The Muslim World

The Third Global Unity and Peace (GUP) conference with a focus on correcting stereotypes on Islam and British Muslims concluded here on November 28. As many as 50,000 Muslims from around the world attended the two-day event, organized by Islam Channel at the Excel Conference and Exhibition Center. “The GUP is an opportunity to present a true image of British Muslims amid a torrent of negative media reports,” IslamOnline.net reported quoting GUP director Mohamed Ali as saying. “When Islamophobia is on the upswing in Britain, such meetings are of vital importance,” said Ali, who is also the head of Islam Channel. The conference brought together luminaries and celebrity guests from the four corners of the globe.


Prominent among attendees were Egyptian preacher Amr Khaled and Saudi scholar Sheikh Salman Al Oudah. Celebrity Muslim singers including Yusuf Islam, Jermaine Jackson (brother of US pop star Michael Jackson) and Malikah Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X), as well as British government officials, including Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair also addressed the gathering. “We seek to liaise with British authorities and parliamentarians, and send the message that there is no contradiction whatsoever between being a devout Muslim and a good British citizen,” Mohamed Ali said.


Exhibitions, entertainments and contests were also held on the sidelines of the conference. Competitions for Britain’s “Model Mosque,” and the Holy Quran memorization, as well as a book fair featuring hundreds of books on the life history and Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) were also held on the occasion. One of the most marvelous exhibits was one showing Ka`bah curtains, which had been flown from Makkah to Britain especially for the event. Britain is home to a sizable multi-ethnic Muslim minority, in the eye of the storm since the 9/11 attacks, complain of a growing Islamophobic climate in the European country. The latest Financial Times opinion poll showed Britain is the most suspicious nation about Muslims.

There exists no barrier for the employment of Iranian women in various fields of the aviation industry, Reza Jafarzadeh, speaker of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said here last week. Denying any prohibition in the employment of women in the aviation industry, Jafarzadeh stressed that no resolution has been made, or circular issued by the organization to prohibit women’s employment in this industry. Aviation companies considering their requirements are allowed to employ male or female competent forces including pilots, co-pilots, aviation engineers, or workers for other sections, he noted. Since the operational sections of aviation companies play a considerable and determinative role in the safety of the flights, the companies should employ competent forces taking into account their relevant qualifications regardless of gender, Jafarzadeh maintained. He concluded that today, in Iran, women are working in the aviation industry and also being employed as pilots and co-pilots.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) scrapped a programme to map the city’s Muslim population, a major retreat for a department that said the system was needed to identify potential hotbeds of extremism.


The reversal comes after a week of protests from Muslim groups and civil libertarians, who equated the mapping with religious profiling. Others questioned whether it was possible for the LAPD to accurately map the city’s far-flung Muslim community.


Police Deputy Chief Michael P. Downing said that in the wake of the protests, officials would drop the mapping aspect of the plan but continue their efforts to reach out to the Muslim community. Downing and other police officials plan to outline the new strategy to Muslim American activists at a meeting today.


The decision met with praise from some activists, who said they would welcome greater involvement by the LAPD in their communities as long as mapping was off the table.


”Muslim Americans were very disturbed and concerned about the ramifications of the plan and having their privacy invaded,” said Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. “Downing’s statement that he’s pulling the plan says the LAPD is very open to positive community engagement, input and participation. It’s the first step to very healthy dialogue between Muslim Americans and the city of Los Angeles.”

Almost two months after their inter-faith dialogue offer, Pope Benedict XVI has invited Muslim scholars and intellectuals to a meeting at the Vatican. “The Pope has asked me to convey his gratitude to you and to all who signed the letter,” Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone wrote in a letter to Jordanian Prince Ghazi bin Mohammad bin Talal, head of the Institute for Islamic Thought in Amman.


On October 11, 138 Muslim scholars and dignitaries from around the world sent an open letter to the world’s Christian clergy, including Pope Benedict, for dialogue based on common essentials between Islam and Christianity. Bertone said the pontiff wanted to meet a representative group of the signatories to encourage their “praiseworthy initiative.” “His Holiness would be most willing to receive Your Royal Highness and a restricted group of signatories of the open letter, chosen by you,” read the letter dated November 19 but only released on Dec. 1.


