Islamic Monitor

Eid Mubarak to you all from the Masjid al-Haram

Words of Peace from the Land of Peace

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Makkah al-Mukarramah: I wish all of you a happy Eid Mubarak from the Masjid-al-Haram in the Balad al-Ameen.

The Saudi Royal Court announced that Sunday has been declared as the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr, a celebration marking the end of fasting in Ramadan. The declaration was made by the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia. Thus, the joyous Islamic festival Eid-ul-Fitr comes at the end of the month of Ramadan and it came this year 2012 on Sunday, the 19th of August, throughout most of the countries. Muslim brothers and sisters are enjoying and celebrating their Eid on the same day in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom and other places.

It’s my pleasure to extend my Eid Mubarak and good wishes to all my Muslim brothers and sisters all over the world on the occasion of the celebration of the Eid after the conclusion of full 30 days of fasting in the blessed month of Ramadan. I pray to Almighty Allah for all the benefits and the rewards. I am in the Haram and I would like to pray to Allah the Almighty for myself and for you all, May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala accept our fasting, our prayers, our worship and all our good deeds done in the blessed month of Ramadan.

Comfort for the Pilgrims

After a month-long fasting comes the most auspicious and happy occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr when Eid messages are sent all over the world from the leaders and heads of states of the Muslim world as well as the Muslim minority countries, especially from the Asian, European, American and the African continents.

When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received revelation from Allah the Almighty, at the very first day only two members from his family, one woman, his wife Khadijah and a young boy, Ali, believed him and immediately embraced the religion, Islam and now there are more than 1.6 billion Muslims throughout the world and all over the continents believed in the Oneness of God (Tawheed) and followed Islam. This year, there were 5.2 million Muslim worshippers at the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah during the last ten days and nights of Ramadan praying together for world peace and prosperity, Muslim unity and joyous life.

Though this year Ramadan was during the hottest months of the year in Saudi Arabia, July-August, the arrangement was made to keep both the Masjid al-Haram and its courtyard and the surroundings cooler. Worshippers enjoyed the coolness through the water cooler spraying cool waters.

The pilgrims felt the necessity and understood the demands of the expansion of the area of the Haramain in order to accommodate the ever increasing number of worshippers. I also personally felt how important it is to expand and develop the praying area of the Haramain with the rising numbers of the visitors. 20/25 years ago the Haramain expansion programme taken by the former King Fahd that requires now another expansion.

The present head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques is Imam Abdul Rahman al-Sudais who has taken special care for the arrangement of the Haramain during this Ramadan. Lot of special Ramadan plan in place to ensure millions of worshippers and Umrah pilgrims was made for the comfort and welfare of the pilgrims; such as considering the increase in space thanks to the ongoing expansion Grand Mosque Expansion project of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, allowing over 200,000 people to pray on the ground floor where water coolers were installed; the Mosque’s open areas were cooled by water and basements air-conditioned. There were 150 air-conditioners at the basement of the Haram. Wheelchairs were provided for free and electric ones were available to rent. Below the Muqabbarah (below the Azam area) was also air-conditioned where pilgrims who were in Itikaf spending their nights in Zikr and recitation and Ibadah.

Eid Messages from all over the continent

After the month-long fasting come the Eid-ul-Fitr and leaders and heads of states from all over the continents sent Eid Messages, the messages of peace and happiness and prosperity.

Eid Messages from the Haramain

King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence, made a joint statement greeting Muslims all over the world on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. They expressed hope that the Eid will be an occasion to forget sorrows and bring hope, peace and prosperity to the entire world. The statement was read out to the media by Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information of Saudi Arabia.

“It is a great occasion when there should be smiles on the faces of the young and old. It is an occasion to thank Allah for His bounties and congratulate one another with words of love and fraternity, spreading happiness and hope in people’s hearts. During these blessed days, the old is kind to the young and the rich to the poor and the universe is full of compassion and kindness,” the King and Crown Prince said in their message.

“During the last days of the sacred month of Ramadan and in the vicinity of the Holy Mosque in Makkah, where people worship Allah and glorify Him day and night, the Almighty facilitated the holding of the Islamic Solidarity Conference by Muslim leaders which was meant to protect the unity of the Ummah, ward off division and safeguard lives that are inviolable,” the leaders said in their message.

Eid Messages from the American continent

US President Barack Obama has issued a message on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr congratulating all Muslims around the world. In a statement posted on the website of the White House, the US President Obama said: “"Michelle and I extend our warmest wishes to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world as they celebrate Eid-Al-Fitr.

"For Muslims, Ramadan has been a time of fasting, prayer and spiritual renewal. These past four weeks have also been a time to serve the less fortunate - a reminder of the obligations that people of all faiths have to each other.

"In the United States, Eid-al-Fitr speaks to the truth that communities of faith, including Muslim Americans, enrich our national life, strengthen our democracy and uphold our freedoms, including the freedom of religion.

"That is why the we stand with people of all faiths, in the United States and around the world, in protecting and advancing this universal human right.

"On behalf of the American people, we congratulate Muslim Americans and Muslims around the world on this joyous day. Eid Mubarak."

Eid Messages from the European continent

British Prime Minister David Cameron issued an Eid Message on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr wishing the Muslim communities all over the world a very happy and peaceful Eid. In his Eid Message, British Prime Minister said: “Eid is a time for families and friends. A time for joy and happiness. As families and friends come together in celebration, I want to recognise the immense contribution that British Muslims make to our country.”

British Prime Minister also said, “Peace and unity are the spirit of Eid and I am proud of the way Britain has demonstrated these values to the world during the Olympics. So to Muslims around the world on this very important day of celebration, I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Eid.”

Nick Clegg’s message for Eid-ul-Fitr

British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also issued Eid Message saying, "This year, as you may have noticed, the Holy Month of Ramadan coincided with the London Olympics. The contributions of Muslims in the United Kingdom to London 2012 were striking, from medal-winning athletes like Mo Farah and Mohammad Sbihi, to the many volunteers and supporters who made the atmosphere so welcoming and friendly.”

Mr. Clegg also said, “Modern Britain, in all its glory, home to every faith, every colour, every background. Opening its arms to the rest of the world and coming together to make these Games such a success. That seems to me to have been a very fitting setting for Eid ul-Fitr -A time when Muslims celebrate unity, community, friendship.

“Those are the values liberals hold dearly - Values we should all do our utmost to defend, at all times. So I'd like to send all Muslims my very best wishes for the festival. I hope you enjoy the holiday, and I wish you all a sincere Eid saeed," said British deputy Prime Minister.

British Foreign Secretary's Eid message

British Foreign Secretary William Hague sends warmest wishes to Muslims across the world ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr. He said, “I would like to convey my best wishes to all Muslims across the globe as you and your families gather to celebrate the festival of Eid.”

Mr. Hague also said, “British Muslims will join millions around the world in celebrating Eid at the end of this special period of reflection, contemplation and consideration of others. This year we are also celebrating the London Olympic Games which have been a great source of inspiration for so many people. I am very grateful for the important contribution of British Muslims in making the London Games such a success.”

“During this special time of reflection, my thoughts are with the victims of the terrible earthquakes in Iran. I continue to hope for peace, security and stability to be restored in Syria,” said British Foreign Secretary and added, “With these reflections, on this very important day of celebration, I send my very best and wish you Eid Mubarak.”

Eid Messages from the African continent

As soon as the authorities declared after the Maghreb prayer on Saturday evening that the Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday, the 19th of August, I met some of the African dignitaries with whom I have been performing fasting, prayers, Iftars, Taraweeeh and Qiyam al-Lail behind the Imam at the Masjid al-Haram for the month of Ramadan, particularly the last ten days, I enquired about their Eid Messages for the Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world.

I interviewed former Governor of the Sokoto State of Nigeria, Attahiru Bafarawa, who said, “First of all, I want to convey our Muslim brothers and sisters the happy Eid for the year 2012 and my appeal to all Muslim brothers and sisters all over the world to unite ourselves, cooperate and work together for the peace and stability of the world. Without our cooperation and understanding of the teachings of Islam we cannot be able to move the world forward.”

“Therefore, we Muslims, we know the importance of peace that is Islam means peace and therefore we should not just put in our mouth; rather it is better to put it into practice. That’s my appeal to all Muslims in this world.”

Eid Messages from Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef

I had also the opportunity to interview the great Dawah worker, the scientist, the educationalist, the leading player of social welfare and interfaith dialogue, Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, the former President of the Jeddah-based King Abdulaziz University and the present Secretary General of the Cairo-based International Islamic Council for Dawah and Relief (IICDR). He wants to convey his Eid Message to the Muslims all over the world. Dr. Naseef said in his message: “The Ummah is still in a very miserable situation and we hope that in every Ramadan change will come through people spend their time worshipping Allah Subhanahu wa Taa’la with concentration but we don’t lose hope we should belief more to Allah the Almighty.”

“At one time He (Allah the Almighty) will give the people and they will come out from their misery and difficulties. But usually during this time of the year I advice people to keep in mind that Ramadan has gone but Allah is there and we have to be the same; i.e. we should worship Him with the same intensity and concentration as we did in Ramadan. So the number of people who will do that will increase; will be more than usual and I hope that the Ummah will face a huge new life style after Ramadan,” said Dr. Naseef and added, “This is our hope and Allah Subhanahu wa Taa’la is Great. He will grant us the guidance; sustenance, patience and also strong will to continue, Insha Allah, towards His Orders and Commandments and the Traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him).”

Picture caption1: Worshippers are waiting for the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the Masjid al-Haram, Makkah, on Sunday early morning @Dr.M.Haque.

Picture caption 2: Pilgrims were performing Tawaf (circumbulation) on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan at the Masjid al-Haram, Makkah, around midday of Friday @Dr.M.Haque

Makkah al-Mukarramah

20th of August 2012

Dr. Naseef becomes Member of the

Constituent Council of Rabita

Dr. Mozammel Haque

I met Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, the President of the World Muslim Congress at Dublin, capital of the Republic of Ireland in the first week of June, 2012. He came from Saudi Arabia to attend and participate at the International Conference on Islamic Finance & Investment. Dr. Naseef was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by Muneer Satardien on behind of the Conference and also another Award of Excellence at the conference.

During this meeting with Dr. Naseef, I came to know that he would be going to attend a meeting in Istanbul Turkey and then go to Saudi Arabia to attend another meeting in Makkah on 15th June.

Dr. Naseef becomes Member of the Constituent

Council of Rabita Al-Alam al-Islami

I came to Jeddah in the first week of July and had the opportunity to meet Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, former Secretary General of the Makkah-based Muslim World League and the present Secretary General of the Cairo-based International Commission for the Council of Dawah and Relief (IICDR) at his office in Jeddah in the second week of July, 2012 before the month of Ramadan. I enquired about his meeting in Makkah on 15th of June 2012 about which Dr. Naseef told me at Dublin, Ireland in the first week of June, 2012.

Dr. Naseef told me that he was included in the Constituent Council of the Muslim World League (Rabita Alam al-Islami). Dr. Naseef said, “The meeting of the Constituent Council of Rabita Al-Alam al-Islami (Muslim World League) took place on two days beginning on 15 June 2012 and on the first day they have invited me and others, and about 15 people have been added in the Membership of the Constituent Council of Rabita. Immediately I joined the meeting.”

“So I am a Member of the Constituent Council of Rabita Al-Alam Al-Islami,” said Dr. Naseef.

In this connection, it may be mentioned that all the Secretary Generals of the Muslim World League (MWL) were ex-officio members of the Rabita. When Dr. Naseef was Secretary General of Rabita he was ex-officio Member of the Constituent Council of Rabita. All Secretary Generals of Rabita are its ex-officio members. So the previous Secretary Generals have been added to the Council. Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali is member; Dr. Abdullah Saleh Obaid is member. And now Dr. Naseef is included into the Council as member.

Dr. Naseef attended the meeting of the Deans of

Students Affairs in Istanbul, Turkey

I enquired about the meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. Speaking about the meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Dr. Naseef said, “It was in Istanbul Turkey. There was a meeting of the Deans of Students Affairs of the Universities. The elites of students who are excellent in their grades and who have special achievements, they were invited to discuss what they should do for their Ummah. That was very fruitful meeting and the discussion was very good. The students were up to the standard and they give very good ideas.”

Dr. Naseef attended the Funeral of Prince Naif

Then Dr. Naseef attended the funeral of Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz, the then Crown Prince, in the Haram in Makkah al-Mukarramah and gave condolences to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and the Royal Family. Dr. Naseef said, “I attended the funeral of Prince Naif in the Haram and gave condolences to the King and Royal Family.”

Dr. Neseef’s Ramadan Message

I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, former Secretary General of the Makkah-based Muslim World League and the present Secretary General of the Cairo-based International Commission for the Council of Dawah and Relief (IICDR) at his office in Jeddah in the second week of July, 2012 before the month of Ramadan and I requested him about his message for the Muslim community in this blessed month of Ramadan.

Dr. Naseef said, “Everybody knows that the Ramadan is the occasion when people get closer to Allah the Almighty and seek His Guidance and His Blessing and they spend the month in all kinds of worships and good deeds hasanats. They asked Allah the Almighty to make this Ramadan better for everybody and help the people who are harassed and aggressed upon in this month so that they can come out from this misery situation. Insha Allah, there will be better situation for everybody.”

Speaking about his advice to the Muslim community, Dr. Naseef said, “We have to request Muslims to be more sincere, to be more adherence to their religion and to be more realizing that this month of Ramadan is a school of training, guidance and changing.” Dr. Naseef also added, “We are advising them, the Muslims, to be more sincere to Allah the Almighty and appealing to Him day and night and adhering to His Orders and His Commandments. This is the opportunity to seek forgiveness from Allah the Almighty for their sins. So this is the opportunity one should not miss. This opportunity should be availed of by every Individual everywhere in the Muslim world.”

“I hope, this Ramadan will improve the quality of the Muslims Insha Allah,” Dr. Naseef said.

Teaching of Prophet’s Biography at

British Muslim Schools

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The teaching of Prophet’s (peace be upon him) biography at the British Muslim Schools was discussed at a Seminar on “Teaching of Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Biography: Methodology and Expectations” organised by Islamic Cultural Centre, London, in partnership with the Makkah-based Muslim World League, on Wednesday, the 29th of August, 2012 at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London.

While inaugurating the Seminar, Dr. Ahmed al-Dubayan, the Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre, said that we all know that the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) biography is the second source of Islam and Shari’ah. “It is very important for all Muslims and especially recently now in the last few years this biography was actually criticised unobjectively and was presented often not in good way in many media, and also there are many books articles talking about biographies of the Prophet (peace be upon him) but not presented the Prophet (PBUH) the right way” he said.

Dr. Dubayan also mentioned that at the same time we, as Muslims, think that there is a lack of materials or shortage of materials or texts about the Prophet’s biography available for Muslim schools, available for Muslim teachers. “We believe Muslim communities everywhere in the world need to fill this gap and give more concentration and do more studies to represent the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to convey the message to the new generation of the Muslim and to convey the right message of Islam to those people who are not Muslim.”

Dr. Dubayan also mentioned that we know that there are some who would like to deface Islam itself by telling about some wrong stories, some weak Hadiths. “It is our duty as Muslims to defend the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him) not only by criticising others but also by presenting the biography of the Prophet (PBUH) and studying it again and trying to get more lessons from it and to get really new lessons for the new generation.”

ICC Director General also mentioned about the importance of modern technology which actually offers us “a platform and giving us a ground and more chances for all Muslims, all researchers and scholars and scholars at large who really want to know more about it and to encourage Muslims. He urged the Muslim teachers and Islamic educationists to give this a more concentration and a serious consideration and research.

Dr. Adel Al-Shiddy

Dr. Adel al-Shiddy, the Assistant Secretary General of the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL), in his speech as a chief guest said, “The Muslim World League is carrying its duties under the directives of the its Secretary General to support all the efforts for the teaching of the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as a way to understand Islam and putting our youth also on the right way to understand Islam and follow the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him).”

Dr. Shiddy also mentioned that Muslims are forming the cornerstone for carrying the Islamic teachings to the Muslims around the world and correcting the wrong concept about Islam and the Prophet (peace be upon him).

While mentioning that the League have noticed in its tours that the Muslims in the UK have most powerful understanding and providing the most beneficial efforts to carry the message of Islam and spreading the teachings of Islam, Dr. Shiddy said, “We need them to continue this effort and to avoid any dispute.”

Dr. Al-Shiddy agrees with Dr. Dubayan for new media to be used as a method to spread Islam in a good way and also the Prophet’s biography. He focussed on three methods that we need to provide would be to build on three important units: i) The first one is the norms and manners of the Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet used to practice including truthful trust; and being tolerant. Most of the people need it today. ii) The second thing is the human relation between the Prophet (PBUH) and all those people around him. He used to be husband; he used to be the friend to his friends and he used to be father and also with other peoples with whom he practised his good manners and iii) the third thing is the dialogue and understanding the others where the Prophet (PBUH) preserved this manner of dialogue and understanding the others.

Dr, Shiddy hoped that this meeting will come out with some practical recommendations and the Muslim World League will find some universities in the United Kingdom, to provide them with the theoretical curriculum about the Prophet’s biography; such as the Leeds University. The League is working to provide more of these authoritative texts and curriculum to most of the Islamic institutions around the United Kingdom, he mentioned.

Dr. Shiddy also announced at the meeting the publication of a new Magazine of Seerah.

Mr. Muhammad Ismail, Researcher

and Educationalist

Mr. Muhammad Ismail, Researcher and educationalist spoke on the Teaching of Prophet’s (Peace be upon him) Biography in Britain. While speaking about the teaching of Prophet’s biography, Mr. Ismail mentioned, “It is an integral part of the fabric of Islam, and the study of the Seerah is followed by the practising of the Sunnah which leads to the understanding of the Qur’an; therefore the study of the Seerah is essential for every Muslim from a very young age to shape their life.”

Speaking about the present situation of the British Muslim School, Mr. Ismail said, “Each school is different from another school so far as the curriculum and teaching in any school is concerned. So correctly there is no unison in the curriculum. Various teaching methods have been adopted. Various different teaching methods are used, for example, pictorial stories, worksheets, the commercially produced textbooks which come from various sources; some of which are even non-authentic.”

Holding an Annual Seerah Conference in the UK

Mr. Ismail has put forward some suggestions before the Conference to consider, such as i) the organiser should hold an Annual Seerah Conference in the UK at the Islamic Cultural Centre, inviting politicians, intellectuals and the media to talk at the conference to create awareness; ii) Formation of an organisation, named as National Seerah Secretariat at the Islamic Cultural Centre, which will go throughout the country by adopting different activities for the propagation of the Seerah, such as visiting state schools offering them free lectures about Islam and the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him); iii) to promote Seerah with young British Muslim by organising competitions and awards for best achieving schools and people in the subject of Seerah; and finally iv) This conference should form a committee of 5 to 10 scholars and educationists to produce and select authenticated English resources appropriate textbooks for teaching the Seerah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the British Muslim schools.

