Brother_Mujahid
6th June 2008, 10:41 PM
Saudi King Abdullah said Islam must do away with the dangers of extremism to present the religion's "good message" to the world as he opened a conference of Muslim figures Wednesday, aimed at launching an interfaith dialogue with Christianity and Islam.
The three-day gathering in Mecca seeks a unified Muslim voice ahead of the interfaith dialogue. In particular, Saudi Arabia hopes to promote reconciliation between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims.
Abdullah walked into the conference hall Wednesday with powerful Iranian politician Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who later sat on the king's left on the stage, sending a message that the Sunni kingdom does not have a problem with moderate Shiites like him.
Saudi Arabia and mainly Shi'ite Iran are seen as top rivals for influence in the Middle East, standing on opposite sides of political divides in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories. Moreover, Saudi Arabia's official interpretation of Islam considers Shi'ites as religious innovators, and days ahead of Wednesday's gathering, a number of hardline Saudi scholars issued a statement harshly condemning Shi'ites and Iran.
Abdullah announced in March that he wanted to sponsor an interfaith dialogue between the world's monotheistic religions - specifically including Jews.
"You have gathered today to tell the whole world that ... we are a voice of justice and values and humanity, that we are a voice of coexistence and a just and rational dialogue," Abdullah told the 500 Muslim delegates from about 50 Muslim nations in his opening speech.
He said the Islamic world faces difficult challenges from the extremism of some Muslims, whose aggressions "target the magnanimity, fairness and lofty aims of of Islam.
"That's why (the conference) invitation was extended _ to face the challenges of isolation, ignorance and narrow horizons, so that the world can absorb the good message of Islam," he said.
Rafsanjani praised Abdullah, saying, "Our brothers in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia ... have presented a great message to all humanity in the world.
"Before we speak with other religions, we must speak among ourselves and reach an understanding on a particular Islamic path," he said, calling for greater understanding between Sunnis and Shi'ites.
"We should support each other ... not weaken each other or sully each other's reputation," he said. "As a Muslim and a Shi'ite and an expert in Islamic issues ... I tell you that there are many things in common (between us) and there's no need to look at differences."
"Whether we accept it or not, this is a global village, and we have to play a constructive part in this world,” said Syrian delegate Sheikh Abdul Qader. “This conference will show us the direction. There will be a healthy debate among our scholars to discuss the format of our dialogue with people of other faiths."
Abdullah Al-Turki, secretary-general of the Muslim World League, said the conference would discuss the basis for dialogue with other faiths in the context of the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah.
Shoura Council President Saleh Bin-Humaid is scheduled to preside over the first session, which features a number of papers on the objectives of dialogue as outlined in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, and historical experiences of cultural dialogue.
Sheikh Muhammad Ali Taskhery, secretary-general of the Center for Reconciliation of Islamic Schools of Thought, will chair the second session and Jordan’s Chief Justice Ahmed Muhammad Haleel will present a paper on the mechanisms of dialogue.
Bosnian Mufti Mustafa Ceric will preside over the third session, which focuses on the importance of coordination among Islamic organizations in holding dialogue with other faiths. Abdullah Omar Naseef, secretary-general of the International Islamic Council for Dawa and Relief, will present a paper and Muhammad Al-Sammak, secretary-general of the Islamic Spiritual Summit in Lebanon, will speak on dialogue with followers of divine religions.
The fourth session will be led by Abdul Rahman Sewar Al-Dahab, chairman of the board of trustees of the Islamic Dawa Organization. Mahmoud Ghazi of the College of Islamic Studies in Qatar will present a paper on the clash of civilizations and world peace. Ali Uzak of Turkey will speak on the common ground of family and morality.
Sheikh Salman al-Oadah will be giving a speech at the conference about coexistence.
Participants say they hope the gathering will culminate in an agreement on a global Islamic charter on dialogue with Christians and Jews. They expect Saudi Arabia will launch its formal call for an interfaith dialogue at the conference's close or soon after.
Abdullah first announced his intention to sponsor an interfaith dialogue in March - the first such initiative from a a nation with no diplomatic ties to Israel and a ban on non-Muslim religious services and symbols.
His message, which has been welcomed welcomed by Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, is significant. The Saudi monarch is the custodian of Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina, a position that lends his words special importance and influence. Abdullah said said Saudi Arabia's top scholars have given him the green light, crucial backing in a society that expects decisions taken by its rulers to adhere to Islam's tenets.