Cardinals who had gathered towards the end of November in the Vatican for a special meeting to install 23 new members of the College of Cardinals said the Muslims’ letter was “an encouraging sign” for dialogue. The letter had already won plaudits from many non-Catholic leaders, including Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Lutheran World Federation head Bishop Mark Hanson, World Council of Churches head Rev. Samuel Kobia and US Presbyterian Church head Clifton Kirkpatrick. The latest came from more than 300 Christian scholars and clergymen from across the globe, who have signed a letter apologizing to Muslims for the Crusades and the repercussions of America’s so-called war on terror.

Dhul Qaada 17, 1428/ November 27, 2007 - Peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians stand as one of the central challenges of this century, according to leading Christian leaders. Responding to an open letter in October signed by 138 leading Muslim scholars, clerics, and intellectuals from around the world, the Christian leaders also asked the Muslim world for forgiveness. "We want to begin by acknowledging that in the past (e.g. in the Crusades) and in the present (e.g. in excesses of the "war on terror") many Christians have been guilty of sinning against our Muslim neighbors. Before we 'shake your hand' in responding to your letter, we ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world', they said in the letter which was made available to the press here yesterday, WAM reported.

The Islamic Center of Greater Toledo, with its twin minarets and golden geodesic dome, towers over the landscape in the southern outskirts of Toledo. Unlike the striking architecture of the mosque, the nearly 6,000 Muslims living in greater Toledo do not stand apart from their surroundings. Toledo-area Muslims have, in fact, been spotlighted by the US State Department and a national television network for being unusually well-integrated into the mainstream community.


“I think that Toledo has made a name for itself for being an integrated community, not just within itself but in the community at large,” said Dr. S. Zaheer Hasan, a neurologist and former president of the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo.


“In the 25 years since I came here from Pakistan, things have changed. When I came to the US, barely anyone knew about Islam. Today, everybody knows about Muslims, Islam, and everybody has met their doctor also,” said Dr. Hasan, partly joking while also making a serious reference to the high percentage of local Muslims in the medical profession.


Many Muslims say they feel safe, welcome, and at home in northwest Ohio.


“I think in general there’s an openness among the people of Toledo,” said Fatima Al-Hayani, a retired professor of Middle East and Islamic affairs at the University of Toledo. “There’s also a quest for knowledge and to separate fact from fiction. I find that very healthy and beautiful.”


Dr. Hasan said CBS News took note of Toledo’s Muslims primarily because they do not live in clusters or shop at Arab or Muslim-oriented stores. A CBS news crew led by veteran religion correspondent Ted Holmes spent a week in Toledo in October to film a 30-minute news programme titled ‘American Muslims: A Chance to Speak’, that was featured on the premiere noon show on Channel 11. Julia Shearson of Cleveland, executive director of the Cleveland chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations, said she admired the way the Toledo Muslim community fits into the general population.

The Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World has invited applications for the 2008 Ford Foundation Visiting Fellowship. Directed by Dr. Stephen Grand, the Visiting Fellows Program has provided a positive bridge of scholarship and understanding between researchers, policymakers, and the wider public in the US and the Muslim world. The Program, the announcement said, is designed to bring the most knowledgeable analysts from Muslim communities and states to Washington. The intent of the program is to promote a positive dialogue between the US and the Islamic world and generate a deeper understanding of the critical issues that face the Muslims and the US together. Visiting Fellows will be expected to participate in the various policy, research and outreach aspects of the Project and research and write a monograph paper in consultation with the Project Director (to be completed before departure) related to the project’s work, to be published by Brookings, and interact with the Washington policy-making community. Brookings will provide a stipend, office space, computer resources, and full access to the Brookings Library. Brookings will not provide housing but will provide a contribution toward relocation expenses and will provide a letter to potential landlords confirming the fellowship arrangements.


There are two 2008 Ford Foundation Visiting Fellowships. The first round of applications was due on November 30, 2007. The second round of applications is due March 31, 2008.  Talented journalists, policy analysts, academics, religious scholars, and other opinion leaders from the Islamic world can apply. Qualified applicants should possess at least a university degree, with a higher degree preferred, and have research and publishing experience. Fellows are expected to be in residence full-time at Brookings during their Fellowship and work full-time on their Fellowship research during the six-month period.


For more information on the Project on US Relations with the Islamic World, please see  website: http://www.brookings.edu/projects/islamic-world.aspx

At a time when McDonalds produces halal chicken nuggets and New Zealand is the predominant supplier of red meat to Muslim countries, Turkey cannot afford to be left out of the multi-billion dollar industry, the agriculture minister said in an interview with Turkish business daily Referans.