Dr. Abdullah Shaheen, Markfield Institute

Dr. Abdullah Shaheen of the Markfield Institute of Higher Education (MIHE), Leicester, while dealing with teaching of Prophet’s biography, said “What we are discussing today is essentially education, what we call pedagogic issue.”

“What we need today. How best we can teach communicate the values, Dr. Adel mentioned about this, values of the Prophet (peace be upon him) represented; manners, mercy, forgiveness, leadership, conflict resolution, peace, role as a husband, as a neighbour. This wider picture of Muhammad (peace be upon him) could not be taught unless we also consider the pedagogical educational questions how do we teach, i.e. we have an understanding of the objectives of our teaching, we have an understanding of our curriculum the teaching methods,” said Dr. Shaheen.

Dr. Shaheen said, “We have to prioritize the fact that teaching Seerah of the Prophet and Islam requires an important pedagogic awareness. How do we achieve this? We have to prioritize this does not quite educational thinking about Islam. His guidance is a kind of message for the whole humanity."

Dr. Shaheen argued, “Our teaching curriculum, the technique and ways of teaching also prioritize which I would like to call humanity of Muhammad (peace be upon him) so that we can enlarge our aim to include his proper understanding to achieve the wider audience in the West.”

Dr. Shaheen also mentioned that we have to bear in mind that we are living in a wider reality, of course, in the 21st century British society and Islam is being taught within non-Muslim perspectives. One issue that always coming up is which we call the Western Orientalists’ way of looking at the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) life. The heart at it is something called historical critical thinking and in fact the claim implicitly was Muslims are unable to utilise critical historical thinking; therefore what they present to us is a mythical based no evidence of their own faith.”

Dr. Shaheen mentioned his experience at the MIHE and said, “What we do when we teach Seerah at the Markfield Institute we deliberately spend three sessions on this thing called critical historical thinking. Can it be complimented or can it actually be implemented within the Islamic framework and we draw upon the study of Seerah and the study of Hadith. We all aware that the degree of application of comparative historical thinking is already present within Islamic tradition of self-understanding. In another words what we need to do is to retrieve this critical thinking within our own tradition and actually apply worldwide any aspect of Islam today including the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him).”

Construct a contemporary Seerah Curriculum

Dr. Shaheen also pointed out,“ I would say that one important area of investment is to look at the pedagogic and educational aspects of how best we can construct a contemporary Seerah curriculum; identify critical objective and effective teaching method and how do we evaluate the teaching?” He emphasized, “We have to enable the Muslim teachers with relevant pedagogic skills to be able actually to teach effectively; we have to produce materials, teaching methods within that framework.”

Dr. Shaheen lamented and said, “It is unfortunate that we are on the presence of the fourth generation of Muslims in Europe; we do not yet have a proper Muslim teachers training college. My view would be to the Rabita Al-Alam al-Islami and the Islamic Cultural Centre here to make long term plan when we can actually establish one day a proper European Muslim Teachers’ Training Centre to produce our own teachers with the effective pedagogical skills of teaching Islam properly. We have not achieved it; we are still divided within ourselves in trying to reproduce one authentic way of teaching Islam.”

European Muslim Teachers’ Training Centre

“I think time has arrived this issue cannot be addressed in a piecemeal manner. It has to be properly addressed and what is needed is to create an Islamic educational teacher training centre where we will produce these materials which will enable the Muslim teachers with the relevant pedagogic skills. We produce materials that will hopefully present Islam and the Biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the best authentic picture. Without this kind of long term planning we cannot really address this issue; they will all stay as advertisement and we want to go beyond that level, if that is possible,” said Dr. Shaheen.

Another point which Dr. Shaheen mentioned is about Muslim children studying at the mainstream public schools. He said, “In this country most of the Muslim young people, children and kids attend to the mainstream schools. In this country, RE, i.e. Religious Education is determined at the local education level. We have to make it sure within that Local Education Authority the RE contains an element about Prophet’s (peace be upon him) life and his humanity. That should be our last point. Because majority of our young people go to the mainstream school.”

Prophet’s Humanity in the mainstream school

“We should not put all our aim into one basket. There are half a million Muslim kids in the mainstream schools. We have to make it sure that the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) life, his humanity, his leadership, his values, at least presented within the mainstream schools at the Local Education Authority level as well and there are ways of achieving this. All we have to do is: we have to present our case,” said Dr. Shaheen.

British Muslims Response to Anti-Islam Movie

Dr. Mozammel Haque

An anti-Islam movie, “Innocence of Muslims” produced and promoted by a collection of rightwing Christian evangelicals and exiled Egyptian Copt based in the United States, which crudely denigrates the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Since the subject was raised on the international level and the Muslims know about it everywhere and since some developments and actions have taken place in many Muslim countries, it is appropriate and timely to address this topic.

The Fact

The 13-minute virulent Islamophobic, deeply hateful video, practically unwatchable production called “The Innocence of Muslims” that attack on the Prophet was uploaded on the YouTube in July. The amateurish film was created with the intention of both destabilizing the Muslim countries and provoking the religious feelings of Muslims by defaming the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned this anti-Islam film and called it a “disgusting, reprehensible and cynical” anti-Muslim film. She said, “To us, to me, personally, this video is disgusting and reprehensible. It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose, to denigrate a great religion and to provoke rage.”

This dirty, filthy anti-Islam film sparked protests worldwide. Saudi Arabia condemned the “violent reactions in several countries against US interests” and denounced “the production by an irresponsible group in the United States of a film insulting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

People of the Islamic faith provoked because their religion was trodden upon by concerted, evil attempts by some individuals to denigrate a sacred and holy faith. Muslims love their Prophet more than their parents, children and all the people. Love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a measure of one’s Imaan (faith and conviction). The Holy Qur’an says: “The Prophet is preferable for the believers even to their own selves.” (The Holy Qur’an 33:6).

Love of the Prophet is love of all the beauty and nobility of character, truthfulness, justness, humility and inner strength of which man is capable and which the Prophet as Perfect Man possessed on the utmost degree. On the other hand, the Prophet’s love was not limited just to the believers, in a way he loved all of God’s creation. Allah says in the Qur’an: “We have not sent you (O Prophet) but as Mercy to all the worlds.” (The Holy Qur’an 21:107).

Saudi Arabia condemned the film as “irresponsible” but it denounced violent anti-American protests and expressed condolences to the US over the killings in Benghazi. Muslim leaders and people worldwide reject and condemn violent protest and the unlawful acts of killing people and burning properties.

British Muslims Response

In order to find out the British Muslims response to this anti-Islam movie, I have conducted an interview with Muslim community leaders, Muslim parliamentarians and went to take note of the Friday sermon by Imams at Mosque. Last Friday, Imams and Khatibs of different Mosques in London, particularly, the Islamic Cultural Centre and the Regents Park Central London Mosque and the East London Mosque in Whitechapel delivered Khutba on the anti-Islam Movie.

Dr. Ahmad Saifuddin Turkistani, an University Professor and well-known Dawah worker and Imam, delivered Sermon (Khutba) at the Islamic Cultural Centre and Regents Park Central London Mosque on Friday, the 21st September, 2012 .

Friday Sermon at Islamic Cultural Centre &

Central London Mosque, London

In the khutba (Sermon) Dr. Turkistani first elaborated on the status of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) first by pointing out the great position of all Prophets of Allah and their high status in Islam and the need for their messages. Then he mentioned about the coming of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the master of all Prophets, though he said, “We do not want to differentiate among the Prophets.”

The next point which the Imam, Dr. Turkistani mentioned in his khutba, is about the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which is highest and indeed to spread the message of peace, understanding and tranquillity among all peoples of the world and for that purpose he faced many challenges in his own time and many people in Makkah and Madina insulted him, accused him and even plotted to kill him and yet he kept going on delivering and conveying the message of Allah. For this reason, Allah said in the Qur’an about him, “We have sent you as Mercy to all the world”.

Then referring to the latest Californian movie, “Innocence of Muslims”, Dr. Turkistani said in his khutba, the latest film was very bad in taste, in language, in production, which made and try to demean, to attack or insult the person of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his message. But of course, in no way, the producer could not reach nor did it reach to any of his goals namely creating division among Muslims and Christians particularly in Egypt and over the Muslim world.

What the Imam, Dr. Turkistani, emphasized in the khutba was how to deal with such an attack. He said this is not the first and will not be the last attack to injure the honour of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or his message. “Therefore, unlike what they wanted to do, it provided an opportunity to create more interest in the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the message of Islam. This means that many books and copies of the Qur’an and more literature on Islam will be sold and many Islamic websites will be visited by audiences in the West and throughout the world,” said Dr. Turkistani in his Friday sermon.

The Imam at the Regents Park Central London Mosque said in his Friday sermon, “The response of Muslims should not be to attack embassies or consulates or western people who live in the Muslim world or anywhere and is not to violently protest and prostrate in the street creating chaos and disorder.”

The Imam, Dr. Turkistani, said in his Friday Sermon, “What is needed is to be committed to the way of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and to convey his message and to take all possible and legal means to defend his message and explain his biography with wisdom and evidence. It is an opportunity for Muslims at all levels to be active in promoting the message of Islam in the form of dawah with wisdom and good preaching as Allah commands.”

Sir Iqbal Sacranie

I had the opportunity to discuss with Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the founding Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and the joint convenor of the UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs about the anti-Islam movie. Speaking about the movie, Sir Iqbal said, “First of all there is no doubt that Muslims, wherever they live, whatever background they come from, feel pain and deeply hurt at any insult on the personality of their beloved Prophet (peace be upon him). This pain and hurt is only natural and spontaneous but needs to be controlled.”

“What we must remember that this is not the first time that such abuse and insult is made on the very foundation of our faith. Throughout centuries, in fact, at the time of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him), there were elements in the society who not only threw verbal insults but caused physical pain to our noble Prophet (peace be upon him). Sadly, this irresponsible and reprehensible behaviour will continue for years to come as long as Islam continues to grow in strength and plays a very constructive role in the society,” mentioned Sir Iqbal.

Sir Iqbal also said, “There are mischievous and arrogant elements and Islamophobe in the society whose main role is to demonise Islam and create havoc. The question that needs to be asked is how should Muslims react to this abuse and insult carried out in the name of freedom of expression.”

Speaking about how Muslims should react to this type of abuse, Sir Iqbal mentioned, “First and foremost we should follow the example of how our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) responded to such attacks. He responded evil actions with good actions. He was brought in as Mercy to Mankind and his exemplary behaviour towards his adversaries is a shinning example of how we should react to such situation. We are living in a society where we have a right to express our views freely without fear of prosecution. Such abuse and insult should be challenged in a responsible manner. We need to assert the principle of civility in communication. We also need to assert that we are living in a civilised society where the society demands responsible journalism. There is no such thing as freedom of expression in its absolute sense. It only exists in a state of anarchy.”

In this connection, Sir Iqbal pointed out that in every civilised society, there are laws that curb freedom of expression such as laws of defamation, laws of censorship, and laws of treason. These laws are there to protect the society against mischief and commotion.

Sir Iqbal mentioned, “In nearly every country in the west, we have laws that protect the group of people because of their culture and religion such as Jews who have protection against anti-Semitism and denial of holocaust. The gay community is protected against discrimination and anyone who insults them can be prosecuted under the equality legislation as homophobic. We have laws of inciting religious hatred but unfortunately it is very narrow and does not protect faith communities against vilification of their faith. It is about time that the national and international laws give protection to faith communities against act of sacrilege and vilification.”

Talking about how to tackle this sort of vilification, Sir Iqbal mentioned about the historical resolution asking for the international convention on vilification, “It is now more than 20 years since the UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs first presented resolution to the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) for the need of International Convention on Vilification. Since then the OIC has been working over the years with the United Nations to bring about such Convention. It is heartening to note today vast number of Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan among many, are strongly advocating for such convention which will send a powerful signal to the world community that vilification or demonization of any faith or religion is unacceptable in a civilised society.”

British Parliamentarian Khalid Mahmood,

MP for Perry Barr, Birmingham

I had the opportunity to talk to British Parliamentarian, Khalid Mahmood, Member of Parliament from Perry Barr, Birmingham and I enquired about the anti-Islam movie. Mr. Mahmood said, “The purpose of this type of anti-Islam movie is to antagonise the Muslim community. What is needed for us to do is that “We will have to rise above it and deal with it diplomatic and constructive way.”

“Rather than demonstration, we should have demand for state sanction against this issue,” said Mr. Mahmood.

Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn

I also met Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn and wanted to know his opinion about the Movie entitled “Innocence of Muslims”, Lord Patel said, “Publishers of that Film knew that Muslims throughout the world are going to oppose and going to give free publicity for them. So directly or indirectly we are fulfilling their objectives. For that particular reason we should totally keep quiet and should not give free publicity to them.”

Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham

I spoke to Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham, the first Muslim Peer of the House of Lords and enquired his observation on the concerned movie, Lord Ahmed said, “When they attack black people, we call it “Racism”. When they attack Jewish people, we call it “Anti-Semitism”. When they attack women, we call it sexism and “Gender discrimination”. When they attack Homosexuality, we call it “homophobia and intolerance”. When they attack a religious sect, we call it “Hate speech”. But when they attack the dignity of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) they call it “Freedom of expression”. Why???”

Referring to the violent protest and demonstration, Lord Ahmed said, “Burning our own buildings and killing our own police officers is not an answer. An international law against incitement to religious hatred and rules for YouTube and Google is a must. Freedom of Expression balanced with responsibility.”

Lord Ahmed also mentioned, “This amateur abusive, insulting and filth film is not worthy of the reaction shown by Muslims. Certain leaders have used it for their own political power. It needs an intellectual response. Here are the great examples about our Prophet (peace be upon him).”

Lord Ahmed said, “Rational approach of all believing people at all times should be to present facts as they are. Truth always conquers falsehood - no matter what?”

Lord Ahmed mentioned what other believing people had to say about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)!

Alphonse de La Martaine in 'Historie

de la Turquie,' Paris, 1854

“If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad?

"Philosopher, Orator, Apostle, Legislator, Conqueror of Ideas, Restorer of Rational beliefs.... The founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?"

Sir George Bernard Shaw in 'The Genuine

Islam,' Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936

“If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam." “I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity.”

“I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”

Michael Hart in 'The 100, A Ranking of the Most

Influential Persons In History,' New York, 1978

“My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the secular and religious level. ...It is probable that the relative influence of Muhammad on Islam has been larger than the combined influence of Jesus Christ and St. Paul on Christianity. ...It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history.”

Rodwell in the Preface to his translation

of the Holy Qur'an

“Mohammad's career is a wonderful instance of the force and life that resides in him who possesses an intense faith in God and in the unseen world. He will always be regarded as one of those who have had that influence over the faith, morals and whole earthly life of their fellow men, which none but a really great man ever did, or can exercise; and whose efforts to propagate a great verity will prosper.”

W. Montgomery Watt in 'Muhammad at Mecca,'

Oxford, 1953

“His readiness to undergo persecution for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as a leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement - all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems that it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad.... Thus, not merely must we credit Muhammad with essential honesty and integrity of purpose, if we are to understand him at all; if we are to correct the errors we have inherited from the past, we must not forget the conclusive proof is a much stricter requirement than a show of plausibility, and in a matter such as this only to be attained with difficulty.”

Hajj: A Lifetime Spiritual Journey

Dr. Mozammel Haque

ISLAM IS A PRACTICAL RELIGION which lays down a complete code of life. It makes various provisions for creating peace and harmony in the lives of mankind as well as in the universe. Peace and harmony can be achieved only when there is solidarity and universal brotherhood among human beings. Islam preaches this concept and puts it into practice through the unique annual assemblage of the pilgrims during Hajj.

The institution of Hajj in Islam is quite extraordinary and unparalleled. It is only Islam that has made the annual assemblage at one place, Makkah, an obligation for the capable Muslims from all corners of the world. In other words, it may be called the World Muslim Congress. This assembly has many distinctive features which no other gathering has and no other religion stipulates. The concept of unity and brotherhood is embedded in Islam in such a way that one is truly amazed to see millions of Muslims dressed in two white sheets of cloth gathered at one particular place, i.e. in Arafat during a fixed time on certain fixed days in the year. All human and man-made barriers and distinctions are demolished during that assembly.

We shall here deal with the aspects of unity and universal brotherhood which, besides others, are quintessential among the concepts of Hajj. First, let us take universal brotherhood. This universal brotherhood emanates from the following basic concepts and is demonstrated in a most authentic and brilliant manner here on this occasion:

Adam is the first man from whom all human beings have sprung up;

Abraham is the father of monotheistic religion;

Acceptance of all prophets as prophets of God;

Belief in all revealed books of Allah.

Thus, this acceptance of Abraham as the patriarch of the concept of Tawheed and recognition of the continuity of Prophethood from Prophet Adam to the Last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and having faith in all revealed books keeps up a chain of faith known as Islam throughout the world. This binds the whole humankind into a bond of brotherhood whose genealogical father is Adam and the spiritual father Abraham. Thus Muslims believe in the continuation of the human race on earth. There are no conflicts and controversies in the monotheistic religion decreed by God. All Muslims (those who consciously and willingly surrender to the Will of the Creator) belong to this Ummah and therefore constitute a fraternity of faith. This is one way the Hajj conveys the message of universal brotherhood.

This aspect of universal brotherhood can also be noticed during Hajj when Muslims come from remote corners of the world and congregate in Makkah in the vicinity of the House of God, i.e. Baitullah. Though they might have come from the east or west, north or south, and all differences in colour, language, race and nationality notwithstanding, they find their oneness on the basis of their faith in One God, One Qiblah, One Book and One Prophet.

The practical training for this universal brotherhood starts from the local or neighbourhood level with the five times daily prayers in the mosque, which gets enlarged with the Friday prayers once a week. The circle is again made substantially larger during the Eid prayer, and it becomes internationalised transforming into a global gathering once in a lifetime. So the concept and training in universal brotherhood, which reaches its peak, starts from the very childhood at the local level.

As regards unity, Islam, first of all, removed all man-made bonds and barriers bringing all human beings into one global family tracing their genealogical origin to common parents and biological chemistry to one element, i.e. clay. Almighty God has laid down in the Holy Qur’an, “O Mankind, We have created you from a male and a female.” (49: 13) This establishment of absolute equality on the basis of their ancestral origin and biological composition removes all artificial differences between man and man.

The enforcement of the concept of Muslim brotherhood is the greatest social ideal of Islam. Islam places emphasis on unity and unifies mankind on the basis of one God, one Book - the Qur’an, one Qibla - the Ka’aba and one leader - the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Noble Prophet’s mission was to establish unity and peace throughout the world. The Islamic concept of unity transcends all other forms of unity based on territory, geographical boundary, linguistic and ethnic affinity. He united Muslims on the basis of faith, which is the Oneness of God, Islam.

