The New Nation - Internet Edition

By Ahmed J Versi and Dr Mozammel Haque in Makkah

King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, who inaugurated the International Islamic Conference for Dialogue in the blessed city of Makkah on June 4, gave full support to initiate dialogue with people of other faiths, including Christians and Jews. The meeting, the first of its kind, organised by Muslim World League (MWL) under the patronage of the King, saw over 700 Islamic scholars, Muslim leaders and journalists, of various schools of thought, from around the world, sitting together cordially, debating for three days on how to create dialogue with non-Muslims. The conference, which was held in Al-Saffah Palace, overlooking the Ka'bah, also highlighted the need for intra-faith dialogue.

It was the first time ever that King Abdullah had attended a MWL conference personally, indicating the importance he gives to the subject of not only uniting Muslims but more importantly initiating dialogue with non-Muslims as one voice. On the issue of unity, the King shared the platform with the former President of Iran, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Also present on the stage were the Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah Aal al-Shaykh, the Mufti of Al-Azhar, Shaykh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi and Secretary General of MWL, Dr Abdullah ibn Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki.

The conference, which was the brainchild of the King, came in the wake of his call in March for dialogue between Muslims, Christians and Jews. He had visited the Pope last November, the first reigning Saudi head to hold talks with a pope.

The King in his key note speech said the way of dialogue with others should 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." He added, "Our hearts are full of tolerance and love that the Creator has ordered us to maintain." The way to argue with the non-Muslims, said the King, was to be done "peacefully" and in the cases of disagreements, "we refer to what Allah has said: 'You have your own religion and I have mine.'"

However, he reminded the conference that one of the major challenges facing the Muslim world is extremism. "The challenges facing the Ummah [Muslim people] are difficult at this time, as its enemies - including those extremists among its own people - have joined forces in a flagrant aggressiveness to distort the…righteousness and tolerance of Islam," he said.

Rafsanjani, who heads Iran's Assembly of Experts, welcoming the King's proposal for dialogue, emphasised the unity of Muslims. "I am a Shi'a and I spent all my life studying Islam. Let me tell you here that we [Shi'as and Sunnis] have 95 per cent in common. Why should we then allow the difference of five per cent to let our enemies play havoc with?" He argued that Muslims should first agree amongst themselves and unite and then carry on the dialogue with non-Muslims with a united voice. Rafsanjani showed concern about the security threat posed by non-Muslims in the Middle East. He called for dialogue in the Muslim World to rescue the Muslims from calamities caused by the enemies and said that lack of security and stability posed a threat to the Islamic nations. "As a Muslim, we should think about security of fellow Muslims," he said and added that Muslims should use their wealth to protect themselves. "Muslims hold 20 percent of the world's wealth. They enjoy the best geographic status and the West has learned a lot from the Muslims. So, why is it they must remain weak in the face of world arrogance?"

Dr Al-Turki argued that he had a keen desire that through dialogue the "mutual understanding, coexistence and cooperation amongst human beings must replace the mutual hatred and conflict." He added that it was by holding dialogue with religious, cultural, academic and political leaders in the West that one can "remove suspicions about Islam and followers of Islam."

Various issues were discussed during the conference, especially the misunderstanding of Islam and Muslims in the West and the issue of the vilification of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the issue of cartoons and anti-Islamic films in Europe.

Many argued that dialogue between Muslims was needed before inter-faith dialogue was taken up as huge conflicts exist between Shi'as and Sunnis and in many instances the sectarian violence has led to deaths in Iraq and Pakistan.

The conference debated how to create dialogue with non-Muslims: the methodology, complexities, who should lead the dialogue, at whom it should be aimed and at what level and with which religious and non-religious faiths.

However, there was confusion as to what dialogue actually meant. Was it the same as da'wah (calling people to Islam) or should it go hand in hand with it? Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh Abdul Aziz, said, "The purpose of dialogue was to invite non-Muslims to Islam."