It remains unclear who will participate in the second phase of the initiative, in particular whether Israeli religious leaders would be invited. The kingdom and all other Arab nations except Egypt and Jordan do not have diplomatic relations with Israel and generally shun unofficial contacts.
http://www.islamtoday.com/showmenews.cfm?cat_id=38&sub_cat_id=1906
The three-day gathering in Mecca seeks a unified Muslim voice ahead of the interfaith dialogue. In particular, Saudi Arabia hopes to promote reconciliation between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims.
Abdullah walked into the conference hall Wednesday with powerful Iranian politician Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who later sat on the king's left on the stage, sending a message that the Sunni kingdom does not have a problem with moderate Shiites like him.
Saudi Arabia and mainly Shi'ite Iran are seen as top rivals for influence in the Middle East, standing on opposite sides of political divides in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories. Moreover, Saudi Arabia's official interpretation of Islam considers Shi'ites as religious innovators, and days ahead of Wednesday's gathering, a number of hardline Saudi scholars issued a statement harshly condemning Shi'ites and Iran.
Abdullah announced in March that he wanted to sponsor an interfaith dialogue between the world's monotheistic religions - specifically including Jews.
"You have gathered today to tell the whole world that ... we are a voice of justice and values and humanity, that we are a voice of coexistence and a just and rational dialogue," Abdullah told the 500 Muslim delegates from about 50 Muslim nations in his opening speech.
He said the Islamic world faces difficult challenges from the extremism of some Muslims, whose aggressions "target the magnanimity, fairness and lofty aims of of Islam.
"That's why (the conference) invitation was extended _ to face the challenges of isolation, ignorance and narrow horizons, so that the world can absorb the good message of Islam," he said.
Rafsanjani praised Abdullah, saying, "Our brothers in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia ... have presented a great message to all humanity in the world.
"Before we speak with other religions, we must speak among ourselves and reach an understanding on a particular Islamic path," he said, calling for greater understanding between Sunnis and Shi'ites.
"We should support each other ... not weaken each other or sully each other's reputation," he said. "As a Muslim and a Shi'ite and an expert in Islamic issues ... I tell you that there are many things in common (between us) and there's no need to look at differences."
"Whether we accept it or not, this is a global village, and we have to play a constructive part in this world,” said Syrian delegate Sheikh Abdul Qader. “This conference will show us the direction. There will be a healthy debate among our scholars to discuss the format of our dialogue with people of other faiths."
Abdullah Al-Turki, secretary-general of the Muslim World League, said the conference would discuss the basis for dialogue with other faiths in the context of the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah.
Shoura Council President Saleh Bin-Humaid is scheduled to preside over the first session, which features a number of papers on the objectives of dialogue as outlined in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, and historical experiences of cultural dialogue.
Sheikh Muhammad Ali Taskhery, secretary-general of the Center for Reconciliation of Islamic Schools of Thought, will chair the second session and Jordan’s Chief Justice Ahmed Muhammad Haleel will present a paper on the mechanisms of dialogue.
Bosnian Mufti Mustafa Ceric will preside over the third session, which focuses on the importance of coordination among Islamic organizations in holding dialogue with other faiths. Abdullah Omar Naseef, secretary-general of the International Islamic Council for Dawa and Relief, will present a paper and Muhammad Al-Sammak, secretary-general of the Islamic Spiritual Summit in Lebanon, will speak on dialogue with followers of divine religions.
The fourth session will be led by Abdul Rahman Sewar Al-Dahab, chairman of the board of trustees of the Islamic Dawa Organization. Mahmoud Ghazi of the College of Islamic Studies in Qatar will present a paper on the clash of civilizations and world peace. Ali Uzak of Turkey will speak on the common ground of family and morality.
Sheikh Salman al-Oadah will be giving a speech at the conference about coexistence.
Participants say they hope the gathering will culminate in an agreement on a global Islamic charter on dialogue with Christians and Jews. They expect Saudi Arabia will launch its formal call for an interfaith dialogue at the conference's close or soon after.
Abdullah first announced his intention to sponsor an interfaith dialogue in March - the first such initiative from a a nation with no diplomatic ties to Israel and a ban on non-Muslim religious services and symbols.
His message, which has been welcomed welcomed by Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, is significant. The Saudi monarch is the custodian of Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina, a position that lends his words special importance and influence. Abdullah said said Saudi Arabia's top scholars have given him the green light, crucial backing in a society that expects decisions taken by its rulers to adhere to Islam's tenets.
It remains unclear who will participate in the second phase of the initiative, in particular whether Israeli religious leaders would be invited. The kingdom and all other Arab nations except Egypt and Jordan do not have diplomatic relations with Israel and generally shun unofficial contacts.
http://www.islamtoday.com/showmenews.cfm?cat_id=38&sub_cat_id=1906