As part of the ongoing debate in Turkey about the introduction of Halal food, food permissible according to Islamic law, and its possible implications in society as a whole Mehdi Eker said the Agriculture Ministry intended to take the necessary measures once the decision to establish a Halal standard is reached.


“Halal food contains no substance banned by Islamic rules. Halal food needs to be prepared, processed and stored in areas that have none of these banned substances,” he said, noting that all meat in New Zealand, one of the largest meat exporters, is produced according to Halal regulations.


Substances banned in Islam include pork and pork products and alcohol.


Eker said a minister in New Zealand told him that the reason why they abided by Islamic rules was because they exported to Islamic countries.


He said the halal food issue, which has become very divisive in Turkey, is a commercial decision.


“New Zealand is a Christian country. It applies these rules and exports to all the Islamic countries. The same is done by Israel. If Turkey is to sell its foodstuff to Islamic countries and if the customers want it, why shouldn’t it introduce a standard,” he said.

An exhibition that opened here in the second week of December highlighted the often ignored contribution of Muslim camel drivers opening up the dry centre of the vast country in the 19th century.


More than 2,000 cameleers and 15,000 camels arrived from Afghanistan and northern India or areas making up Pakistan today, as a mid-1800s gold rush accelerated exploration of Australia’s rugged interior.


But their contribution has not always received the attention it deserves, the National Library of Australia says in an introduction to its exhibition titled ‘Pioneers of the Inland: Australia’s Muslim Cameleers.’


Cameleers assisted all major expeditions into Australia’s uncharted interior, starting with the Burke and Wills expedition in 1860, and have contributed significantly to Australia’s economic and cultural development, said curator Philip Jones.


In the era of heroic exploration, the Muslim cameleers were rarely given adequate credit for their achievements. Expedition diaries confirm that several cameleers deserve the status of explorers.


The Muslim pioneers ‘unlocked the deserts, opening crucial lines of supply and communication between coastal and inland towns, remote settlements, mines and mission stations,’ according to the exhibition notes.


Many cameleers returned home after their work contracts ended but others stayed, married European and indigenous women and established communities and mosques in outback towns, raising their children in the Islamic faith. ‘Muslims have come to this country and contributed blood, sweat and tears,’ it noted.

For the first time, the Haj became Wi-Fi compatible this time. About 70 access points were established in and around the holy sites.


It was free, being provided by both of the Kingdom’s telecom providers. This couldn’t have come a moment too soon for pilgrims, such as Ajmal Jami Mishal, a senior photographer with NDTV news channel. He had come for the second time not only to cover Hajj, but also to be a part of it. He says he didn’t have time to consult a local mufti about the rites of the Hajj before coming. Instead, should he have any questions, he’s brought along his laptop and can log on to a website from a free Wi-Fi hotspot within sight of the Grand Mosque and consult one of many “Hajj FAQs” floating around in cyberspace.


Availability of online guidance made performance of Hajj easier for many pilgrims. People logged on to a galaxy of Islamic sites to seek guidance and to know fatwa about major Hajj-related issues, said pilgrims.


”Instead of running after one mufti to another for Hajj counseling, I preferred to log on to www.IslamiCity.com, which provided answers to all my queries, said Adnan Jaber,” a Jordanian pilgrim. “In the 21st century we have no time to go to an Islamic scholar to know about the nitty-gritty of the Hajj,” said Jami Mishal.


”I have come from Delhi and, before embarking on this holy journey, I got myself acquainted with Hajj rituals virtually without going to any Islamic scholar,” he added.


Many others were also seen connected with their muftis online through laptop or cell phones.


However, there are still of course plenty of neo-Luddites at the Haj who prefer the good old-fashioned face-to-face chat with a flesh-and-blood mufti. “Hajj is a serious religious obligation and I prefer to know as much about it through muftis,” said Khaled Mishal, a Saudi pilgrim.

Bangladesh President Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed said the liberal and humanistic appeal of Islam with its emphasis on the importance of spirituality has great relevance to the present world. “All peace loving people of the world are aware of these universal values acting as the main source of strength of Islam as over the ages, Islam has been a fountain spring of the message of peace and hope for the entire humanity”, he said while addressing the international seminar organized by Allama Rumi Society (ARS) in collaboration with the ministry of Cultural Affairs marking the 800th birth anniversary of the great Persian philosopher and poet Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi here. UNESCO has also declared the year 2007 as the year of Rumi to commemorate the contributions of Rumi.