On this vital concept was based the Prophet’s sermon in his last pilgrimage, which shows that Islam cannot be completely practiced until this ideal is achieved. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) unified and cemented the Muslim Ummah under the banner of La ilaha illallah Muhammadur-Rasoolullah by establishing the first-ever Islamic state in Madina, which later on took the shape of a grand Caliphate. Under the Caliphate the Muslim Ummah was unified and integrated. Thus the first concept of universal and worldwide unity was demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad more than fourteen hundred years ago having been guided and inspired by God for establishing unity and peace in the world.

Islam is essentially a community and group-oriented religion. So, the practical lesson in unity and equality first starts within the family, then in the neighbourhood, especially through the institution of five daily prayers in the mosque and still on a larger scale in the locality, during weekly Friday prayers, and then in much larger gatherings in the two Eid prayers and ultimately in the international or global gathering during Hajj. This very characteristic and feature of Islam demonstrates the universality of this religion and its heavenly origin which transcends all worldly barriers of race, colour, class and nationality.

Pilgrimage is the best occasion to bind again the loose threads, tighten them on the basis of belief and in the presence of God and frustrate the nefarious machinations of the enemies of the Ummah’s unity.

Another aspect of Hajj is making sacrifice in the way of God for the cause of Islam. As Islam itself is a religion of sacrifice, its different pillars also contain the same features and characteristics. It is a known fact that the Islamic or Hijra calendar starts with the month of Muharram and ends with the month of Hajj. The first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram, is the month of sacrifice – a sacrifice made by the grandson of Muhammad, Hussain ibn Ali, who laid down his life at Kufa in the cause of Islam and its ideals. Similarly, the 12 months of the Hijra calendar, the month of Hajj, marks the remembrance of the sacrifice made by the Prophet Ibrahim for the sake of God and His Pleasure.

The Patriarch, the first Prophet of monotheistic religion, Islam, the Prophet Ibrahim was ready to sacrifice his most loved one for the sake of God. He loved his only son, Ismail, more than anything else. God asked him to sacrifice Ismail. Ibrahim was going to sacrifice Ismail, in the way of God by His Order. The Holy Qur’an explains the story of Ibrahim and his son Ismail thus:

Then when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: “O my son; I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice. Now say what is your view.” (The son) said: “O my father; do as you are commanded; you will find me, if God so wills, one practising patience and constancy.” So when they had both submitted their wills (to God), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him, “O Ibrahim; you have already fulfilled the vision; thus indeed do We reward those who do right.” (37:102-105) The Qur’an says: “And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice.” (37:107)

The sacrifices made by Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail for the love of God left an indelible imprint on the history of mankind. This sacrifice is still remembered and re-enacted during Hajj. Ibrahim left a glorious record of sacrifice to please God.

In modern times, sacrifice is symbolised by an act of slaughtering a camel, cow or lamb for the sake of God during the days of Eid-al Adha, i.e. starting after the Eid prayer till the sunset on the third day of Eid. Sacrifice is a strongly recommended Sunnah of the Prophet and was introduced in the second year after Hijra. The purpose of sacrifice is to remind oneself of the great sacrifice of Ibrahim.

The sacrifice of life and wealth in the way of God is the zenith of a man’s belief. God says: “By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely) of that which you love; and whatever you give, of a truth God knows it well.” (Al-Qur’an 3:92) This means that when something, which has been held so dear, is sacrificed in the way of God one may hope to secure God’s Pleasure. The verse tells us that to attain righteousness one has to sacrifice things, but to attain it in perfection one has to sacrifice things, dearer to one.

Every sacrifice and every effort is to be aimed at seeking God’s Pleasure. That God be pleased with us is the real capital of our lives and it is to win this pleasure that everything should be sacrificed. In the words of the Qur’an: “Surely my prayers and my sacrifice, my life and my death is for God alone, the Lord of the Universe.”

In the modern age, the pilgrims, when they start their journey to Makkah for performing Hajj with only two white sheets on their bodies leaving behind their wives, children, kith and kin and their wealth and properties, they practically exemplify their act of sacrifice for the love of God.

Hajj is the greatest training and practical demonstration of the spirit of sacrifice and the spirit of Jihad in the way of God. It shows that Islam does not end with giving some utopian ideals for the human life. It is not only a religion, it is the guidance for the whole mankind to shape their lives in this world and hereafter. That’s why God makes provision for the teaching and training of humankind in every quality through practical implementation.

Launch of British Hajj Delegation 2012

at the Islamic Cultural Centre

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The British Hajj Delegation, a new Charitable organisation headed by Lord Adam Patel, the former leader of the official British Hajj Delegation, was launched at the Islamic Cultural Centre (ICC), London, on the 29th of September, 2012. It is not the British government official Hajj delegation; it is a private initiative whose chairman is Lord Adam Patel. Of course, Lord Patel has been the leader of the official British Hajj Delegation from 2001 to 2009. From 2010 the British Government had been sending a British Hajj Consular Delegation responsible for the pilgrims.

At the very beginning, I want to make a clear-cut distinction between British Hajj Delegation (official/Government) and British Hajj Delegation (private initiative, may be a charity organisation). Are you confused? Let me make it clear.

British Hajj Delegation (official): Background

First go back to the background history of the formation of British Hajj Delegation (official). As early as September, 1990, the Union of Muslim Organizations, UK & Eire (UMO), under the leadership of Dr. Syed Aziz Pasha, called upon the UMO to “continue its negotiations with the British Government to establish an official Hajj Mission to assist the increasing number of British Muslims who are performing Hajj every year.” Next year, again in 1991, UMO passed resolution to the effect that this conference “called upon the British Foreign Office to reconsider its position with regard to the establishment of an official Hajj Mission in coordination with the UMO.”

The Association of British Hujjaj (ABH) approached the Foreign Office, and the first meeting between the ABH and Foreign Office Minister Baroness Symons was held on 15th July 1999, in the House of Lords. The Minister agreed to facilitate Hajj arrangements to provide healthcare, welfare and support services, such as bereavement, lost pilgrims, loss of luggage, passport, flight tickets and money etc. for British Hujjaj at Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Pasha had been continuing calling upon the government till Lord Nazir Ahmed was appointed a Peer in the House of Lords when Lord Ahmed, as he has been in the House of Lords, asked the British government to form a delegation that can lead the Muslim members of the British community to Hajj. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office at that time under the leadership of Baroness Symons who first established this service for the British Hujjaj. As a result, the British government was the first European or rather first Western government that actually appointed the British Hajj Delegation in 1999.

After a series of meetings at the Foreign Office, history was made. The first ever British Hajj Delegation, headed by Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, went to Saudi Arabia to help British pilgrims at Makkah during the Hajj period in 2000. This delegation set up a camp in Makkah during Hajj 2000 to provide full range of free medical, safety and consular facilities to the British Hajj pilgrims. This delegation has dedicated services to the British pilgrims on an annual basis each year since 2000.

Recollecting those days, Baroness Lady Symons of Vernham said at the House of Lords on 9 April, 2003, “Since 2000, we have supported and funded Hajj delegations. I remember well the valuable help that the noble Lord, Lord Ahmed, gave me in trying to set up that initiative. It involves a partnership between government and the Muslim community and has also been led by the noble Lord, Lord Patel of Blackburn. This year's delegation, which included eight medical staff, helped about 10 per cent of 15,000 British pilgrims. The noble Lord can take much credit for having been part of the trigger that got that going. We have also been running successful Islamic awareness training courses for our staff.”

Thus British Hajj Delegation was started in 1999 and Lord Ahmed led the first British Hajj Delegation to Saudi Arabia in 2000 and from next year, 2001 to the year, 2009, Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn led the British Hajj Delegation. The British Hajj Delegation, since it has started, has directly supported over 23,000 British Pilgrims over the last 13 years.

British Hajj Delegation, 2000-2009

The British Hajj Mission represented an exemplary cooperation between the British Government, the Saudi Government, and the British Muslim Community. The British Hajj Mission was in cooperation with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) had a series of meetings. In 1999 Baroness Symons announced that the first British Hajj Delegation led by Lord Ahmed of Rotherham went in 2000 for Saudi Arabia. In the second year, i.e. 2001, Baroness Scotland announced that the second British Hajj Delegation led by Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn would lead the delegation for 2001. But, as the British Hajj Mission represented an exemplary cooperation between the British Government, the Saudi Government and the British Muslim Community, thus from 2002, the British Hajj Delegation was launched from the Islamic Cultural Centre, London.

From the very beginning, the British Hajj Delegation was sent to Saudi Arabia by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in partnership with the British Muslim Community. From 2002 to 2006, every year, the British Hajj Delegation was launched by the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw from the Islamic Cultural Centre, Regents Park Mosque, London and it was attended by Lord Patel and Dr. Ahmed Dubayan, Director General of the Centre. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in partnership with the British Muslim community had been sending British Hajj Delegation to Makkah to provide help and support to the thousands of British pilgrims.

The British Hajj Delegation used to launch every year its delegation before the Hajj. It used to go to Saudi Arabia every year; held medical clinics, free medical treatment and offer consular advice in Makkah. There was a partnership among the British Government, the Saudi Government and the British Muslim Community. The Delegation used to comprise of 9 doctors, 3 consular officials and Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn, the leader of the Delegation.

In this connection, it should also be mentioned that in the first two/ three years, so far as I remember, there was a British Hajj Advisory Committee where the Muslim organisations including ICC, MCB, UMO and others were members and they used to meet with the leader and staff of the British (Government official) Hajj Delegation and discussed about different aspects of Hajj.

British Hajj Consular Delegation, 2010-2011

In 2010, the British Hajj Consular Delegation was launched from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) by the Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Minister without Portfolio. “Lord Patel has done tremendous amount of work and Lord Ahmed who set up the delegation also did tremendous amount of work,” said Baroness Warsi, at the launching of the British Hajj Delegation on 27th of October 2010 from the Durbar Court, FCO, London.

In the year, 2011, the British Hajj Consular Delegation was launched from the Durbar Court of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the presence of Baroness Warsi, Cabinet Minister without Portfolio, Jeremy Browne, Foreign Office Minister and HE Prince Mohammad bin Nawaf Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in the United Kingdom and Ireland on the 10th of October, 2011. The launching event was attended by Ambassadors, diplomatic representatives of different Muslim Embassies in London, Community leaders and media personnel.

British Hajj Delegation 2012 (Private initiative)

That was the brief history and functioning of the British Government official Hajj Delegation or which we can say the British Hajj Delegation (official/ government) (see details, visit http://islamicmonitor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/hajj-and-british-muslims-historical.html) . Now the British Hajj Delegation launch that took place on 29th September this year, i.e. 2012 is not an official British Hajj Delegation, nor is it launched by Foreign Secretary or any Minister from Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). It is a British Muslim private initiative.

Dr. Ahmad Al-Dubayan

While welcoming the launching of the new organisation, British Hajj Delegation, Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan, the Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre, mentioned about the remarkable initiative by the British Muslim community to help Hajjis. He said, “As far as I know there is nothing similar in Germany, France and Italy, or Spain or any other country in Europe. Foreign office gratefully participated for many years with this under the leadership of Lord Patel and who did a lot of efforts to let this committee or delegation continue to be a tradition of the Muslim community of this country. But unfortunately, for lot of circumstances and situations that was not possible.”

Dr. Dubayan said now it is the task of the Muslim community to continue this initiative and to let it flourish and develop.

On behalf of the British Muslim community, Dr. Dubayan acknowledged the support and all the efforts of the Saudi Embassy in the UK (whose representative is HE Abdul Rahman Al-Aneezi who is with us today) in tackling problems related to facilitation of the Hajis. He also appreciated the continuous support of Abdul Rahman Al-Aneezi, Counsellor of the Saudi Embassy in the UK all these years.

He also admired the efforts done by the Health Ministry of Saudi Arabia to guarantee to have safe Hajj every year and every season.

Referring to the large gathering of three to four million people coming together from all corners of the world, Dr. Dubayan said, “Let me say a big occasion needs a special kind of management; a special kind of care; a special kind of attention. This is something remarkable and it should not be forgotten and we should thank them for all the work they are doing in all these years.”

Dr. Dubayan further said that taking care of around four million Hajis who come from all walks of life is not an easy feat. He said that managing a pilgrimage of such a magnitude every year is indeed remarkable because the guests of Allah are given special care and attention.

HE Abdur Rahman Aneezi

HE Abdul Rahman Al-Aneezi, Counsellor from the Saudi Embassy in UK, said, “During Hajj, millions of Muslims, old and young, rich and poor from the world all over gather in one place, at the same time, standing together on an equal footing, and dressed as one. Hajj is a true reflection of the principles of Islam where no man or woman is better than another and all Muslims are equal in the eyes of God.”

“Hajj is an occasion where Muslims from all nations are given a golden opportunity to know each other better and learn more about each other’s issues and concerns and practice Islam’s teachings of compassion, tolerance, care, and cooperation with others,” said Mr.Al- Aneezi.

Mr. Al-Aneezi also mentioned, “In Saudi Arabia, we are truly blessed with the distinct honour and responsibility of being the custodians, stewards and servants of Islam’s most important holy places including the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. This is a blessing that we thank God for, and a responsibility which we do not take lightly.”

“The kingdom puts its responsibility to Islam first. It puts an immense human, financial and administrative effort into caring for these sites and for pilgrims visiting them from around the world including British Muslims,” he said.

Mr. Aneezi also said, “Hardly a week or month passes without a new project being launched to improve and care for these holy sites.”

The number of Muslims visiting Saudi Arabia each year for religious reasons is expected to increase as the number of Muslims throughout the world continues to grow. Mr. Aneezi said, “As a result, the kingdom is constantly challenged to improve its facilities and the services it provides to meet the needs of this ever increasing number of pilgrims.”

He also enlightened the audience about the plan of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to expand the Prophets’ Mosque in Madinah.

Lord Adam Patel

Lord Adam Patel, chairman of the newly-formed Charity organisation, British Hajj Delegation, said the core of the British Hajj Delegation works is in the provision of the medical support to the British and other Hujjaj in Makkah and Mina.

Lord Patel praised the commitment and selfless dedication of the doctors who voluntarily give up 16 days of their time each year. He mentioned, “The doctors see a variety of medical condition, ranging from minor condition right through the most threatening one and having the advantage of British Delegation at Mina where the doctors are able to treat the minor conditions and refer to the serious ones to the local Saudi hospitals.”

Lord Patel mentioned, “A Report Commissioned by the UK Government Foreign & Commonwealth Office a few years ago estimated that over one million pounds are saved every year as a result of the work carried out by the British Hajj Delegation. Alhamdo Lillah. Just to put that into perspective we have now supported over 30,000 people in the last 11 years.”

Lord Patel also mentioned, “Looking after the estimated 25,000 pilgrims from the UK and the estimated two million from around the world is no easy task. No other country in the world has to do anything similar on an annual basis. If you just cast your mind back to a few months where our great city of London hosted the Olympic and Paralympics games how much planning went into that.”

“I am always impressed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in how it constantly meets the challenges that Hajj presents; not only that but how eager it is to serve the guests of Almighty Allah by continuously improving the infrastructure for Hajjis,” said Lord Patel and highlighted the works done at some of the key holy sites. These include expansion of the Haram and the Jamarat; the Mashair train that runs between Makkah, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat, among many others.

While concluding his speech Lord Patel paid his “tribute to Baroness Scotland and the then Foreign Secretary Jack Straw who gave us valuable help in our infancy” and expressed his heartfelt thanks to “the Ambassador HE Prince Mohammad bin Nawaf and his officials in the Saudi embassy in London for their unrelenting support over the years. Of course to Dr. Dubayan, who was part of the team right from the beginning.”

Dr. Ali Hamed Gamdi

Dr. Ali Hamed S. Al-Ghamdi, Health Attache from the Saudi Cultural Bureau in UK mentioned, “We have a very good and unique experience in the world with managing health and crowd. The UK government during the Olympic games sought the advice of the Saudi government about how they can go to manage crowd in the Olympics.”

Mr. Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, and Baroness Paula Uddin, also addressed the gathering and promised their cooperation.

Hajj Awareness Week 2012

launched at the House of Lords

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The Association of British Hujjaj, UK, (ABH) the oldest Hajj-related National charity organisation, launched Hajj Awareness Week 2012 at the House of Lords, on Tuesday, the 9th of October 2012. The purpose of this launch was to raise awareness of the health & safety issues amongst the 25,000 prospective British Pilgrims who are joining over two million pilgrims from around the world in Makkah. To support this prestigious event, members of the House of Lords, Government officials, diplomats and community dignitaries were present.

Lord Ahmed of Rotherham

Lord Ahmed, Patron of the British Hujjaj Association, who has been working together with the ABH along with Lord Hunt for the last 13 years reminded the gathering that Labour government initiated first and the historic Hajj Delegation which he had the honour of leading to Makkah, Mina and Arafat in 2000 on behalf of the British government and more importantly to serve the people, 25,000 British Hujjaj there.

Lord Ahmed paid tribute to Khalid Pervez and his dedicated team at the ABH who has been working tirelessly voluntarily for the 13/14 years and carrying out an extensive campaign to raising awareness of pre-travel health & safety issues through high profile multi-lingual publicity campaigns, because Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam which is very important for Muslims.

In his welcoming remarks, Lord Ahmed mentioned about tour operators. He said majority of the tour operators are very good and they do good job. But there is one or two who are fraudulent and it is always time to remind people to be aware of those fraudulent people who take money and run away. The ABH addresses the extremely serious issue of the worsening situation of exploitation of British Hujjaj who experience extreme hardship at the hands of unscrupulous tour operators and travel agents.

Lord Ahmed went on to highlight the importance of this event, saying that “to perform the Hajj in the safest and best possible manner, pilgrims must be aware of all aspects of performing Hajj, by launching this awareness campaign, we will enhance Hajj related health & safety awareness amongst British pilgrims.”

Lord Ahmed acknowledged and appreciated the fantastic work of the Saudi government by saying that Saudi government provides very good service in Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. He mentioned “when we have 50,000 or 100,000 refugees or even people in any one event it is almost impossible for us.”

The admirable facilities provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were praised by Lord Ahmed. He mentioned about the preparations for the Olympics and said, quite frankly to have three million people from overseas and three to four million locals that come from the Arabian peninsula for Hajj in Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat are provided services with food water and everything year after year.

Lord Phil Hunt, Deputy Leader

House of Lords

Lord Phil Hunt, deputy leader of the House of Lords, who has been working with the ABH recollected 13 years ago when he first came to a meeting in Birmingham to talk about the issue of safety and health, since then thousands of pilgrims have gone from UK on pilgrimage and the number grows year on year. Lord Hunt said, there have been vast improvements and the campaign about health immunization has undoubtedly had a major impact and because of it many lives has been saved. But we know we can’t be complacent I think two people have lost their lives last year.

Lord Hunt also mentioned that although we meet every year we don’t become complacent; we don’t underestimate the need for programmes like this to get this point across to the many pilgrims who go from the United Kingdom. So it is great pleasure for me to take part in this event and of course the event in Birmingham.