Chair of the National Council of Liberia, Alhaji Ibrahim Fumba Sheriff, praising the theme of the conference, told The Muslim News that the conference has to decide "which type of dialogue we want - political or religious and what are we trying to achieve."

Associate Professor, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, was happy with the diversity of views on dialogue. However, he told The Muslim News that "we must separate dialogue and da'wah" and added that in Thailand they have dialogue with non-Muslims "so that they can see what Islam is; we have dialogue with non-Muslim NGOs." Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, said Muslims and Christians are a minority and Buddhists a majority. He told The Muslim News that dialogue on religion was not a problem but politics and social justice were the "problem".

Not all agreed to have dialogue with all the Jews. Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi firstly said that Muslims should not call non-Muslims kuffar but just call them non-Muslims, as the "Qur'an seldom refers non-Muslims as kuffar." Al-Qaradawi said Muslims should engage in dialogue using "good manners". However, he argued he would "never sit with Jews on one platform and will never hold dialogue with those Jews who have committed injustice against us and support Israel" but would have dialogue with those Jews who are against Israel. "I have received Jews into my home a few weeks ago who stand against Israel." He also said that there were Christians in the West who consider Muslims imposters and the Prophet (p) a liar. "We can't have dialogue with these Christians," he said. Al-Qaradawi also got support from the audience when he said there should be no dialogue with Pope Benedict XVI until he apologises for the comments he made against Islam "without provocation." "We have frozen relations with the Vatican until the Pope apologises and recognises our position."

Kosovan Muslim scholars also raised objections to having dialogue with Serbian priests "who preach against Islam. Serbs tried ethnic cleansing in Kosova and some leaders still say Muslims should be expelled from Europe," said one of the Kosovan representatives.

The Muslim News spoke to various guests at the conference for their reaction to the conference. Iqbal Sacranie, representing the Muslim Council of Britain, believed holding of this conference by Saudi Arabia, "was a bold and commendable." He was heartened to see that there was a consensus and "determination" from the guests "to put into action the traditional Islamic parctise of dialogue and engagement with the 'other' so that we can understand each other better and work together for the common good." Another Muslim leader from the UK, Musharraf Hussain, Director of Karimia Institiute, argued that British Muslims were much more "experienced in interfaith work with a highly developed experiential dialogue and so can make a significant contribution."

Dr Ayyub Kohler, a scientist and Chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, said that it is a very "positive and proactive initiative from Muslim the side. I hope that the western world will recognise this offer as a great step for a peaceful world. In the dialogue we don't speak about the other, we speak with the other."

Another Muslim leader from Sri Lanka, Muhammad Hanif Muhammad, 86, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, said, "This conference desires to create goodwill amongst all and see that there would be better and clearer understanding with the other religions as well. Islam is a predominant religion which permits co-existence. Muslims should always realise that it is always best to learn to co-exist. Our religion is for us and your religion is for you and by being that they can coordinate in good things."

Professor Arif Ali from north Africa, said, "I think this is a very positive signal coming from all over the Muslim world." Professor Naif said, "I think what they wanted to achieve has been achieved: giving the world a very clear signal that Muslims, Sunni and Shi'a, of whichever School, are positively behind dialogue and supportive of dialogue and want to project the true reality and essence of Islam which is compassion and understanding of all of humanity and I believe that has been achieved. "

Dr Abdullah Omar Naseef, former Deputy Speaker of the Majlis-e-Shoura of Saudi Arabia, said that it was through coordination that dialogue can be more effective. "For dialogue we need to have coordination in the East and the West and the people who enter into dialogue."

Dr Muzammil Siddiqi, head of Orange County Islamic Center in Los Angeles, US, said a dialogue between Muslims and followers of other faiths is "the need of the hour" because of the critical times being witnessed across the world.

President of Dawatul Islamiya Singapore, Abu Bakr Mohyiddeen, who is 81 years old, said the Conference "would enable us to share our experience and knowledge with others all over the world. Insha Allah (God willing), this would be beneficial to the Ummah and humanity."

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.

(Source: Muslim News, London)