Bangladesh Cultural Secretary ABM Abdul Howk Chowdhury, Turkish ambassador in Dhaka Ferit Ergin, Ambassador of Iran Hasan Farazandeh, Afghan ambassador Ahmed Karim Nawabi, President of ARS, Syed Ahmudul Haq and President of ARS Dhaka Syed Rezaul Karim also spoke on the occasion. Describing Rumi as great scholar and proponent of Sufism, President Iajuddin said Rumi devoted himself to uphold and nourish the finesse of Islam through his whole life. He said Rumi has been unique in his presentation through the Masnavi of the universal message of hope of Islam and most forcefully articulated the desire of all people to overcome their inner conflicts and attain peace in the most ennobling manner.


“It should thus come as no surprise that Rumi’s place in our lives has been well recognized by the designation of the year 2007 as the year dedicated to Rumi”, he added.


Referring to the Dhaka University’s curricula that included the study of Persian language and literature as its integral part since its establishment, he also called for promoting inclusion in curricula of our different educational institutions to uphold the works and thinking of Rumi to the new generation. “We should consciously endeavor to promote the learning of Persian and Sufi literature through their inclusion in curricula of our different educational institutions”, Professor Iajuddin added.

The Gulf Cooperation Council has welcomed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s proposal at the opening session of GCC summit here on December 3 for enhancing peace in the region and ensuring stability and security. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offered a security pact with the Gulf Arab leaders, saying: “We want peace and security ... based on justice and without foreign intervention. “The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council welcomed the proposals of Iranian President Ahamdinejad.


“The Supreme Council stressed that the proposals will be studied by the GCC with a view to promoting all types of good-neighborly relations and reciprocal respect between the GCC member States and the Islamic Republic of Iran and further contribute to supporting the security and stability of the region,” it added. Warning any security problem in one Gulf state would affect all the others, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said in his speech: “We are proposing the conclusion of a security agreement.” He also said he wanted to create an economic co-operation bloc for Gulf States and offered to share Iranian expertise in a range of areas including “energy and the new technologies.”  


Commending Ahamdinejad’s proposal, the GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah said: “We welcome the initiative. It’s a positive development,” In remarks to Qatar News Agency, he said Iran’s desire to have enhanced cooperation with the GCC countries and earn their confidence is a positive indication. “It would benefit the entire region and ensure peace, stability and prosperity,” Al Attiyah said. Asked about Iran’s nuclear plans, the GCC chief said any nuclear programme which complies with the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is legal.


Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who is attending the summit, told Al Madina newspaper: “We are looking at the Summit with great interest since it is an important convention for the entire Islamic world.”

Rich uranium mines have been discovered in Iran’s southern and central areas, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Deputy Director Mohammad Saeedi said here recently.


A vast layer of uranium extends across the country’s central desert to the south, Saeedi told the Iran Radio.


Currently only the regions of Saghand and Bandar Abbas at the start and end of the area are being exploited, however, the region in between is rich with uranium, he explained.


Two third of the country has not been explored from the airborne mineral surveyor planes yet, he said, adding, “This year the administration has allocated a budget for more exploration for uranium, and therefore within four years we can have a precise scope of uranium mines throughout the country.”


In the next 20 years, the country requires at least 20,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity, and a bid was held in the past three months to establish new power plants, in which companies from any country could participate, Saeedi noted.


“We should make Iran a manufacturer of nuclear power plants in the next 10 years,” he stated. He also said that 700 Iranian experts have been trained in building power plant in Russia.

The Saudi Ministry of Haj has planned a Saudi Riyal 100 million factory to turn bones and skin into gelatin and capsule covers from gelatin. It will be a 100 per cent halal product. It will be ready for turning the skins and bones of animals slaughtered during Hajj 2007.


It is proposed to set up two factories for making gelatin from skins and secondly from bones. The factory will come up on a plot of 30 lakh square metres of land 20 kms from Makkah. It will employ 30 workers.


This year the IDB has set a target of seven lakh sheep and 5,000 to 6,000 camels and cows. 