“One thing I have learnt from speaking at various occasions has been the issue of tour operators. Like Lord Ahmed, my good friend, I very much agree that most operators do responsible job, as we heard from Birmingham Trading Standards department. There are enough instances where this is not happened; we have serious problem,” said Lord Hunt and mentioned, “When we first debated this in Birmingham few years ago and of course no action being taken against any operator.”

Lord Hunt said, “I remember, we had representation from Birmingham Trading Standard Department and I think from that moment it became clear that we had a department which is going to be prepared to be serious and I think we should pay a great tribute to it and for the work they have done. In Birmingham we belief we are the leading city in the UK where Birmingham leads and other follow.”

While launching Hajj Awareness Week in Birmingham 10 days ago, Lord Hunt said that it seems to me that no greater symbol of the need for us to be tolerated and integrated is the fact that there has been a real effort by the previous government and I hope by this government another agency to actually support pilgrims on this great journey and I think for me it is a symbol of a kind of a country we are and wanted to be. That’s why I am proud to be invited here again today.

Deputy Leader of the House of Lords commended the hard work and continuous efforts made over a decade by the Association of British Hujjaj to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of Hajj pilgrims. He assured his full support towards this noble and humanitarian cause for helping and protecting the British Hajj pilgrims from hardship and difficulties.

Dr. Syed Raza Hussain

Dr. Syed Raza Hussain from ABH talked about Meningitis awareness. He does annually and the importance of this injections and the legal requirement from Saudi authorities. Dr Hussain strongly urged the prospective pilgrims to safeguard against infectious diseases such as Meningitis which is a killer disease. Meningitis is a sure killer. Save yourself by timely action. Get vaccinated today. I repeat get vaccinated TODAY. Because TOMORROW might be too late; or indeed who knows, it may never ever come at all, he said and added, therefore, all the prospective pilgrims must ensure to get the Meningitis vaccination before they leave for Hajj.

Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed

Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, chairman of the Muslim Doctors Association, stressed that prospective pilgrims must take every precaution to ensure their Health and Safety during Hajj because they are always at high risk of contracting infectious diseases due to factors such as crowded conditions at ceremonies, accommodation sites, and public transport.

Mr. Saleh Kiyani

Mr. Saleh Kiyani, Minister for Communities and Welfare at Pakistan High Commission, London, emphasized on the need to create awareness about Hajj among the community and said those who are involved in this noble and religious work will get their reward from Allah the Almighty. About 25,000 pilgrims go for Hajj every year and they travelled from UK, Mr. Kiyani said. He is grateful to the Association of British Hujjaj for organising every year seminar to create awareness about Hajj among the pilgrims.

The officials from Police, Trading Standards Department, and ABTA also spoke and ensured that the Government authorities will make every effort to help and protect British Hajj pilgrims from exploitation at the hands of unscrupulous and rogue tour and travel operators.

Ms. Kaya Rebecca

Ms. Kaya Rebecca, Trading Standards Officer from Buckinghamshire County Council Trading Standards, explaining the different Travel Package Regulations and what the Trading Standards departments can do, said, help us to protect others by eliminating the rogues and bringing the security back into making this, the greatest of journeys. She also mentioned about those leaflets approved and developed by ABH such as BIS information for booking a pilgrimage Package, BIS information for organisers of package trips, Hajj-Essential information about Fraud from the City of London Police; Hajj-Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice and Bucks County Hajj Survey form and envelop.

Mr. Asif Sadiq

Mr. Asif Sadiq from the City of London Police said to the community to come forward. He said, please don’t suffer in silence. If things go wrong, please have confidence on us and come forward.

Association of British Hujjaj Award

Earlier, while officially launching the Hajj Awareness Week 2012, Birmingham Trading Standards department was awarded for their hard work and achievements to ensure the strict implementation of UK Laws. The Association of British Hujjaj declared this year’s Award which was presented to Ms. Sajeela Naseer, Head of Birmingham Trading Standards and Mr. Mohammed Tariq, Senior Trading Standards Officer, for their hard work and achievements for the British pilgrims. The ABH started the Award presentation ceremony, for the first time, last year in 2011 when Mr. Surbuland and Dr. Mozammel Haque were chosen as “Friends of the Association of British Hujjaj”.

The Association of British Hujjaj, UK, a National Charity, formed in 1998, has been working closely with the Government Departments and British Muslim Community to coordinate their efforts for the welfare of British Hujjaj.

UK launches Hajj Consular Delegation

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The 14th Hajj Consular Delegation to accompany British pilgrims to Saudi Arabia has been launched today, the 19th of October 2012 by the Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds.

This is the 14th year of the Hajj Consular Delegation, which has now provided consular support to thousands of British Hajjis.

Foreign Office Minister responsible for Consular Services, Mark Simmonds said: “We understand how deeply important the Hajj is to the Muslim community and I have been taking a keen interest in preparations for the Hajj Consular Delegation. We are absolutely committed to providing appropriate Consular services to British Pilgrims during Hajj through having consular officers on the ground in Makkah and Jeddah. Last year we provided a wide range of consular support, including replacing emergency travel documentation and supporting British pilgrims who required urgent medical assistance.”

Foreign Office Minister acknowledged the excellent facilities and services provided by Saudi Arabian government to all pilgrims. He said, “Saudi Arabia provides excellent facilities and services to all pilgrims and I would like to thank Saudi Arabia for everything it does for British Pilgrims on Hajj.”

Foreign Office Minister Mr. Simmonds wished a peaceful, successful and rewarding pilgrimage to those undertaking Hajj this year. “Effective preparation by pilgrims – such as ensuring they have appropriate travel insurance and carry copies of their passports and other important documentation – is key to ensuring a safe and trouble-free Hajj. I hope that all those undertaking Hajj this year will have a peaceful, successful and rewarding pilgrimage,” he said.

Approximately 25,000 British Muslims are expected to participate in this year Hajj. A British Hajj Delegation (BHD) has been based in Makkah every year since 1999. This year’s Hajj is expected to take place from 24-29 October.

Foreign Office press release mentioned, “Our focus remains providing appropriate support to those in need.”

“Last year the consular delegation provided a wide range of support to British Muslims. This included: providing emergency travel documentation to replace lost or stolen passports; support to hospitalised pilgrims; making the necessary logistical and bureaucratic arrangements for bereaved families in the event of death and advice to British pilgrims who were victims of unscrupulous tour operators and assisting referring these cases to the Ministry of Hajj,” it said.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised British Pilgrims to visit the FCO website for travel advice and 2012 Hajj information leaflets (website at: www.fco.gov.uk)

The Delegation will be located at the Elaf Kinda Hotel, Makkah. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides 24-hour telephone support for British pilgrims. Please contact Saudi number 00966 (0) 501 128 731.

Holy Makkah is all set to

welcome Guests of Allah

Dr. Mozammel Haque

For the last four weeks I have been writing in this column about Hajj and what the British intending pilgrims have to do before going for Hajj. I think, now the time has come to inform the intending pilgrims about the rules and regulations, the facilities and arrangement on the ground in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is imperative for the prospective Pilgrims to be aware of the rites and rituals, rules and regulations of Hajj. Similarly, it is essential for them to take care of their health and to know about the safety and security matters.

Redouble efforts in service of Pilgrims,

King Abdullah directs officials

King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has directed all concerned officials to redouble their efforts to provide all necessary facilities to pilgrims to ensure that they are able to perform their Hajj rituals in ease and comfort.

Media campaign to spell out Hajj do’s and don’ts

The Governor of Makkah, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, chairman of the Central Hajj Committee, inaugurated the fifth national media campaign for Hajj pilgrims. He said the Kingdom’s services to pilgrims are inspired by its sense of commitment and its awareness that serving the guests of Allah is a great honour.

The campaign aims to improve the quality of service offered by the people in the region, he said. The campaign underscores the importance of scrupulous adherence to Hajj regulations, so that a healthy balance between the number of pilgrims and the spatial capacity of the holy sites is achieved besides getting rid of the squatting, and easing the crowding at the Jamarat and Grand Mosque.

The campaign is based on major principles such as respecting the place and event of the Hajj, respecting the men who go for Hajj in a legal manner and the obedience to regulations governing the pilgrimage, he said. The campaign aims to warn those who go for Hajj without permit about the punishment involved in violating Hajj regulations.

All Hajj Pilgrims need to have vaccinated

The Saudi Ministry of Health has asked pilgrims to make sure that they are vaccinated against meningitis, cholera, yellow fever and dengue fever. It is learnt that disease-detection equipment has been deployed at the health centres of King Abdul Aziz International Airport and Jeddah Islamic Port. Specialised team will review the health certificates of passengers to see what vaccinations they have had. All the 16 entry points of the pilgrims into the Kingdom will be strictly monitored against any contagious disease.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Pilgrims’ Housing

Regulations governing pilgrims’ housing that were introduced four years ago have effectively helped in eradicating many malpractices in the field. Under this law no ramshackle house or aging building will be rented to any pilgrim. Moreover, the law has significantly contributed to the enforcement of safety conditions in 7,000 buildings used for pilgrims’ housing. It is reported that all licensed buildings are almost new, resembling five-star hotels.

26,000-strong force for security

The Civil Defence Department would deploy around 26,000 men, 6,900 equipment and devices and 19 helicopters in Makkah and other holy sites during this Hajj season to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims. The department’s Hajj plan aimed at taking all preventive measures to protect the guests of Allah, provide them safety from floods and accidents and ensure speedy intervention in case of emergencies.

The department would have more than 450 field units and teams in Makkah and other holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah to deal with dangers and accidents quickly, adding that they have been provided with equipment to fight fire and rescue people.

Large Helicopter fleet deployed for Hajj security

The Saudi authorities have deployed a bigger fleet of helicopters in Hajj security operations this year, it is learnt. The force comprises pilots, technicians, engineers, administrators and paramedics, totally reaching 360. The total number of helicopters is 19, as mentioned earlier. They will participate in Hajj security; mainly will be used in firefighting in crowded areas, such as tents and warehouses, in addition to rescue operations and airlifting of casualties to hospitals.

Female officers to combat crime

For the first time the Public Security Department has decided to deploy female officers and dispatch them to places where male officers cannot enter during the Hajj season.

Additionally, 21 patrol teams, 8 teams for detecting and removing explosives as well as teams who keep a close watch on pickpockets at crowded places have been set up. Surveillance cameras installed all over Mina and Arafat to provide pilgrims with safety and security and allow them to perform their rituals with ease and comfort.

HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Saudi authorities have taken all precautions to prevent contagious diseases from spreading during the Hajj season, when nearly 2 million Muslims from all over the world flock to the Kingdom for the annual pilgrimage. Millions of people from different parts of the world living in a limited area for a number of days or weeks can easily spread infectious diseases and epidemics. Saudi government has astutely stepped in with compulsory vaccinations for all pilgrims.

Immunization during Hajj

All pilgrims are required to get immunized, 14 or more days before arrival in Saudi Arabia. The Meningitis vaccination was made mandatory following outbreaks of the disease in the country.

Pilgrims travelling to Hajj are given three vaccines: the meningococcal vaccine, which is mandatory for all Hajj travellers to protect against Meningitis; the seasonal influenza vaccine, which is required for people with heart, kidney and liver diseases to protect against pneumococcal diseases.

People at higher risk include those above 65 years of age, people with weakened immune systems, patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, lung, heart and kidney diseases and cancer.

Healthcare services

The Saudi Ministry of Health has announced its readiness to provide pilgrims with the best preventive, diagnostic and emergency healthcare services, it is learnt. According to a report, a new hospital has been opened east of Arafat to provide the required medical services to the pilgrims this Hajj. The 236-bed hospital has been built as per the highest international standards. It has 50-beds in its Intensive Care Unit, and 30-beds to deal with emergency cases.

15 hospitals, 175 centres to provide services

One hundred sixty-six healthcare facilities spread in Makkah, Madinah and other holy sites will be enough to cover all the pilgrims. These facilities include 25 hospitals with a capacity of 5,250 beds (20 per cent for intensive care and emergencies) and 141 primary healthcare centres. Around 20,000 healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, paramedics, technicians and administrators have been mobilized to serve pilgrims at these facilities, reported in the press.

15 hospitals with a combined capacity of 3,886 beds will provide pilgrims with services this year. Eight hospitals will be working round the clock in the holy sites. These are in Arafat and Mina.

In addition to the hospitals, 175 primary healthcare centres will be offering their services to pilgrims. In Makkah, 75 healthcare centres will be operational while in Arafat 46 will be open. In Mina, there will be 44 healthcare centres, six in Muzdalifah and five inside the Grand Mosque.

Further, to cater to the needs of specialised needs of pilgrims, it is learnt, a heart surgery unit at King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah has been provided with the latest state-of art equipment. More than 16,000 blood units have been secured to use them in case of injuries and operations, while more than 175 ambulance vehicles have been mobilized.

These services come in line with the comprehensive plan to serve pilgrims, mobilized all the human resources to provide exquisite medical healthcare services to pilgrims.

First aid course for women

Fifteen female volunteers from South Asia Tawafa Establishment have taken an intensive first-aid course in preparation for this year’s Hajj. The course trained the volunteers to provide first-aid services to pilgrims during emergencies. The first-aid course focused on cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, how to deal with epileptic cases, diabetic comas, wounds, fractures, sunstrokes, burns, cardiac arrests and others.

JAMARAT BRIDGE

It is learnt that the Aziziah flyover is connected to Jamarat this year, whereas in the past only the King Khalid flyover was the only connection. Saudi Arabia has spent SR7 billion on the five-level Jamarat Bridge that has 24 gates to avoid overcrowding on the bridge.

TRANSPORTATION

Mashair Train capacity increased

It is reported that Al-Mashair Train capacity will increase this year to 500,000 pilgrims, up from 250,000 last year, to reduce the number of buses. This year’s plan will ensure vehicular traffic and pedestrians are kept separate from each other.

Pakistani Pilgrims will use Mashair Train

Around 180,000 Pakistani pilgrims will be able to use the Mashair Train this Hajj season due to the efforts exerted by the Pakistani Hajj mission and its negotiations with Hajj authorities in the Kingdom. Pakistan is the first country whose pilgrims will use the Mashair Train instead of buses this year.

Vehicle tracking technology

Traffic police for the first time this Hajj season, it is learnt, will test mobile technology to electronically identify vehicles by placing cameras connected directly to the database of the National Information Centre on the roads and main entrances to Makkah. Monitoring will be completely electronic and will identify the vehicles, their projected route, how many have entered, and passengers’ names.

Taif Airport for Pilgrims

The Shoura Council of Saudi Arabia has approved the use of Taif Airport for the arrival and departure of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, it is learnt. The use of Taif Airport will help reduce the pressure on King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah. Taif Airport is located 30 km to the east of Taif and 70 km from Makkah.

Transporting all pilgrims between Makkah and Madinah this year will require 35,000 bus trips and each bus will need to carry out on average seven trips each.

CLEANLINESS IN THE HOLY SITES

The number of pilgrims coming from abroad is 1.7 million, and in coming years 4 million pilgrims will join them from within the country. All of them will head to the same place at the same time; therefore there is a need to put into place more plans to serve them.

Ensuring cleanliness in the holy sites

The main challenges that arise during Hajj, including ensuring cleanliness in the holy sites, were discussed at King Abdul Aziz University (KAU) in Jeddah recently. The meeting discussed management strategies for Hajj and recommended increasing the number of toilets and providing food from outdoor camps to prevent possible fires. There are 14 different bodies that work together to serve pilgrims.

MEALS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO PILGRIMS

Over 5 million meals will be distributed to pilgrims, who will be occupying three quarters of Makkah’s available accommodation this Hajj season, it is reported.

1 million free meals for pilgrims

It is also learnt that more than 4,000 volunteers, both male and female, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia will prepare around one million meals for Hajj pilgrims. The initiative was the brainchild of two local organisations in Dammam. A booklet written by Yusuf Estes, a former American minister who reverted to Islam in 1991, about the Prophet (peace be upon him) will be distributed with each meal.

EDUCATING THE PILGRIMS

This year, the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance has focused more on using electronic advertising boards at main squares and streets in Makkah and Madinah to educate pilgrims on the Hajj.

Six million books to educate pilgrims

Over 6 million books, films and pamphlets in different languages have been compiled for domestic pilgrims. For overseas pilgrims, the ministry has made 12 million Holy Qur’an copies and recordings in 32 languages. The ministry is also cooperating with 90 satellite channels as well as local Saudi TV and Radio to air educational programmes about the Hajj.

The main purpose and objective of this effort is to make the pilgrims understand the obligations and rulings related to Hajj and perform the rituals in the simplest way possible.

Upon arrival through land, air and sea entry ports, each pilgrim will be provided with two Hajj books, a copy of the Holy Qur’an and a Hajj CD. Upon departure, each pilgrim will be given four Hajj books.

Voluntary Medical Team in Holy Sites

On 18th of October, 2012, a voluntary Medical team under the British Hajj Delegation (BHD), a newly formed charity organisation, left for Saudi Arabia for the purpose of serving the British pilgrims, Lord Adam Patel, leader of the British Hajj Delegation, told me in an interview. The medical team consists of nine doctors; all of them are GP practitioners.

There will be two surgeries and one waiting room. The clinic will be effective from 19th of October and will be located in Makkah at the Burj Al-Sultan Hotel, Ibrahim Al-Khalil Street, Makkah and in Mina, the voluntary medical clinic of the BHD is set up in the tents near the Saudi Clinic No. 10 in the Europa Zone in Mina. It will be operative from 8th to 12th of Zil-Hijjah, Lord Patel said.

The clinic is usually open for around 14 to 16 hours every day. The clinic will be in Mina and Makkah for 5 days.

For contact, the following numbers in Saudi Arabia will be active from 19th of October, 2012 (Within Saudi Arabia; 0557 437 100 & 0557 440 200.)

Dr. Said Salman Abu Athera receives

Book prize from BRISMES

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Professor Clive Holes and Dr. Said Salman Abu Athera received prize for their book entitled “The Nabati Poetry of the United Arab Emirates: Selected Poems annotated and translated into English” from the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES).

Winner

Professor Clive Holes and

Dr. Said Salman Abu Athera

For the first time the BRIMES has launched a new book prize in Middle Eastern, North African and Islamic Studies, sponsored by Barclays Capital. This year’s book Prize Presentation ceremony was held at Barclays Building at Canary Wharf, London on Wednesday, 31st of October 2012.

About the book, The Narbati Poetry of the United Arab Emirates, one reviewer commented, “The work to collect, contextualize, record, translate poems in a dialect – and then to present translations that work for the non-specialist Anglophone reader – is truly something to laud”.

“In sum, this is an academic study that deliberately and successfully works to draw in a non-academic audience, introducing it to a pervasive aesthetic, social and political presence in the Arabic culture of the Gulf region.”

