the gathering, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh of Saudi Arabia said privilege of influential communication should be used in positive ways.
”It is not true that Islam is the religion of terrorism and violence neither is it correct that Islam violates human rights,” he said.

”In fact, Islam is the religion of mercy and it respects human rights,” the Grand Mufti added. He said Muslims have pinned their hopes on King Abdullah who has been always working for the unity of the Islamic Ummah, as he knows very well the difficulties that face Muslims.

Former President of Iran, Ali Akbar Hashimi Rafsanjani
Ali Akbar Hashimi Rafsanjani, former President of Iran, in his speech, said in the augural session: “A few meters away from Al-Safa hill, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) used to address the disbelievers of Quraish. Saudi Arabia is now doing the same.” “We are suffering from many problems and it is the duty of our scholars to suggest solutions. Countries of the Muslim world represent nearly a quarter of the world, so we should create an alliance and take unanimous decisions as 20% of the whole world’s resources are under the control of the Islamic states,” he said.

Secretary General of the MWL, Dr. Abdullah Mohsin al-Turki
The Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Abdullah ibn Abdul Mohsin al-Turki, said, “The rapidly violent current of globalization has unfortunately inundated mankind with serious crises and problems for which it earnestly looks forward for Allah’s mercy to save it from the various ailments and guide its technological and cultural creativity to what helps man achieve due reform and happiness.”

Dr. Turki said, “In Islam, there are solutions for man’s contemporary crises. Furthermore, the Muslim Ummah, which has a civilized pioneering experiment, is capable of both fostering coexistence with the modern civilization, and guarding its development with the Islamic ethics and principles. The Qur’an said, “There hath come to you from Allah (new) light and a perspicuous Book.” “Wherewith Allah guided all who seek His pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His Will, unto the light, - guideth them to a path that is straight.” (5:15-16).”

Dr. Turki also said, “The followers of other religions have views on contemporary problems that cannot be ignored. Like Muslims, they have their share in presenting solutions for man’s crises and the challenges confronting him. Moreover, the principles of these religions either come close or remain far from the Islamic tenets depending on what remains from the truth that Allah endowed to previous Prophets (May Allah’s blessing be upon them ) and revealed in their books. Likewise, philosophies have humanitarian aspects common with religions, as their founders had encouraged each other to promote morals and avoid vices and bad conduct.”

Emphasizing on the importance of Dialogue, the MWL chief said, “With meaningful dialogue, Muslims can point out many humanitarian aspects which are common with others and promote these aspects for drafting a programme of action indispensable for mankind and helpful for encouraging mankind to come nearer to the heavenly guidance that Islam presents as solutions to these problems. For, Islam is characterized with comprehensiveness, and encouraging Muslims to keep away from selfishness, passion and hegemonic tendencies displayed in ethnic and regional expressions. However, dialogue with followers of other religions and philosophies in this connection does not mean that Muslims relinquish the rules of Islamic Shari’ah.”

The Objectives of the Conference
Through this large gathering of intellectuals and elites of the Muslim Ummah, the Muslim World League sought to achieve the following objectives: “to confirm that the concept of dialogue with others is supported by the Qur’an and Sunnah highlight its ethics and rules, take inspirations and rulings from genuine Islamic sources; to study problems associated with dialogue issues, and present Islamic answers that help achieve the objectives of Islamic Shari’ah and interest of Muslim Ummah; to consider the dialogue experiments in the last five decades and evaluate their negative and positive aspects, as well as develop a new plan for promoting its future by benefiting from previous experiments; to coordinate among Islamic organisations concerned with dialogue and develop a mechanism through which the Islamic ranks are united; to agree upon a comprehensive Islamic charter with which different Islamic circles practicing dialogue abide; to study the means of using dialogue in introducing Islam, rectifying its distorted image, presenting it as a model that is capable of providing solutions for various challenges that the world remains perplexed in their confrontation; to address an appeal to others that elucidates the views of Muslim Ummah towards contemporary crises.”

