CAIRO,
April 17, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – An international Islamic
conference opened in Cairo Sunday, April 17, with a focus on the
universality of Islam as a bridge to the gulf with the other.
Egyptian
Awqaf (religious endowment) Minister Mahmoud Zaqzouq said the
conference will address four main issues: Islam’s recognition of the
other and the concept of cultural pluralism, Islam’s relation with
other civilizations, the universal nature of the Islamic values and
women in Islam.
“The
conference is aimed at standing firmly in the face of anti-Muslim
campaigns worldwide and presenting a clear vision on the true essence
and values of Islam,” he added.
Attending
the four-day event, entitled “The Nobility of the Islamic
Civilization,” are delegations from 64 countries including 19 Arab,
12 African, 13 Asian and 14 European countries.
Representatives
from five more North and South American countries as well as Australia
will also show up.
Seven
international Muslim organizations, including the Islamic Educational,
Scientific, Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC), will also take part.
The
four-day annual conference is organized by Egypt’s Supreme Council
for Islamic Affairs (SCIA).
Powerful
Muslims
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“The
West had greatly benefited from scientific Muslim documents, which
had been translated into Latin,” said Shenouda.
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Addressing
the opening session, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohammad Sayed
Tantawi said Muslims should benefit from other civilizations and
cultures.
“There
is nothing called clash of civilizations since all civilizations
deliver the message of peace, justice and welfare,” he said.
The
scholar maintained that Muslims would only regain world respect and
reverence if they emerged powerful and self-sufficient.
“The
weak have no room in today’s world even if they speak the truth,”
Tantawi said.
Speaking
on behalf of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Zaqzouq blamed
ignorance of Islam for equating it with terrorism.
He,
however, said all countries should coordinate their efforts in
uprooting terrorism and shifting billions of dollars from wars to
development.
Pope
Shenouda III of Alexandria said the West owes a big thank-you to the
Muslims for the current scientific progress.
“The
West had greatly benefited from scientific Muslim documents, which had
been translated into Latin,” he told the audience.
Reform
The
reform process also took central stage.
Arab
League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the Arab world is in a dire
need to translate its speeches on reforms into action plans.
He
said the pan-Arab body was ready to activate the dialogue between
Islam and the West.
Sudanese
Awqafs Minister Esam Al-Bashir welcomed “proposals” put forward by
the West on reform.
“But
it [the West] is not entitled to impose its reform recipe on
others,” he stressed.
“Arabs
and Muslim could scrutinize these proposals and choose what fits
them.”
Bashir
said it was high time that the Muslim world acted in unison and
followed in the footsteps of the European Union.