The authors of the book: Clive Holes is a Professor for the Study of the Contemporary Arab World, University of Oxford, Professorial Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford and

Dr. Said Salman Abu-Athera is Jordanian heritage, originally Palestinian, Bedouin from the south of Palestine. He completed his PhD from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He is an independent researcher into Bedouin poetry, lore, and customs, and an Associate Member of the Sub-Faculty of the Near and Middle Eastern Studies at Oxford. He has published and broadcast extensively in Arabic and acted as a consultant for UNESCO on Bedouin affairs. He is a founder member of the Jordanian National Committee for Cultural Heritage, and established the Centre for the Preservation of Bedouin Culture, a non-Profit NGO.

I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Said Salman Abu Athera. Speaking about the background of the preparation and publication of the book, Dr. Said said, one gentleman from the UNESCO in Paris approached Professor Clive Holes and Dr. Said Salman in the University of Oxford to do a book about Bedouin (Nabati) Poetry in the Emirates. Both Professor Clive and Dr. Said made the field work. Dr. Said went several times to choose poetry and all other things. He met many poets in the Emirates and selected very good amount of poetry and finished the project and sent that to Paris.

Dr. Said Salman said to me, “The UNESCO asked us to change at least eight points and we enquired why. The gentleman said we do not deal with politics. I said it is not our poetry; it is the poetry of Abu Dhabi or the Emirati poets. Their feelings about what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Palestine and the social problems of the Emirates. They are discussing these things in their poetry. It is not our poetry and we are not going to change. He said sorry we cannot put the UNESCO logo on it. We told him it is upto you, we don’t care.”

The book was published from Ithaca Press, Reading, April 2011.

Winner

Professor Konrad Hirschler

The BRIMES also announced another winner of the prize: Professor Konrad Hirschler for the book entitled, “The Written Word in the Medieval Arabic Lands: A Social and Cultural History of Reading Practices”.

I had the opportunity to interview Professor Konrad. Speaking about the book, Professor Konrad said, “I am looking at the two processes: on the one hand, I am looking at the Arabic society using the already written works in different context and on the other hand I am looking at what ways new social groups especially craftsmen and traders, say, the lower middle classes start to participate in the reading practices in the propagation and distribution of the written works in the contemporary new scale around the 12/13^thCentury in Egypt and Syria.”

About the book, one reviewer commented, “This is a clever book looking at the writing practices amongst Arab intellectual classes during the Middle Ages. It is well researched and very detailed in its presentation.”

“The research is meticulous, the arguments and evidence are beautifully presented, and comparative references to Europe as well as further east are interesting and mean that the book should have an audience far beyond Islamic Studies.”

About the author, Konrad Hirschler studied History and Islamic Studies in Hamburg, Bir-Zeit (Palestinian Territories) and London where he also completed his PhD. After four years at the University of Kiel (Germany) he joined the History Department of the School of Oriental and African Studies in 2007 and is currently Reader in history. His research focuses on Egypt and Syria in the medieval period with a special interest in social history, intellectual history and Crusades.

Alastair Newton, President of BRISMES thanked Barclays Capital for their generous funding of the Prize, and Dr. Mohammed A. Ramady, Visiting Associate Professor, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia who acts as the Society’s relationship manager with Barclays. He also thanked the judges Professor Beverley Milton-Edwards (Queen’s University, Belfast); Professor Marilyn Booth (University of Edinburgh); Dr Oliver Bast (University of Manchester); Professor Allan Hill (Harvard on secondment to Southampton) and Professor Rob Gleave (University of Exeter).

About the BRISMES

The British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (popularly known as BRISMES) was established in 1973 to encourage and promote the study of the Middle East in the United Kingdom. BRISMES is the UK’s premier higher education umbrella organisation for MENA studies, embracing all the top universities in the UK to promote the study of all aspects of the region. It brings together teachers, researchers, students, diplomats, journalists and others who deal professionally with the Middle East.

HRH Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

BRISMES Student Research Awards

In this connection, it may be mentioned that HRH Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has kindly agreed to sponsor research assistance funding for 5 students conducting research on Middle East related topics in the UK universities. Each successful applicant will receive a research award of one thousand pound sterling. .

Celebration of Eid-al-Adha

at the City Hall, London

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, invited leading representatives from the London’s Muslim communities at an evening reception to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha. The event, which was held in association with the Muslim News, took place on Friday, the 26^th of October, 2012 at the City Hall, London.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Foreign Office Minister, spoke of sacrifice, her Hajj. She said I can make a speech about the sacrifices people made at the First World War, about the sacrifices of the early immigrants and how they shaped the economy; about the achievements of two million Muslims in the UK and also the challenges, the real challenge Islamophobia.

While welcoming the representatives of the Muslim community to the Eid-ul-Adha reception, The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, talked about ‘the spirit of forbearance, devotion and sacrifice of Hajj’. He said, “That story is familiar to all readers of the Bible. What Abraham had to do and we saw Muslims of all ages took part in the pilgrimage in this year.”

Mr. Johnson also mentioned about Muslims who took part in the team of ambassadors, game makers and volunteers who helped us in the greatest Olympics. “There was record number of Muslim athletics who brought their courage. The greatest moments of the Olympic games.”

This year in the Olympic Games 2012, a 29-year Briton Mo Farah joined the sporting greats and produced an unforgettable crescendo to London’s Olympics as he added 5,000m Gold to his 10,000m title.

Speaking about Mo Farah, Mr. Johnson said, “This is a guy who came to London when he was eight; he had terrible problem in the school barely speak a word in English and this is the guy who is now national hero. You will see in every advert in the Tube. He is the role model to the kids across this country and his name is not just Mo which is the short form of the Mohammad Farah and that guy has done this and he is a Muslim and it is a fantastic thing.”

Mr. Johnson also mentioned about the potentials of these people. “When you look at the achievements of the people I think the incredible potentials of those individuals who have to help us to continue to do which Sayeeda Warsi talked at which is the changed attitude, to continue to improve attitude in this country and fight Islamophobia and to get a wonderful legacy from the Olympic Games,” he said.

Mr. Johnson also mentioned about the participation of all those young Muslim boys and girls in the Olympics. “We saw in the games the first participation by young female athletics from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Emirates. This is development; this is progress and we want to encourage it,” he said.

Mr. Johnson also talked about how this place has changed over a time period. “Whatever the differences we have; yes, we have differences; yes we have discrimination; yes we have Islamophobia; but this place has changed in our lifetime; have not it? It has changed and it has changed for the better. I will tell you I will keep it changing," he said.

While talking about Hajj and Muslim achievements, Mayor of London revealed about his Muslim background. He said, “I have not made Hajj myself but my great great grandfather did. He made Hajj indeed. He was called Haji Ahmed. He made Hajj. I will tell you he was very interesting man; he was a very devout Muslim, his son my great grandfather recite Qur’an by heart but Haji Ahmed was a merchant.”

In conclusion, the Mayor of London revealed that the next World Islamic Economic Forum will be held in London in 2013. “We have negotiated this year for the World Islamic Economic Forum to be coming to London next year, 2013 the first time it will ever be held outside” the Muslim world, he said and added, “That is the most dynamic diverse welcoming city of the world.”

In this connection, it may be mentioned that the Mayor of London, Mr. Boris Johnson, by organising this reception to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, has kept his promise which he made to the imams and leaders of Islamic organisations at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London on 26 April 2012 and also during the hosting before the Mayoral Election at Norton Rose House, London, next day, on 27 April.

King Abdullah International Interfaith

Dialogue Centre opens in Vienna

Dr. Mozammel Haque

VIENNA: I came to Vienna, the capital of Austria, today, the 25^th of November, 2012, to attend the inaugural ceremony of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID).

UN Secretary General, Ban-Ki-moon, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Austria and the Kingdom of Spain, His Eminence Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), and Bartholomew-1, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople will all convene amid a gathering of eminent religious, civic and political leaders from around the world.

These personalities are coming together to attend the opening of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) in Vienna.

The King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) was founded to enable, empower and encourage dialogue among followers of different religions and culture around the world.

Located in Vienna, a city long used to being a bridgehead between world religions and cultures, the Centre is an independent, international organisation, free of political or economic influence. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Austria and Kingdom of Spain are the Founding States of the Centre and these constitute the “Council of Parties” responsible for overseeing the establishment of the Centre. The Holy See has a role as a Founding Observer.

The Secretary General of the Centre, HE Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar, stated, “It is my profound belief that this Centre can become a place of leadership and applied learning, a place where candid dialogue among followers of different religions and cultures can flourish so that we can value and cherish the richness of our diversity and live together as good neighbours. And I am convinced that KAICIID will within a short period of time, build a bridge for better mutual understanding, facilitating interreligious and intercultural dialogue to enhance cooperation, respect for diversity, justice and peace.”

Historical Background

In this connection, it may be mentioned that King Abdullah began this journey of his interfaith dialogue in 2005 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 travelled to Vatican and met Pope Benedict in 2007 offering him peace and friendship on behalf of the Muslim world.

The following year, in June 2008, King Abdullah hosted a first historic Interfaith Dialogue Conference in Makkah al-Mukarramah where more than 500 Muslim religious scholars and leaders attended. It was followed by a multi-religious conference in Madrid in July 2008, which was hosted by King Abdullah along with King Juan Carlos of Spain and attended by more than 300 representatives from Vatican, Anglican Church, Judaism, Hinduism and other faiths. Then King Abdullah took the interfaith dialogue to the global centre-stage at the UN.

Inauguration Ceremony

The Inauguration Ceremony takes place on 26^th of November 2012 at the Hofburg Vienna. Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, his All Holiness Bartholomew 1 will deliver the Keynote Speech of the Ceremony followed by the formal Signature of the KAICIID Affirmation by the Board of Directors. The musical premiere of a special Dialogue Composition will also be presented.

Its Programme

The programme of the KAICIID will be announced at the Opening Ceremony. The Three-KAICIID programmes will start from January 2013 which are as follows: “Multi-religious Collaboration for the Survival and Wellbeing of Children”, “The Image of the Other” and “KAICIID Fellows Programme”.

Multi-religious Collaboration for the Survival and Wellbeing of Children: a major capacity-building initiative aimed at empowering religious leaders, congregations, faith-based institutions and individuals across diverse faith traditions to promote the survival and wellbeing of children in several priority countries.

The Image of the Other: a series of Conferences with themes including Education, Media and the Internet, aimed at exploring ways to improve perceptions of the Other.

KAICIID Fellows Programme: The establishment of a KAICIID Fellowship programme for future teachers of religion and future religious leaders with a deep commitment to interreligious or intercultural dialogue.

Its Role

The Centre will act as a hub among followers of different religions and cultures, empowering others already working in the field of dialogue and promoting harmony and cooperation.

Its Strategic Objectives

Generate, develop and disseminate knowledge in the area of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, cultivation and promotion of respect for differences through dialogue, and create bridges, address conflict and promote collaboration amongst diverse groups.

KAICIID Team

The Board of Directors comprises high-level representatives of the major world religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism). An Advisory Forum of up to 100 members of other religions, cultural institutions and international organisations will provide a further resource of interreligious and intercultural perspective.

The KAICIID Secretariat is headed by a Secretary General, H.E. Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar and Deputy Secretary General Mrs. Claudia Bandion-Ortner.

The Opening Ceremony of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Interreligious Intercultural Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) held in Vienna

Dr. Mozammel Haque

VIENNA: I came to Vienna, the capital of Austria, on Sunday, the 25^th of November, 2012, to attend the inauguration opening ceremony of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) in Vienna, Austria.

Official ceremonial opening

And Gala dinner at Hofburg Palace

The official ceremonial opening of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) was held on Monday, the 26^th of November 2012 and it was carried out by the Foreign Ministers of the three founding States, HRH Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HE. Michael Spindelegger of the Republic of Austria and H.E. Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo of the Kingdom of Spain. It was witnessed by KAICIID’s Board of Directors, the Secretary General, H.E. Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muaammar and the Deputy Secretary General, Ms. Claudia Bandion-Ortner.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew-1, gave the keynote address to a global audience of more than 600 guests at the Gala Dinner at the Hofburg Palace including ambassadors, government representatives, religious leaders, academics, and scholars. Non-governmental organisations, cultural institutions and other interested parties were also present. The Gala dinner was also addressed by the UN Secretary General, Ban-Ki-moon, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Austria and the Kingdom of Spain, His Eminence Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican, Dr. Abdullah Mohsin Al-Turki, Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL).

Two personal video messages of congratulations and support were screened, one from King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, The Custodian of Two Holy Mosques and the other from King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

The Evening was characterized by a cordial coming together of followers of different religions and cultures, in a shared spirit of hope and resolve. Deep conversations with an exchange of experiences in interreligious and intercultural matters were enjoyed by the guests. Evening attendees took great inspiration from the potential of KAICIID and re-emphasized their commitment to a belief in new horizons for dialogue.

In addition to the ceremonial opening of the Centre, events on that historic day in the KAICIID journey included a Best Practice Symposium and afterwards a Gala Dinner, held at the Hofburg Palace.

Best Practice Symposium

At Hilton Hotel, Vienna

Earlier, The Best Practice Symposium was held during the day, from morning to afternoon, on the same say, on 26th of November at the Hilton Hotel, Vienna, Austria. There were four workshops, such as i) Conflict Management, ii) Cultural Programmes, iii) Youth and iv) Religious Education as Enabler. First and second were held simultaneously and Third and Fourth were held at the same time. So participants have to chose either First or Second and Third or Fourth. I attended the First and the Fourth Symposium workshop

Historical Background

The Secretary General of the Centre, HE Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar, stated, “It is my profound belief that this Centre can become a place of leadership and applied learning, a place where candid dialogue among followers of different religions and cultures can flourish so that we can value and cherish the richness of our diversity and live together as good neighbours. And I am convinced that KAICIID will within a short period of time; build a bridge for better mutual understanding, facilitating interreligious and intercultural dialogue to enhance cooperation, respect for diversity, justice and peace.”

Professor Tariq Ramadan on Arab

Spring and the Role of Turkey

Dr. Mozammel Haque

A Conference entitled “An Overview of the Arab Spring and the Role of Turkey” organised by Network of Students Seminar, held on Wednesday 24^th of October 2012 at the House of Commons' Committee Room. The conference was chaired by Kristiane Backer, author of “From MTV to Mecca” and TV Presenter. Tariq Ramadan, renowned scholar and Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford, who has authored a book entitled “The Arab Awakening: Islam and the New Middle East”, delivered an extensive talk on the subject.

Nationalistic vision

Professor Tariq Ramadan was “less optimistic and very cautious about the Arab Spring”. He has written a book recently entitled “The Arab Awakening”. He thinks what is happening in the region is “a very nationalistic vision, the workings in Tunisia, Egyptian awareness for the region or the regional dimension” “a regional dynamic”. He does not accept the idea of calling it “Revolution”.

Regional dimension

So Professor Ramadan was cautious about everything. When he started the discussion on Turkey, he mentioned first “a shift in the awareness of what is a shift in the Arab strategy in the regional level.”

His first point is that what is happening in the Arab region is completely contrary to what the American and the West could hope in the region. He said, “I think we should be very cautious, not going as far as theory but understanding that there are many dimensions to what we are witnessing now.”

Political obsession

His second point considered the obsession with the political model. Professor Ramadan said that we are so much obsessed with the political model that we are not asking the right question. He said, “So obsessed are we with political model, for example, whether we can follow in the footsteps of the Turkish, the marketing model; are the Islamists becoming democrats, etc, that we are missing the right question to ask: The economic dimension of what is happening is much more important. You know, we are supporting the marketing; we are supporting the democracy in the West; we are monotheism. This is not the case - we had dictatorships.”

Speaking about Turkey, Professor Ramadan reminded us that Turkey is very powerful and has an economic strategy much more powerful than all the discussions about the people. He said, “We need to have an analysis at the multiple level, to have a perception of the global and regional analyses; there is a need for a case-by-case analysis. We have to be extremely deep in understanding the dynamics within each and every country and at the same time have a regional and global understanding of what is happening.”

Professor Ramadan also advised that we should not only deal with MENA (Middle East & North Africa); but when dealing with MENA, we must also “consider India and Israel, which is silent. The fact that Israel is silent about everything that is happening now in all these countries, is not for nothing; Israel is not just an observer,” he said.

People wanted new policy

Professor Ramadan then went on to consider what people want in the region. “Just to get something against the dictators; to get rid of the dictators. There is something which is very important, beyond all the analysis about what the people wanted of more freedom, more respect. The people are asking for new policy and I am not sure that what we have now is what they are hoping to have; there is a gap between what the people expect and then the government and what we have done now. This gap is quite important. And this is now this massive demonstration, we want to get rid of dictators, Ben Ali and Mubarak.”

Turkish model

Professor Ramadan analysed the political discussion and thought “this polarisation between the secularists and Islamists is a trap, mainly promoted by activists and the people who are involved in the discussion in the Arab world. It was the West portraying us. It was the case in Tunisia, in Egypt and even you know, it was understood when (the Turkish Prime Minister) Tayyib Erdogan visited Cairo in Egypt saying to the Islamists don’t do this. This was the Turkish model that’s coming from an Islamic background and dealing with the secularists’ model. It was dealt with by being perceived as a model. It is coming from the Turkish experience and not the Egyptian experience. The young people even in the Muslim Brotherhood were very pleased with what he said,” said Professor Ramadan and added, “the Turkish model is not the Muslim Brotherhood. There is young leadership and the old leadership.”

Main question was not dealt with

In making his point, the Professor, said, “You find secularists using the Islamists and talking to the West, saying ‘You are backward; you are not promoting the marketing democracy and what you want is to come back with Shari’ah and to impose a religious model’. The Islamists then respond by saying 'You are westernised and you are following and completely idealising the Western model’ so ultimately the reality is that the discourse and discussion in Egypt and Tunisia now are very much between this polarised debate and do not talking about the true challenges they have to do. So the main question to be answered is not about the structure of the state.”

The Main question is corruption Army

“How are you going to deal with corruption? Here the first question is how are you going to deal with army? Because yes, we are talking about the fact that in Egypt, the army controlled 60% of the economic sector. This is the reality of Egypt. Yet you can’t only talk about the army because if you think that you only have to remove the army and then you will be free - you are dreaming.”

People are thinking of Turkey. Comparing with Turkey Professor Ramadan said, when you deal with the Turkish experience, think about “the relationship with Erdogan and the new government and the army –it is very effective and very smart the way in which the Turkish government deal with the army using the EU. But we need to talk not just about the army; we need also to talk about the educational policy; we need also to talk about social justice; we need also to talk about cultural policy and we need also to talk about economic regime. What will the economic model be? These are the true questions.”

West supported the dictators

Talking about the obsession with the political structure, Professor Ramadan said that although President Barrack Obama was talking about freedom and he might have good words, ultimately it is the American policy, the European administration. Professor Ramadan reminded us by saying, “How is it that these regimes were supporting the dictators for decades; they were supporting Mubarak, Ben Ali and even Gaddafi. They were dealing with all these dictators. Even on the 8^thMarch, the US administration was supporting Bashar al-Asad, asking him to reform his regime within.”