Proceedings of the Conference
The Conference focussed on four pivotal topics, such as the basis of dialogue in Islam, the methodology and principles of dialogue, parties involved in dialogue, and areas of dialogue. The first session on Wednesday, 4th of June on the concept of dialogue and its objectives in the Qur’an and Sunnah and experiences of cultural dialogue throughout history, was presided over by Dr. Saleh Bin-Humaid, the President of the Shoura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr. Saad ibn Ali Al-Shahrani, Executive Director of the World Forum for Muslim Scholars and Intellectuals, spoke on “Islamic Authentication for Dialogue” and Dr. Jawad Muhammad Mahdi Al-Khalisi, President of Al-Khalisiah University, Iraq talked on “Experiments of Civilization Dialogue Throughout History”.

The second session discussed the topic “Dialogue Parameters and Its Legal Terms”. Chaired by Dr. Nour Muhammad Hidayat Waheed, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Indonesia. Dr. Isam Ahmad Al-Basheer, Secretary General of the International Centre for Moderation in Kuwait and Dr. Salman Bin Fahd Al-Oudah, General Supervisor of the Institution of Islam Today, were the main speakers of this session.

The third session on Thursday, the 5th of June on the mechanism of dialogue was chaired by Sheikh Muhammad Ali Taskhery, Secretary General of the Center for Reconciliation of Islamic Schools of Thought, Iran and attended by Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Aal-Al-Sheikh and Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Turki, Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL). Three participants presented their papers in which they highlighted the framework of dialogue in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Hulail, Chief Justice of the Hashemite Court and Imam of the Royal Court, Jordan spoke on Dialogue Mechanisms; Dr. Majid Muhammad Al-Majid, Professor of the College of Arts, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, spokje on Ethics and Controlling Factors of Dialogue and Dr. Mungiz Mahmoud Al-Saggar, Researcher at the Department of Studies & Research, Muslim World League, Makkah, Saudi Arabia spoke on Dialogue – Complexities & Areas of Prohibition.

The fourth session on Thursday, the 5th of June under the chairmanship of Dr. Izzeddeen Ibrahim, Consultant to President of UAE for Cultural Affairs, focussed on the importance of coordination among Islamic organizations in holding dialogue with other faiths. Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, Secretary General of the International Islamic Council for Dawa and Relief, Egypt, spoke on “Coordination among Islamic Organizations concerned with dialogue”; Sheikh Badr Al-Hassan Al-Qasmi, Vice Chairman of the Indian Islamic Fiqh Council, India, spoke on “Dialogue with Followers of Various Philosophies” and Dr. Jamal Badawi, Professor of Halifax University, Halifax, Canada also talked on the session.

The fifth session on Friday, 6th of June, on the Areas of Dialogue, was chaired by Retired Field Marshal Abdul Rahman M. Sowar Al-Zahb, Chairman of Monazamat Al-Da’wah Al-Islamiah. Dr. Abdur Rahman bin Omar Mahi presented a paper on “Foundations of Dialogue & Common Human Principles”; Dr. Mahmod Ahmed Ghazi, Professor of the College of Islamic Studies, Qatar University, Qatar, presented his paper on “Clash of Civilization and World Peace”; Dr. Mustafa Al-Zabbakh, Director, General Secretariat for Association of Muslim World Universities, presented paper on “Value Reference for Protection against Environment Dangers” and Dr. Ali bin Sakr Ozek, President of the Foundation for Research in Islamic Sciences, Turkey, presented a paper on the “Common Ground of Family and Morality.”

There were Questions & Answers sessions after every session.

The Makkah Al-Mukarramah Appeal
At the conclusion of the Conference, the participants issued The Makkah Al-Mukarramah Appeal recommending to form an international Dialogue Commission, Establish King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz’s International Centre for Civilization Interaction, create King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz’s Award for Civilization Dialogue and conduct conferences and symposiums and meetings of research groups on dialogue among followers of Revealed Messages, Civilizations and cultures as well as considerable philosophies to which academic and media personnel as well as religious leaders representing various international cultures are invited to participate in.