Gelatin, is a translucent brittle solid substance, colourless or slightly yellowish, nearly tasteless and odourless, which is created by prolonged boiling of connective tissue such as skin, cartilage and bones. It has been commonly used in food, pharmaceutical, photography and cosmetic manufacturing. Gelatin is an irreversibly hydrolysed form of collagen. Household gelatin comes in the form of sheets, granules or as powder. Instant types can be added to food as they are need to be soaked in water beforehand. Probably best known as a gelling agent in cooking, different types and grades of gelatin are used in a wide range of food and non-food products. It is used in gelatin desserts or jelly, trifles and confectionaries. It is also used as stabilizers, thickeners or texturiser in foods such as ice cream, jams, yogurt, cream cheese and margarine. It is used as well in fat reduced food to simulate the mouth feel of fat and to create volume without adding calories. Pharmaceuticals capsules use gelatin for making capsule shells.


The IDB slaughters seven lakh sheep during 84 hours of stay of pilgrims in Mina. Since most of the skins are damaged, they were simply dumped and disposal was a big problem.

King Saud University of Riyadh will have the privilege of having 24 Nobel laureates of various specializations as visiting professors, announced Prof. Abdullah Othman, KSU’s President at a press conference here early December. The Nobel laureates of various nationalities will sign agreements under the patronage of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz when they visit Riyadh to attend the Seventh Saudi Engineering Conference. Prof. Othman said Crown Prince Sultan would also attend the signing of cooperation agreements between KSU and the deans and presidents of a number of universities in the US, France, Denmark, Sweden, Singapore and a technical institute from India.


Prof. Abdulaziz A. Al Hamid, Dean at College of Engineering, said there was a severe shortage of Saudi engineers. In a workforce of 110,000 engineers presently employed in the Kingdom, Saudis represented only 20 per cent, he said. The Saudi labour market was in need of 240,000 engineers. He said there was this shortage of Saudi engineers despite the fact that 1,500 engineers were graduating every year from various engineering colleges in the Kingdom. During the past four years Saudi high school graduates were seeking enrolment in engineering, medicine, pharmacy, computer science and business administration fields. The number of colleges in engineering rose from six to 20. Similarly, the medical colleges increased from five a few years ago to 17 and the computer science institutes from five to 13. Earlier, there were hardly three universities in the private sector, but now their number has gone up to eight.

“Knowledge is power and education is the key to be successful in this challenging world,” was the message emanating from the seminar held under the aegis of Surat Young Muslim Graduates Association (SYMGA).


The seminar organised on Nov. 17-18 discussed Sachar Committee Report, women empowerment and several related issues of the Muslim community.


Mr. Justice M.S.A. Siddique told the gathering that Sachar Committee findings point out that Muslims were more backward today than even Dalits. He said that situation in India is changing fast. We must comprehend it and change our course accordingly. In this phase of transition pertaining to educational system, genuine commitment, a social vision and dynamic approach is needed by Muslim leaders, intellectuals and organizations.


Uzma Naheed of Iqra Foundation, Mumbai spoke about economic condition of Muslim women and strategy on their improvement. She stated that Muslim women are overwhelmingly self-employed (engaged in home-based work). Their work conditions are characterized by low income, poor work conditions, and lack of social security benefits.


Drawing a grim picture of Muslim girls’ education, she said that exclusive girls’ schools are few, and are usually at a distance from Muslim areas. Lack of hostel facilities is another limiting factor.


Former Minister of Andhra Pradesh Basheeruddin Babukhan exhorted Muslim community to take benefit of central Government’s various schemes to uplift our next generation. He accused the BJP government of pursuing policies that were partisan and neglected Muslims. But Muslims must not lose their heart. The schemes for Muslims announced by the central and state government can be exploited, he adivsed.


The NGO’s director M.H. Johar asked Muslims to set up modern professional educational institutions. We need to go in the field of engineering, medicine, biotech, mass media and so on in large numbers. Where there is a will, there is a way.


Dr. Seema Wahab of Delhi, Prof. Laliwala of Ahmedabad, Mr. Gaffar Sheikh of Mumbai spoke on various aspects of Sachar Committee report.


The participants concluded that Muslims were caught in a vicious cycle of educational backwardness breeding economic backwardness which in turn perpetuates economic misery. Hard work and establishment of proper institutions alone are going to help us. The sooner it is realized, the better it is for us.


The president of SYMGA Mr. A.Y. Syed thanked the speakers and all delegates at the end of seminar. Mr. Farooq Qureshi, Mr. Natalwala, Mr. Farooq Bawani, Mr. Iqbalbhai Junagadhi respresented several institutions at the seminar.