Syrian resistance

Speaking about the resistance by Syrian people against Bashar al-Asad, Professor Ramadan said, “So we can say this is not conspiracy. No one was expecting the Syrian people to resist the regime after the veto of Russia; this was not a conspiracy. This was not coming from abroad; it was coming from within. People saying we are not going to we have which is the way the courage of the people push that the US administration even the Turkish administration it is clear supporting a dictator. When they understood it is not going to work, they changed. We have to say the truth when comes to the history.”

What is happening in the Middle East? What is the new economy and strategic policy of Turkey? Exactly what is happening not always on the political side as you said change. Professor Ramadan was trying, at the very beginning, to understand what was happening within the Islamists in Egypt and the Islamists in Tunisia. He said, “You have heard, I am sure, some of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood are much more attracted by the Turkish model than the Iranian model. I said this is the case, that many young Islamists are very much attracted by the perceived successful experience of the Turkish model. And then I visited Turkey and I worked on and I said you are the model; for the young Islamists, you are the model. That might be perceived you are the model and it is true. It is true because I remain critical of some of the policies.”

Shariah with money no problem

Professor Ramadan then considered that there are challenges in being too critical in the coming years. The first example is something that is very worrying: It is evident on reading some of the reports coming from the think-tanks of the US and Europe that within their discussions, a differentiation is developing between those Islamists that they can deal with and those Islamists that they consider they are not able to deal with. In fact, the essential factor here is that we are looking at the West and the inconsistent way in which they deal with the economy. Professor Ramadan said, “The West has no problem with Islamist capitalists for example. Here it is the capitalist oil giving money to Western banks; they need you whatever way you need them. But we don’t care. You talk about driving in Tunisia or in Saudi Arabia, whatever you want. You can even implement Shari'ah; Shari'ah is good in business we will have Shari'ah compliant transactions, no problem. Shari'ah in relation to money is acceptable; it is okay. France is okay with Shari'ah too in this context, yet what about when we look at Shari'ah and the headscarf in France? This is a different matter altogether for France.”

The point in this discussion that Professor Ramadan was exploring is that when it comes to dealing with some of the petrol monarchies of the Gulf states; that’s fine and the problem is what they are saying about that. He argued, “In fact, look at what is happening. Turkey is an example of this. It is quite clear that the position of Turkey is very much in the global system; they are doing much better than European countries, and some others. The EU might end up more in need of Turkey than Turkey needs of the EU, because of the economic position. But the problem is: Turkey could be an example. Look at Al-Nahda, look at the Muslim Brotherhood. They don’t have a problem with the World Bank. Egypt and Tunisia doesn’t have a problem with the IMF, World Bank.”

Salafists are evolving everywhere

We have now a new position with the Islamists dealing with the economic system, and we must be ready for that. Professor Ramadan said, “For activists, one of the main challenges will be in the Muslim-majority countries: The Salafists are evolving. Salafist is everywhere: in the West; Europe; the United States of America; Tunisia; Syria;; Egypt; and in Libya now. It’s a problem because they are now involved in politics; they push you to talk about the political system by saying we want Shari’ah; we want an Islamic state; and at the same time they are de-destabilising the whole political system. The Salafists in the intra community dimension is going to be problem; Islamists within the Islamists system. The activists are one of the main challenges that is going to be huge, we need to try to understand what is happening with the Sunni-Shia relationship.”

Syria and the Role of Turkey

Now we have to deal with Syria and the role of Turkey in the region. Professor Ramadan said, “My main fear when it comes to Syria, is that it might be that there is an agreement between the West and China and Russia, not to agree on anything. And now there is civil war and the killing of people. Really, what happened in Libya has nothing to do with it; now they are protecting the oil there, protecting the resources there, but in Syria it might be what was known, the American policy in the region; low intensity; people killed amongst themselves. We sell weapons and the region destabilises and there is this kind of de polarisation that neither Iran nor any other country is going to be like; even Turkey now, whose first strategy was no conflict has a very smart strategy now – new, very undetermined now by this low intensity conflict.”

While dealing with Turkey, Professor Ramadan said, “When it comes to Turkey we need to remind ourselves that we are dealing with Islamists; which is going to be important; believe it or not, the discussion Islamism and Secularism, Islamists. What will be the future of society? So it is part of a political discussion. And it is true in the context, Turkey did something which is quite important, very experienced in the last 10 years and willing it or not; it has to be discussion to be able to say my references are coming from Islam but I am not democrat and I am dealing with secular system. The Muslim democrat is something which is important - we have it in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and in Libya. People are now saying that we are not promoting an Islamic state; what we want is a civil state with an Islamic reference. What does this mean? Turkey is critical on this point of discussion.”

Polarisation between Islam and the West over

“There is another thing which is important for me, even though I am quite critical apparently of the acceptance of those new liberal regimes and trying to do as good as the capitalist society; there is something which is very interesting in the Turkish system which is this shift towards east and south,” said Professor Ramadan and elaborated, “Over the previous five years there has been the opening of so many embassies in Africa - dealing with India; China, and Malaysia; this is something which is now quite important. Dealing with Egypt now is something new. This is a new attitude of shifting towards the east, where this polarisation between Islam and the West is over. Now we are moving to something of a new paradigm and I think this is interesting. This is interesting because it might be that you enter into the economic system and you shift towards something which is dealing with the multi-polar world. I would say that this could be an example - now in the way they are dealing with religion and with Israel, they are thinking that they are important to be discussed now.”

Questions & Answers Session

Salafists - Who is pushing them?

In the Q&A session, in reply to a question about the Salafists, Professor Ramadan said, “My main concern is Salafists; they might be religiously very sincere but we must be very cautious about who is pushing them. Add to this the new factor they are not involving in politics and now we have more and more Salafi and Jihadi. Everywhere they are there; everywhere where there is oil,” said Professor Ramadan and mentioned about Mali, “All of a sudden we find them in North Mali; because they felt something is happening there. I don’t buy this. In North Mali, oil is much more important than we have in Libya. They are there. We have to deal with this and it is something which is going to be very difficult. The terrorism, Jihadism, Salafism is played with at different levels. Arresting these terrorists who you know were perceived of, that they were going to do something and they were converting to Islam over the last months just before they were involving in terrorism and at the same moment we are hearing, coming from France, about the arresting of terrorists.”

Iran cannot be a model

Replying to another question, Professor Ramadan said, “We want more freedom in Iran – which from within. My take is that Iran was never a model; it cannot be a model; we must be critical. We don’t want an Islamist state; we want civil state.” He raised three questions: Shariah – definition – closed system – with Halal-Haram – punishment prior to social justice – rule of law – universal human rights – separation – religious authority.”

King Abdullah International Dialogue

Centre opens in Vienna: A historic day

Dr. Mozammel Haque

VIENNA: The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) was opened at the Hofburg Palace, Vienna, on Monday, the 26^th of November, 2012, in the presence of a global audience of almost 800 guests, including ambassadors, government representatives, religious leaders, academics and scholars. Many non-governmental organisations, cultural institutions and interfaith groups were also represented.

The ceremonial opening of the centre was carried out by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, the Foreign Ministers of the three founding States, HRH Prince Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HE. Michael Spindelegger of the Republic of Austria and HE. Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo of the Kingdom of Spain, the President of the Vatican Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Vatican City, His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Louis Pierre Tauran, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Abdullah Mohsin Al-Turki, the Ecumenical Patriarch, His All Holiness Bartholomew-1, the Archbishop of Madrid, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela and the Chief Rabbi of Moscow and President of Conference of European Rabbis, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt.

It was witnessed by KAICIID’s Board of Directors, by its Secretary General, HE. Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muaammar and the Deputy Secretary General, Ms. Claudia Bandion-Ortner.

Though the centre is the brainchild of King Abdullah, it is established in Vienna, Austria and Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Saudi Foreign Minister, signed the agreement for the establishment of the centre with the Austrian Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger and Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Trinidad Jimenez, in the presence of representatives of international organisations. They are the Founding States of the Centre and these constitute the “Council of Parties” responsible for overseeing the establishment of the Centre. The Holy See has a role as a Founding Observer.

Not only that, The Vatican, a strong supporter of the project, has joined as a founding observer and will be represented on the board, which, according to the treaty, must have three Christians, three Muslims, a Jew, a Hindu and a Buddhist.

It is rightly said, “The strong endorsements by the United Nations, the Vatican, which has joined as a founding observer and is represented on the board, and the board of high-level representatives of the major world religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism) are enough to silence the voices of sceptics and extremists in all religions who are obstacles to peace and a threat to global prosperity.”

Before I start writing the proceedings of the inauguration ceremony with the speeches delivered by the Foreign Ministers, UN Secretary General, Cardinal Tauran and representatives of different religions and cultures, I would like to point out that this centre (KAICIID) is the first global international organisation with multi-faith oversight focused on religion and is backed by an international treaty signed by Austria, Spain and Saudi Arabia.

Another point I would also like to make it clear that although launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and named after King Abdullah, Faisal bin Muammar, Secretary General of KAICIID, stressed it is not a Saudi entity. “This is an international institution,” he said and added, “About 70 percent of the world’s religions are on its board. The centre will be a neutral place to exchange ideas.”

Speeches at the Opening Ceremony

The official opening ceremony started with the speeches of the Foreign Ministers of the Founding States of the Centre.

Two personal video messages of congratulations and support were screened, one from King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, The Custodian of Two Holy Mosques and the other from King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, said that “Vienna was selected to host the Centre considering its contributions to human civilization. It is the .most suitable place for a centre whose goal is to bring peoples and cultures closer and deepen the values of moderation and tolerance,” said Prince Saud.

Speaking about the long journey of King Abdullah’s interfaith dialogue, he said King Abdullah’s interfaith dialogue initiative had its origin in Makkah. “The centre which we open today is the fruit of great endeavours that began in Makkah, and continued in Madrid and New York. This opening means we have crossed the phase of preparation to start actual working to achieve the centre’s objectives,” the Prince said.

Prince Saud described KAICIID as a historic initiative by King Abdullah. “We hope it would encourage objective and responsible human dialogue to strengthen the common grounds of the followers of different faiths that represent the core of divine messages and human cultures.”

He said the centre would take up important issues that concern all human beings and that were the reasons behind costly wars, bloody conflict and loathsome crimes.

Prince Saud said lack of moral values was creating a lot of social problems around the world, including dismemberment of family relations, spread of injustice and corruption and increasing number of crimes. “We hope that this centre would work for promoting understanding among the followers of different faiths as well as for reviving moral and human values,” he added.

Prince Saud added that the KAICIID is the only centre that includes clerics and their decisions are basic for interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

Prince Saud urged the centre to work for deepening the values of tolerance, understanding and respecting the other and prevent abuse of religions and Prophets. He thanked all those who supported the dialogue centre project.

King of Spain, King Juan Carlos I

In his videoed address to the opening ceremony, King Juan Carlos of Spain commended the establishment of the centre, saying it was the result of the first dialogue conference in Madrid. “Spain is a country whose heritage embraces a long history of coexistence between different cultures and religions. This experience leads us to believe that the initiative will be able to attain a high profile which will serve as a compliment to the efforts made in other forums, particularly within the sphere of the United Nations,” said King Carlos.

King of Spain praised King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz for the initiative. “I would like to thank and congratulate King Abdullah for promoting this project with such enthusiasm and in a spirit of dialogue that I am sure will guarantee the Centre’s success,” he said.

Speaking about the KAICIID, King Juan Carlos said, “I am convinced that this Centre is going to become a reference on the international scene for promoting dialogue between religions and cultures and ultimately contributing to the peace and prosperity of all peoples.”

King Juan Carlos wished success of the Centre. “My best wishes for the Centre’s success in the hope that its efforts will contribute to affirming respect for the diversity of faiths and cultures around the world,” he said.

President of the Republic of Austria

Mr. Heinz Fischer

Austrian President Mr. Heinz Fischer emphasized the importance of dialogue to settle conflicts and end violence. “Now more than ever it is imperative to actively pursue viable alternatives to aggression, violence, to bridge historical differences, build and foster understanding. I truly belief that through dialogue we can build common future based on respect, human rights, fundamental freedom as well as justice and thus contribute to promoting peaceful co-existence in pluralistic society,” Austrian President said.

While emphasizing Austria’s multi-religious and multicultural tradition, President Fischer said, “Austria has a long history of diversity, culture, religion, tradition, and language which has made Austria a good example of a heterogeneous society. Against this background, Austria has become a significant venue for intercultural interreligious dialogue to pursue the strengthening of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.”

Speaking about the KAICIID, Austrian President said, “I think that the Centre can become a powerful enabler; an enabler that offers a platform bringing together the representatives of all faiths and backgrounds giving voices to different beliefs and cultures and providing rooms for the constructive dialogue.”

“I strongly hope that the new centre will provide a unique opportunity to advocate recognition of diversity as an added value to encourage dialogue and critical discussion and finally to foster lasting peaceful co-existence,” he said.

Foreign Minister of Spain

HE Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo y Marfil

In his address to the opening ceremony, the Foreign Minister of Spain, HE Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo y Marfil, said, “I think this centre is a very relevant achievement in the process that started in Madrid, Spain that leads to the world conferences of dialogues organised later. Let me stress now that the peaceful coexistence of different cultures and religions is one of the main challenges.”

“This centre has just opened its doors will compliment this and other initiatives and projects. It is fully committed to support this centre ambition; they will also support and acknowledge the important role of the different religions,” he said.

Spanish Foreign Minister also said, “I like to encourage all countries coming from different regions, cultures and religions to cooperate with this centre sharing its principles like all so that we will build a building capacity based on peace have the say.”

Austria’s Deputy Prime Minister and

Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger

In his address to the opening ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Austria, HE Michael Spindelegger, said, “The centre shall function as a hub for other organisations currently active in the field of dialogue and thus further structure and reinforce joint weight and sustainable structure for the well being dialogue through practical projects by its means to develop a network of experts, scholars and civil society representatives so as to establish a platform for open and constructive of different faith civil society the academia will work together truly interreligious interdisciplinary manner.”

Mr. Spindelegger also said, “Founding of this centre constitutes a decisive milestone for dialogue. Next few years will translate its mandate into action and deliver responsibility of enhancing cooperative veracity and justice.”

He highlighted his speech by expressing his gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Spain and the support of the Holy See and underscored his speech by expressing his gratitude to the Secretary General HE Faisal bin Muaammar for their untiring efforts devoted to this noble centre and its board of directors which combines the wisdom. I look forward to see the centre flourish and contribute.”

President of the Vatican Pontifical Council for

Interreligious Dialogue

Cardinal Jean-LouisTauran

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the centre, His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, a French cardinal and President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, cautioned, “We are being watched. Everyone is expecting from the initiative of His Majesty King Abdullah supported by the governments of Austria and Spain honesty, vision and credibility.”

But Cardinal Tauran acknowledged, “This centre presents another opportunity for open dialogue on many issues including those related to fundamental human rights, in particular religious freedom.”

UN Secretary General

Ban-Ki-moon

United Nations has given wonderful encouragement to further the prospect of interreligious and intercultural dialogue providing support to the creation of multilateral organisation such as King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Dialogue Centre.

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said his organisation would extend all support for the successful functioning of the centre. He praised King Abdullah and the governments of Spain and Austria for their efforts to set up the centre.

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said during the opening ceremony “Religious leaders have immense influence. They can be powerful forces for cooperation and learning. They can set an example for interfaith dialogue.”

He called on religious leaders to “promote the universal human values and unite under precepts common to all creeds,” and he criticised extremist intolerance and the propagators of hate. “Too many religious leaders have stoked intolerance, supported extremism and propagated hate. Yet we know that blaming ‘the other’ is not a political strategy for a healthy country, continent or world,” UN Secretary General said.

Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, said, “I fully support your vision of religion as an enabler of respect and reconciliation.”

Speaking about the KAICIID, UN Secretary General said, “That the coming up of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue will bring people together based on shared faith of our common values.”

Secretary General of the

Muslim World League

Dr. Abdullah Mohsin Al-Turki

In his address at the opening ceremony, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Abdullah Mohsin Al-Turki, said, the centre was established in response to the desire of the leaders of different faiths to cooperate for the welfare of humanity.

Speaking about the establishment of the KAICIID, Dr. Al-Turki mentioned, “The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, has placed high priorities and has called different initiatives for dialogue and he has called two conferences by the Muslim World League; one in the Holy City of Makkah explaining the importance of dialogue from the Islamic perspective and the second was the international Madrid interfaith dialogue between the followers of different religions and cultures . This was followed by a meeting at Geneva.”

Chief Rabbi of Moscow and President of

Conference of European Rabbis,

Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt

In his address to the opening ceremony, the Chief Rabbi of Moscow and President of Conference of European Rabbis, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, said, “Opening of this centre today signifies the new beginning and a new attempt to create a dialogue between different faiths and cultures. It can be definitely called a historic day. We know that all the world and their institutions, organisations meetings which are promoting interfaith dialogue.”

“But I think that the initiative King Abdullah al-Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Places to Islam, together with the governments of Austria and Spain is a very significant indeed,” said Chief Rabbi. .

Chief Rabbi said, “I am here today speaking as a representative of the Jewish faith and the Jewish world that I am welcoming this very important initiative coming from the very heart and soul, and the centre of the Islamic world, from the centre of spiritual and worldly power combined, from the centre which is the most important sponsor of Islamic religious life in Europe. This centre is to open its doors to dialogue and peace with other cultures and religions in the world.”

“A dialogue necessary now more than ever in order to make sure that this century will not culminate in bloodshed and war, in fear and hate, as did the last one,” Chief Rabbi said.

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople

His All Holiness Bartholomew-1

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Ecumenical Patriarch His All Holiness Bartholomew-1 expressed his gratitude to His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabian mission, treatment and initiative of establishing this centre.

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople also said, “Today in 2012, we inaugurate this centre in hope. We join together to develop an institution which will foster every human being is our neighbour. This essential message reinforces the progress of the centre and promotes interreligious dialogue.”

“This centre continues the tradition by reaching out to people from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism Taoism people of all faiths and cultures. This is a momentous occasion because of the possibilities this Centre holds to reduce conflict in the world,” Ecumenical Patriarch said.

Bartholomew-1 said, “Perhaps this gathering is a prophetic witness to the world. This experience of dialogue should, it must, if we transfer these ideals to the religious local parties and every city, town and village by approaching each other can become a reality.”

“The opening of a Centre helped the world turn up away from violence and turn towards mutual trust and shared holder of divinity. We look forward to the progress which is to be made to make us move to good will; from goodwill to knowledge, and from knowledge to understanding and from understanding to a place where we recognise the breath of God in every human life and feel love for each individual,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Formal Signature of KAICIID Affirmation

The opening speeches and the keynote speech at the Ceremony were followed by the formal Signature of the KAICIID Affirmation by the Board of Directors.

Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Minister of Foreign affairs of Saudi Arabia, signed the agreement for the establishment of the Centre with Austrian Vice Chancellor and Minister for European and International Affairs Michael Spindelegger, and Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Trinidad Jimenez, in the presence of representatives of international organizations.

Both the three sponsoring states, which appoint the board and approve its budget and projects, and the board of directors, will take decisions by majority vote.

Thus the Evening was characterized by a cordial coming together of followers of different religions and cultures, in a shared spirit of hope and resolve. Deep conversations with an exchange of experiences in interreligious and intercultural matters were enjoyed by the guests. Evening attendees took great inspiration from the potential of KAICIID and re-emphasized their commitment to a belief in new horizons for dialogue.

Best Practice Symposium

In addition to the ceremonial opening of the Centre, events on that historic day in the KAICIID journey included a Best Practice Symposium in Hilton Hotel from morning to afternoon and afterwards a Gala Dinner, held at the Hofburg Palace.

Role of KAICIID

The Centre will act as a hub among followers of different religions and cultures, empowering others already working in the field of dialogue and promoting harmony and cooperation.

Its Programme

The Three-KAICIID programmes will start from January 2013 which is as follows: i) Multi-religious Collaboration for the Survival and Wellbeing of Children, ii) The Image of the Other and iii) KAICIID Fellows Programme.

The centre plans to work first on improving how religions are presented in media and schoolbooks, involving faith leaders in children’s health campaigns in poor countries and hosting religious leaders for fellowships at its Vienna headquarters.

KAICIID Team

The KAICIID Secretariat is headed by a Secretary General, H.E. Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar and Deputy Secretary General Mrs. Claudia Bandion-Ortner.

The mission of the KAICIID Centre, which is, in the words of KAICIID Secretary General, HE Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muaammar, “A place of leadership and applied learning,; a place where candid dialogue among followers of different religions and culture can flourish so that we can value and cherish the richness of our diversity and live together as good neighbours.”

Journey to KAICIID

Vision Turns into Visible Reality

Dr. Mozammel Haque

This is a journey that has taken many years, from its beginning as the personal vision of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to the Official Inauguration of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) in 2012.

The Journey to the establishment of King Abdullah International Dialogue Centre followed on from a series of groundbreaking, historic meetings, which included the meeting at the Vatican between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and Pope Benedict XVI; The World International Islamic Conference in Makkah, Saudi Arabia; The World Conference on Dialogue in Madrid, Spain; the address by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to the UN General Assembly in New York and the World Conference on Dialogue in Vienna, Austria.

The Journey to KAICIID has progressed through three stages of development, that may be characterised as i) Building the concept; ii) Taking it to the world; and iii) Implementation.

1. THE BUILDING THE CONCEPT

i) Meeting with Pope Benedict XVI on 6^th November 2007

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah met with Pope Benedict XVI in a historic visit to the Vatican, to share his idea and to engage with the Holy See in a unique initiative and commitment to interfaith dialogue. During this historic visit on 6^th of November 2007, King Abdullah shared his idea for an ‘initiative for Interfaith Dialogue’ to His Holiness who indicated his willingness to support the initiative.

During this historic meeting at the Vatican, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI called for interfaith and intercultural dialogue among followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and “for the promotion of peace, justice and spiritual and moral values, especially in support of the family.”

The meeting sent a clear message that followers of Christianity and Islam should overcome their minor differences and focus on the common values and principles they share.

ii) International Islamic Conference for Dialogue

in Makkah on 4^th June 2008

This period also provided an opportunity for King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to set forth his principles and vision for dialogue within Islam as a starting point.

The Custodian for Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, opened the International Islamic Conference for Dialogue at the Royal Safa Palace in Makkah, the city that is regarded as the heart of Islam.

This now famous initiative by the Custodian for Two Holy Mosques, organised by the Muslim World League, brought together over 500 of the most influential scholars, academics and organisation leaders in the Muslim world to debate issues, to counter challenges of rigidity, ignorance and narrow-mindedness and with a goal of making the world better acquainted with the kind message of Islam. As the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said in his address, “We are the voice of justice and human moral values, the voice of rational and just co-existence and dialogue, the voice of wisdom and admonition and argumentation with the best way possible.”

The initiative gained additional support and momentum when the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques made a further call for dialogue by Muslims with the followers of other religions and cultures, as a means of respecting the other. The statement by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also sought to establish a common ground of respect among all peoples of the world.

The conference concluded with a call to different Islamic organisations to do more in terms of cooperation and coordination to advance dialogue and to make it serve the interests of humanity. A specific recommendation was to establish a King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Intercultural Dialogue, with the aim of promoting a culture of dialogue.

So the participants at the International Islamic Conference for Dialogue in Makkah urged Muslims to attempt to establish dialogue with other religions and cultures and to strive for peaceful coexistence with others. It was here at Makkah that the idea of establishing a dedicated International Dialogue Centre with a view to disseminating the culture of dialogue, was first publicly highlighted in this way.

2. TAKING IT TO THE WORLD

i) International Conference for Dialogue

in Madrid on 16^th -18^th July, 2008

Following up on the Makkah Conference, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques invited attendees to engage in and promote dialogue as the means to achieve peace and reconciliation and to achieve the betterment of humanity.

Three-day World Conference on Dialogue organised by the Muslim World League in Madrid during 16^th-18^th July, 2008, was hosted by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and by King Juan Carlos I of Spain. Nearly 300 delegates including followers of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism as well as followers of other religions and cultures, along with scholars and researchers, attended this World Conference on Dialogue in Madrid to discuss common issues facing Mankind.

In his opening address the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz declared that he was bringing a message from the Islamic world, representing its scholars and thinkers who had recently met; the message declared that Islam was a religion of moderation and tolerance. This was a message calling for constructive dialogue among followers of religions, a message that promised to open a new page for humanity in which – God willing – concord would replace conflict.

The Conference focused on the common denominators that unite Mankind, namely, deep faith in God, noble principles, and the lofty moral values that constitute the essence of faith. Conference delegates also discussed terrorism as the major obstacle to dialogue and coexistence, requiring international efforts to deal with it in a serious, responsible and just manner.

The final declaration of the Conference rejected the notion of the so-called “Clash of Civilisation” and warned against the danger of campaigns seeking to deepen conflicts and destabilise peace and security. It also affirmed that “Dialogue is one of the most important means for knowing each other.”

This Conference concluded with several commitments including that of forming a workgroup and for joint action aimed at overcoming obstacles standing in the way of dialogue. The Conference also urged the UN General Assembly to support its recommendations and called for a special UN Session on dialogue.

ii) Plenary High-level Meeting at the UN General

Assembly, New York, on 12^th-13^thNovember, 2008

Following the adoption of the Madrid Declaration, the United Nations General Assembly convened a plenary, high-level meeting on 12^th-13^thNovember, 2008, under item 45, “Culture of Peace” to discuss interreligious dialogue.

This meeting took note of the initiative and the speech delivered by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the World Conference on Dialogue held in Madrid under his patronage and hosted by the King and Government of Spain. The General Assembly reiterated its call for promoting a culture of tolerance and mutual understanding through dialogue, and for supporting the initiatives of religious leaders, civil society and states seeking to entrench a Culture of Peace, understanding, tolerance and respect for human rights among the proponents of various faiths, cultures and civilisations.

Concerned about serious instances of intolerance, discrimination, hatred expressions and harassment of minority religious communities of all faiths, participating states underlined the importance of promoting dialogue, understanding and tolerance among human beings, as well as respect for all their diverse religions, cultures and beliefs. Participating states affirmed their rejection of the use of religion to justify the killing of innocent people and actions of terrorism, violence and coercion, which directly contradict the commitment of all religions to peace, justice and equality.

Participating states also expressed their commitment to strengthening and supporting existing mechanisms within the UN for promoting tolerance and human rights, preserving the institution of the family, protecting the environment, spreading education, eradicating poverty and fighting drug abuse, crime and terrorism, noting the positive role of religions, beliefs and moral humanitarian principles in tackling these challenges.

3. IMPLEMENTATION

The vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was now becoming manifest in the hearts of those religious scholars and others who were beginning to understand the possibilities of new horizon in dialogue.

The aspiration has since required that concepts, ideals, hope and vision be underpinned by hard work and by practical steps and activities, in order to turn the Dream originated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques into a tangible, visible Reality. Conference at Vienna and at Geneva played a significant role in converting lofty ideas into a viable project, with subsequent development of the legal, political and interreligious and intercultural understandings forming the basis for a worthy and meaningful proposition.

i) World Interreligious Dialogue Follow up Conference

in Vienna on 13^th-14^th July, 2009

The Muslim World League, continued the initiative of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and arranged a World Conference on Dialogue in Vienna on 13^th-14^th July, 2009. The meeting added to the previous discussions at Madrid and at the UN General Assembly in New York and took measures to provide an effective way forward.

Three resolutions were adopted. The World Conference on Dialogue unanimously supported the intention of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques which was to establish an international centre for interreligious dialogue. Consequently, a Preparatory Working Group (PWG) was established. It comprised representatives from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish religions and the President of the International Peace Institute (IPI) was appointed as the convener. The PWG was set up in consultation with the representatives of the Muslim World League as well as the representatives of the other world religions who were present in Vienna.

The PWG was to make recommendations for the composition of a Steering Committee comprised of named representatives from the other world religions present at the conference with a Hindu and Buddhist representation to be invited after the conference. The Steering Committee’s mandate was to present detailed proposals for the establishment of an institution to work as an international centre for interreligious dialogue – including its mission, organisation, governing structure, terms of reference and other elements – by the end of the year.

ii) Interfaith Conference in Geneva on

30^th September-1^st October, 2009

Maintaining the momentum of the previous meetings an interfaith conference, organised by the Muslim World League (MWL) was held in Geneva, Switzerland between 30^thSeptember and 1^st October, 2009 which attracted 150 religious and academic figures representing different religions and cultures from nearly 40 countries. The Conference called on the leaders of all faiths and civilisations in the world to reflect further and to interact with the initiative by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques about the use of dialogue as a means to “uphold human values, establish justice, promote cooperation, protect human rights, preserve the family and end conflicts.”

The Interfaith conference reviewed the existing relationships among the various human civilisations, and stressed the importance of addressing the profound misunderstandings that disturb their normal course. The Conference concluded that religions are not the source of crises that disturb intercultural relations, even if sometimes some people tend to define them as such; differences stem from conflicts of interests and the predominance of selfish interests.

The Conference called on the concerned States and relevant institutions to implement international conventions, especially the United Nations resolutions and principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The final Communiqué enshrined three main topics, which were:

iii) Signing of the Agreement for the Establishment

of the Centre in Vienna on 13^th October 2011

A major milestone was made on 13^th October 2011 in Vienna when the three founding states, comprising the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Austria and the Kingdom of Spain signed the Agreement for the Establishment of KAICIID. The Holy See whose representative attended the Signing Ceremony also supported the Agreement.

Vienna has been chosen as the location for KAICIID because of its reputation as an international city and its long history of proven interreligious acceptance.

iv) Preparatory Commission Established

in Vienna on 23^rd April, 2012

The Conference of the States Signatories of the Founding Agreement met in Madrid on 23^rd of April, 2012 and established a Preparatory Commission for the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue. Its ourpose was to work toward the establishment of the Centre and to lay the groundwork for the implementation of the objectives of the Founding Agreement.

At its first meeting, the Preparatory Commission established an Interim Secretariat, appointed H.E. Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar as Interim Secretary General and Ms. Claudia Bandion-Ortner as Deputy Secretary General, elected the members of the Interim Board of Directors and adopted its Rules of Procedure.

v) Agreement enters into Force in

Vienna on 21^st October 2012

The Agreement for the Establishment of the King Abdullah bin Abdulziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue entered into force, on 21^stof October, 2012, in Vienna, sixty days after the deposit of the instruments of ratification by all parties having signed the Agreement. The Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria serves as Depository for the Founding Agreement.

vii) First Meeting of the Council of Parties

in Vienna on 31^st October, 2012

The Council of Parties, consisting of the representatives of the three Founding States of the Centre convened for its first session on 31^st October 2012 in Vienna. The Council took over from the Preparatory Commission for the Establishment of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre to complete the necessary preparatory work for the establishment of the Centre.

In its first meeting, the Council of Parties admitted the Holy See as a Founding Observer. The Council of Parties also appointed H.E. Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar as Secretary General and Her Excellency Claudia Bandion-Ortner as Deputy Secretary General of the Centre. The members of the Board of Directors were also elected.

viii) The Inauguration Ceremony of the King Abdullah

Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious

and Intercultural Dialogue in Vienna on 26^th November, 2012

The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) was officially opened on 26^thNovember, 2012 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.

With the establishment of KAICIID in Vienna, the dream of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz turns into visible reality and a new chapter of global international dialogue begins.

Courtesy: KAICIID

Launch of Islamophobia Awareness Month

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The Islamophobia Awareness Month was launched on Friday, 2^nd of November, 2012 at London Muslim Centre by prominent British organisations and campaigners to deconstruct and challenge some of the stereotypes about Islam and Muslims. Leading commentators and politicians, including human rights Lawyer Imran Khan, Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, academic and journalist Myriam-Francois-Cerrah as well as UNITE the Union’s Steve Hart addressed themes around Islamophobia.

Human Rights Lawyer

Imran Khan

Imran Khan said, “Anti-Muslim attitudes are directed against people believed to be of Muslim faith or generally against Islam as a religion, regardless of whether those affected are actually religious and which branch of Islam they belong to.”

“In more recent years and, particularly since the events of 9/11 and 7/7, attention has very much focussed on Muslims. The agenda set has been one that is distinctly anti-Muslim,” said Khan.

Human Rights lawyer Khan said, “The response to 9/11 and 7/7 by leaders in the US and UK and the ensuing reporting in our media has inexorably led to a rise in anti-Muslim feeling in our society which might be termed “institutionalised discrimination” based upon the institutional practices of the state and its organisations which leads to discriminatory practices against those of the Muslim faith. It is this process of discrimination which is probably the most pernicious in its effect because, by its very nature, it has the sanction of the state and the blessing of society and can be evidenced in a number of ways.

Imran Khan, Human Rights lawyer, was speaking on Islamophobia and the Law. He mentioned, “By the way of example, in 2009/10, 36,928 racially and religiously aggravated offences were recorded by the police in England and Wales. In December 2008 there were 9,975 Muslim prisoners in England and Wales, equivalent to12% of the prison population. This represented a considerable increase on the 5% in 1994 and 8% in 2004 and was more than four times the proportion of professing Muslims at the 2001 census.”

“Ministry of Justice statistics showed ‘stop and account’ powers were used on 2,353,918 occasions in 2006/7, up a quarter from 1,601,196 in 2006/7. There were twice as many stops and searches of Asian people per head of population than of white people. When concerns were raised about this disproportionality Hazel Blears, then a Government Minister, said that British Muslims should accept as a ‘reality’ that people of Islamic appearance are more likely to be stopped and searched by police,” Khan said.

Finally, Human Rights lawyer Khan quoted Anas Altikri, Chief Executive of the Cordoba Foundation, who said: “Islamophobia is a tragic reality and a test to the West’s claim to upholding the most noble of human values. Already, we have failed when allowing laws to pass prohibiting Muslim women from dressing as they wish in France and building their mosques in a particular aesthetic form similarly to other places of worship in Switzerland. It is a phenomenon that will, if allowed to spread unabated, leave none unaffected. It was true in the case of anti-Jewish and anti-Black attacks in the last century, and it will prove true if anti-Muslim sentiments are given free reign to expand today.”

Supt. Robert Reavill

Supt. Robert Reavill, Partnerships, Tower Hamlets Police, said, “We deal with Islamophobia within the context of hate crime. Complains are investigated by a dedicated team of officers. Criminal offence was given priority whatever the race or ethnicity, gender, disability, age, sexuality, religion - actual or perceived by the victim. We shave seen threat of the EDL on the borough and it causes concerns the causes to the community.

Mr. Reavill said it is the time for the communities to work together. He said the community cohesion is very very important.

Speaking about the Tower Hamlets Borough, Mr. Reavill said, this is a very very diverse borough.

Lindsey German

Stop the War Coalition

Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition, said to me in an interview, “The war on terror which begun in 2001 really created the present mood of Islamophobia; when you bombed on a countries which are largely Muslim countries then you have to demonise the people where you are bombing and at the same time as we talk about terrorism among Muslims, we are conducting terror attacks with drone in Pakistan and Afghanistan and we are creating a situation where more and more people around the world have grievances against, grievance against the United States and other countries in the world.”

“And if we want to end that, we have to campaign not just against the wars but against Islamophobia as well. Also Islamophobia does not come from the Far Right but it comes from the government, it comes from the police, it comes from the whole attitudes in society. The attitudes to Muslims are somehow inferior. We have to campaign against that as well,” said German.

Jeremy Corbyn

Labour MP

Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP for Islington North, said to me in an interview, “I am delighted to support this campaign against Islamophobia and for cohesive society recognises all faiths and respects for all faiths. Because what I have noticed over the past eleven years ever since the problem of 9/11 and the war on Afghanistan has been a gross Islamophobia in the popular press and this then leads on to unemployment, leads on to discrimination, and leads on to brutality and that allows quite discriminatory anti-terror laws passed in this country. So tonight what I am saying tonight is that Islam is a part of the British society; it’s a part of normal life and it’s a faith that can be respected and recognised and supported we are here to demonstrate that tonight.”

“I remember couple of weeks ago Babar Ahmad and Syed Talha Ahsan were deported to the United States to face charges which will never put in British court and they were not in any sense prosecuted in Britain. Gary McKinnon few days later was not deported to the USA. Again, the US tried to extradite, the British government refused. I think everyone else can draw their conclusion from that decision,” mentioned Labour MP Corbyn.

Lutfur Rahman

Mayor Tower Hamlets

Lutfur Rahman, an independent executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets and has been Councillors for 10 years, said, “I regularly get described as an ‘extremist’. I get depicted as being part of a supposed Islamist conspiracy to ‘Talibanise Tower Hamlets’. My administration gets depicted as being one that panders to homophobic and anti-Semitic views. There is not a single shred of evidence to substantiate these claims.”

Tower Hamlets Mayor mentioned, “I am not alone in being subject to this kind of treatment. Labour’s Sadiq Khan, the Shadow Justice Secretary, was accused of holding ‘extremist’ views after he called for a ‘more independent foreign policy’. Labour Peer Lord Ahmed found himself being branded an ‘extremist’ and suspended from the party. When former Conservative Party Chairperson Sayeeda Warsi was appointed to the Conservative frontbench in 2007 some of her own colleagues said her appointment was ‘the wrong signal at a time when Britain is fighting a global war against Islamic terrorism and extremism’.”

“I don’t doubt there are genuine violent extremists out there and it is right that they are monitored,” said Tower Hamlets Mayor and added, “But it is wrong and dangerous to lump all of us who express political opinions via the democratic process and those who support sectarian hate and advocate violence.

Speaking about the role of journalists, Mayor Rahman said, “It is a reality that there are a small but powerful group of journalists who see Islam and Muslims as alien, hostile and threatening. When the Daily Mail’s Melanie Phillips refers to ‘fifth column in our midst’ we all know who she is talking about. And when the Spectator’s Douglas Murray says ‘conditions for Muslims in Europe must be made harder across the board’, we know exactly what he is talking about.”

Mr. Rahman also mentioned, “Islamophobia is real. It needs to be exposed and challenged. And events like Islamophobia Awareness Week are very important to that end.

But there is a good sign that the preachers of hatred were pushed to the margin in the Tower Hamlets Borough. “Those who preach hatred, against whatever community, have consistently been pushed to the margins in this borough. I am inspired by our residents findings that the number of residents from different backgrounds who state they get on well together has risen year on year and now stands at 78%,” mentioned Mayor of Tower Hamlets.

“Islamophobia is the latest form of attack on this borough’s multicultural identity,” said Mayor Rahman. But he emphasized, “There is no place for hate in Tower Hamlets. There is no place for hate against people on the basis of sexual identity. There is no place for hate on the basis of racial identity. There is no place for hate on the basis of religious identity. We are one Tower Hamlets. And we are not going to let the preachers of hate, wherever they comes from, divide us.”

Sahar Alfaifi

Wales chair of FOSIS,

Sahar Alfaifi, Wales chair of the Federation of Students Islamic Societies, started saying, “As a niqabi (face veil), a Muslim female with a face veil the first things that comes to most people mind that I am oppressed, that I am uneducated, passive, isolated behind closed doors and not integrated within the British society. This is how the media portrayed me; this is how the tabloids see me and now not only that this is also how some high-profile politicians and leaders think of me. All these are contributing to the old and new phenomenon Islamophobia.”

She emphasized by saying, “No. I am not oppressed. I am highly educated. I am actually scientist, active individual and well-integrated within the British society. Fortunately, we are living in times of remarkable complacency as well as rising the new racism.”

“Racism is now called Islamophobia, spreading across Europe and UK that is manifesting different forms and shapes from vilifying mosques, attacking Muslims, marginalising the Muslim as individual, as a society and also as an organisation,” Ms Alfaifi said.

Ms. Alfaifi also mentioned, “Islamophobia is also reaching university campuses. Years ago, a Muslim brother was tapped in City University and many sisters including me faced verbal, written and physical abuses from pulling off hijab, the headscarf, to calling them names such as terrorists, bombers, and the list goes on.”

She also mentioned, “Islamophobia becomes after-talk dinner as has been described before and now actually generated and explained away. It also not becomes limited to the right-wing political activists, but also politicians and organisations from all sorts as well as governmental sectors.”

“Institutional racism and Islamophobia is expanding and now reaching the justice and administrative sector by extraditing recently Babar Ahmad and Syed Talha Ahsan but not Gary McKinnon and their rights as British citizen has been denied,” said Alfaifi. .

Wales chair of FOSIS maintained, “Britain is living example of a country of democracy, human rights, mutual respect and tolerance. We have to work hard individually as well as collectively to maintain these values of freedom, justice and tolerance; because today Muslims who are attacked are never know who will be attacked tomorrow. These attacks cannot be justified.”

“Whether you agree or disagree with the Muslim faith or people, whether you agree or disagree with the niqab or face veil, there is one thing that I hope, we all agree on that niqab or any act of worship is not a culture, is not a tradition, it is actually an act of worship like many others and here I truly really believe them,” said Ms. Alfaifi..

Speaking on niqab or face veil which she was wearing, Ms Sahar Alfaifi emphasized by saying, “No one actually has got the right to force it on me, neither no one has got the right to take it off me. I pray as a Muslim and British and more specifically Welsh and there is no conflict or antagonism between these three identities.”

The Islamophobia Awareness Month was spearheaded by the Enough Coalition Against Islamophobia, The Muslim Council of Britain and ENGAGE and other partners.

Participants’ Point of View-1

KAICIID: Global Hub on Dialogue

for all organisations

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) was opened at the Hofburg Palace, Vienna, on Monday, the 26^th of November, 2012, in the presence of a global audience of almost 800 guests, including ambassadors, government representatives, religious leaders, academics and scholars.

Though the centre is the brainchild of King Abdullah, it is established in Vienna, Austria; and Saudi Arabia, Spain and Austria signed the agreement for the establishment of the centre. The Holy See has a role as a Founding Observer.

Not only that, The Vatican, a strong supporter of the project, has joined as a founding observer and represented on the board, which, according to the treaty, must have three Christians, three Muslims, a Jew, a Hindu and a Buddhist.

This centre, KAICIID, is the first global international organisation with multi-faith oversight focused on religion and is backed by an international treaty signed by Austria, Spain and Saudi Arabia.

Another aspect of the centre is that although launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and named after King Abdullah, “about 70 percent of the world’s religions are on its board. The centre will be a neutral place to exchange ideas,” said HE Faisal bin Muaammar, Secretary General of KAICIID.

Participants’ Point of View

In the evening of the Inauguration ceremony of KAICIID at Hofburg Palace, Vienna, on 26^th November, 2012, most of the leaders of different religions of the world; representatives from the Churches of Christianity, representatives of the Jewish communities with all their backgrounds from the East and the West, the Hindus and the Buddhists; the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Vatican representative Cardinal Tauran, representative from the King of Spain and the President of Austria, three Foreign Ministers of the three founding states, Saudi Arabia, Austria and Spain were at the opening ceremony.

I had the opportunity to interview participants at the opening ceremony of KAICIID and enquire their point of view about the Centre. While interviewing, I had tried my level best to give wide representation in my interview from the religious, regional and continental perspective.

Timothy Margaritis, Greek Orthodox Patriarch

Timothy Margaritis, who is representing the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, said, “Certainly every movement that brings people together and used this togetherness in order to promote understanding among people love and cooperation and friendship is welcome by all religions. So we strongly support this movement.”

Mr. Rao Vithal of the Arya Samaj

“The religious people, those who believe in God, in the essence of moral values, in human values should move togetherly; this moving togetherly is the only solution; conflict is not the solution,” said Mr. Rao Vithal of the Arya Samaj, came from Hyderabad, India.

Dr. William F. Vendley, the Secretary General

of the Religions for Peace

Religion for Peace is a large multi-religious organisation which has affiliates in 90 countries. Dr. William F. Vendley, the Secretary General of the Religions for Peace, who have been doing this work since 1990, said, “I believe this initiative is right; the timing is right; the process to advance this is very proper and it takes the deeply wise committed leadership of His Majesty who has dedicated this to the service of human kind. We are all for it, because it is all for us. So I have strong passionate appreciation and personally doing all that I can to support this initiative.”

Dr. Nick Carter is the President of Andover Newton

Theological School, Boston

Dr. Nick Carter, the President of Andover Newton Theological School, Boston Massachusetts, said, “I am very encouraged. There are experiments in the interreligious and intercultural dialogue around the world; but we don’t have a network; we know each other; one at a time, two at a time; but we don’t have an opportunity to share our research and our insights and I am encouraged that the centre would be a place where the sharing can take place.” “The centre can provide both a clearing house for us and a platform for learning and we look at that,” he added.

Dr. Fahad Sultan Al-Sultan, the Deputy of the

Secretary General of KAICIID

Dr. Fahad Sultan Al-Sultan, the Deputy of the Secretary General of KAICIID, said, “We hope this centre can be like hub for all the organisations, centres and programmes to come together because we do not like to duplicate our efforts; but we are working to the same goals. So we should work together on this.”

“We should encourage every country every, society and government to form dialogue; we are willing to work with everybody; we are working for a goal, for a cause, for a good cause;” said Dr. Fahad.

Dr. Fahad also mentioned that King Abdullah is also calling for dialogue between sexes in the Islamic world.

Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian

Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, who represented Roman Catholic, said, “All these gatherings, dialogues, seminars and initiatives would be fruitful if we can disseminate to the people, in the heart of the people, what we are talking about and what we are all about. We need to cultivate a new kind of culture, cultural dialogue of understanding each other and listening to understand each other.”

Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke, President of the

World Council of Faiths

Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke, the President of the World Council of Faiths, a retired Anglican Parish Priest, Church of England Clergyman. He has been involved in interfaith work for over forty years. For some time we set up international interfaith centre in Oxford but that was more on small scale. He is optimistic of this Centre, KAICIID, because, “This centre is something very much grandest scale and the good thing is it is involving the government at the top level. I think it is also related to United Nations and so on.”

“We want the United Nations to take seriously the role of religion,” Dr. Braybrooke said and added, “Religion is clearly and highly significant in the world.”

Participants’ Point of View-2

KAICIID: Global Hub on Dialogue to enhance

cooperation, respect for diversity, justice and peace

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Participants’ Point of View

Reverend Kyoichi Sugino from

the Religion for Peace International

Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, Deputy Secretary General of the Religion for Peace International, New York, who greatly admired Dr. Abdullah Mohsin al-Turki, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) whom he met in a meeting organised by ASEAN in Bangkok, Thailand recently and hosted by MWL, said, “Dr. Turki met both Muslim and Buddhist leaders at Patani, southern part of Thailand in the Buddhist temple and in the Buddhist school and also visited universities.

“It is important that King Abdullah’s initiative is now spreading across the globe and the Religion for Peace and the Muslim World League are working together,” he said and added, “The most important thing is religious dialogue and collaboration to continue; we need interreligious mechanism; mechanisms of collaboration. So this centre KAICIID receives one of those instruments.”

“Two important things, one is how to strengthen interreligious mechanisms at the national level, continental level and international level. And how we bring all these experiences together and concretely,” said Rev. Sugino.

He also said, “I think this centre’s initiative is important. King Abdullah’s leadership in this field is extremely well received by other places and Religion of Peace.”

Former State Senator Larry Shaw

Larry Shaw was a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly. Former state Senator Larry Shaw said, “It is just a realisation of the dream of the journey. Now a real journey begins. It is now time to stop and reflect upon where we come from and what lies ahead. We have to think about the possibilities of all possibilities.”

“The dialogue is the key to begin in the process. Keep it fresh; keep it vibrant; by keeping openness about itself,” Mr. Shaw said.

Baba Jain, Secretary General of the

World Council of leaders

Baba Jain, Secretary General of the World Council of leaders, said, “I think amongst all the initiatives this one has a maximum potential to succeed. Why? Because it has a name of His Majesty behind it and he is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques which nobody else has. God bless him. His Majesty is taken this step; he is reaching out to the others. I think others have to see that what a historic step this has been and now they are making it a reality.” Jain said.

Recalling what he said in a few years ago at Kazakhstan Forum, Baba Jain said, “I would like to state this: I think if this centre takes the leadership initiative under the patronage of the three governments together jointly with a Vatican, together jointly, and they ask each government each country create a centre for dialogue; every country a centre for dialogue, people from all walks of life; from all sectors can come together to resolve the differences.”

This time Baba Jain also repeated his statement which he told me at Madrid in 2008. Baba Jain said, “I repeat that and even now I am saying I said this earlier that I think Noble Peace Prize Committee would be wise to give him (King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz) the Noble Peace Prize. He does not need it; but to give this initiative recognition; give this initiative to the Muslims to support and specially the conservative support to His Majesty, that would be a wonderful step.”

Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, former President of the

Jeddah-based King Abdulaziz University

Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, former President of the Jeddah-based King Abdulaziz University and present Secretary General of the Cairo-based International Islamic Council for Daw’ah and Relief (IICDR), said, “Dialogue is part of the Islamic Shari’ah; because if you read the Qur’an or read the history of the Prophet (peace be upon him) you will find that that was the communication of every two parties to convince them that there are better language to achieve goals. So dialogue is not strange for Islam.”

“The opening of the Centre was very great,” said Dr. Naseef and mentioned that we have seen presence of all Churches of Christianity, Jewish with all their backgrounds from the East and the West, the Hindus and the Buddhists and everybody was there during the opening ceremony and also at the seminars which were held just two hours before that.

Dr. Naseef said, “The opening ceremony shows that there was a great interest; not only interest people want to be involved; they want to promote dialogue and they accepted the idea that the centre which was established with the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz idea promotion and finance is really going to happen.”

Referring to the speeches and the commitments of the board of directors and the secretary general Faisal bin Muammar, Dr. Naseef said that there is a clear vision in their mind and there is great dedication that they will continue. “This centre should not be a symbolic; it will really be a think-tank which can be an operation theatre,” he said.

Speaking about the future of the Centre, Dr. Naseef said, “As it goes through in the future, it will attract new ideas, new programmes and new people and it will help to promote idea among the young people to be involved and to adhere to the dialogue between religions because the old generation is going out and they have something in their backgrounds.”

Dr. Ahmad S. Turkistani

Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau

Professor Dr. Ahmad S. Turkistani, Director, Department of Cultural Affairs, Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau, London, said, “This is the first international global centre for interreligious intercultural dialogue. First of all, it combines religion and culture; interreligious intercultural. There are some projects taken by the head of state but not as big as this one. Some countries tried to do something.”

There will be many challenges before the Centre, but it has to find solutions. Speaking about the work of the Centre, Dr. Turkistani said, “This is what the centre is expected to do is to work on resolving problems, removing obstacles, managing crisis, dealing with conflicts and hopefully we can do something; at least put with representation of all the major religions and intellectual cultural orientations of the world. I am sure the centre will respond to all the needed developments and work on this.”

“I think one of the greatest news said on the opening evening UNICEF and Religion for Peace has started working,” mentioned Dr. Turkistani.

“I feel the most important thing is that this one has the support of the religious establishments in the world. We saw the Rabbi, the Archbishop, the Catholics, the Vatican - all these people are giving this centre the full support and their prayers and hopefully this will materialise into support.”

Dr. Hamad al-Majed, one of the

Trustees of the KAICIID

Speaking about the uniqueness of this centre, Dr. Hamad al-Majed, one of the Trustees of the KAICIID, said, “What is so unique about this centre is that this is the first initiative which has been put forward by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques from Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with other religious organisations. This is why the big representations of other religions took it seriously. They think Saudi Arabia is there and it will help a lot.”

In the past two decades, the violence has accelerated and religion was given a bad name. Dr. Al-Majed said, “This centre has to prove that religion is the solution; it is not the problem.”

Dr. Al-Majed also wanted to send a frank message to some Arab countries which think that to sit with the Christians and the Jews you come to give up your own belief, he said, “that is not true”. “I can sit with you on the common ground. One of the major things that we can work on commonality, pollution, climate, racial discrimination, homosexuality, all these things and also on some human values,” he said.

Dr. Abdullah Saleh Obaid

Former Saudi Minister of Education

Former Saudi Minister of Education and also former Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Abdullah Saleh al-Obeid, said, “First of all, I would like to thank King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue for the arrangement of this conference. I hope this centre will bring people, human beings of different religions, different languages and different thoughts together to build peace and harmony in the whole world.”

“I think Muslims all around the world need to be in touch with the other people to explain that there are situations to know each other and to inform other people about Islam; about its message of justice, peace and human dignity,” said Dr. al-Obeid.

HE Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar

Secretary General of KAICIID

The Secretary General of the Centre, HE Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar, stated, “It is my profound belief that this Centre can become a place of leadership and applied learning, a place where candid dialogue among followers of different religions and cultures can flourish so that we can value and cherish the richness of our diversity and live together as good neighbours. And I am convinced that KAICIID will, within a short period of time, build a bridge for better mutual understanding, facilitating interreligious and intercultural dialogue to enhance cooperation, respect for diversity, justice and peace.”

Jesus: The Prophet of Islam

Peace be upon him (PBUH)

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The believers in the Oneness of God who belong to the tradition of Abraham: Muslims, Christians and Jews are one community. The first foundation of belief held by all monotheistic believers is that there is but one God. No dissenting voice: all Muslims, Christians and Jews worship one and the same God. The second central belief is a common lineage of Prophets, sent by God with revealed message of Truth. God sent a guide, a messenger or a prophet who taught the same message, the need to believe in the Oneness of God. In the case of Jesus, he was undoubtedly a true prophet.

Islam is a religion of peace, understanding and tolerance. It has five pillars - the first pillar is Imaan. To belief in the Oneness of Allah, all the Prophets sent by Allah, all the Books revealed by Him, belief in Paradise and Hell and Life after Death is part of Imaan. So Muslims throughout the world believe in all the prophets sent by Allah, the Most High. Jesus, the son of Mary, is one of them.

The Virgin Mary and her son Jesus, May peace be upon them both, are mentioned often in the Qurán. In fact, there is a chapter of the Qurán named after her called Maryam. Jesus, referred to in the Qurán as Isa ibn Maryam - Jesus the Son of Mary- is one of the greatest of the prophets of God whom Muslims hold in very deep love and respect. The Qurán gives a greater number of honourable titles to Jesus than to any other figure of the past. The Qurán said: "And We sent,followingin their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah, and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.” (Al-Qurán 5:46)

I would concentrate, first, on the birth of Jesus, peace be upon him, in the light of the Qurán. In Sura 3, the Chapter Imran gives the longest version of the annunciation and birth of Jesus. It is said in the Qurán, "When the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds. O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow (in prayer).'” That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, (O Muhammad). And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed. And when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near (to Allah). He will speak to the people in the cradle and in maturity and will be of the righteous.” She said, "My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?” (The angel) said, "Such is Allah; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,' and it is.” (Al-Qurán 3:42-47)

Surah Maryam then proceeds with an account of the nativity or birth of Jesus. "So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. And she pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten. But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, "Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to (any) man.” (Al-Qurán 19: 22-26). The Qurán then narrates, "Then she (Maryam) brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.” (Al-Qurán 19:27-28)

The Qurán said, "So, Mary pointed to him (Jesus). They said, ‘How can we speak to one who is in the cradle as a child?'”(Jesus) said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and Zakah as long as I remain alive.” (Al-Qurán, 19:29-31).

In fact, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that Jesus was one of one hundred and twenty-four thousand prophets, between whom there is no cause for conflict or argument. Allah tells His messenger in one passage of the Qurán: "Say: We have believed in Allah and in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants (Al-Asbat), and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims (submitting) to Him.” (Al-Qurán 3: 84).

Imam Bukhari, in his collection of the traditions, said that the Apostle of God said, "I am nearest of men to the Son of Mary. Between Jesus and me there has been no prophet.”

It is also said in the Qur'an: "And (mention) when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O Children of Israel, Indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic.” (Al-Qur'an, 61:6)

The Qur'an clearly says: "O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His Word which He directed to Mary and a soul (created at a command) from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers.” ( Al-Qur'an, 4:171)

The Qurán also stated, "And (beware the day) when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'” He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.” (Al-Qurán 5:116) It also said, "I said not to them except what You commanded me - to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” (Al-Qurán 5:171)

About the crucifixion of Jesus (pbuh), the Qurán clearly stated, "And (for) their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the Son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but (another) was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Al-Qurán, 4:157-158).

The unedited nature of the Noble Qurán gives Muslims confidence in their understanding of the nature of Jesus, which was as a servant of God, as Prophet.

Source: http://www.iccuk.org/media/articles/jesus_the_prophet_of_islam_pbuh.htm

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