The Muslim World

Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, will host an exhibition on Islamic history and heritage at the premises of Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. The “Walk into Islamic History” exhibition, which will be patronized by General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, is to be organized by Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH). Member and founder of Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation and member of ADACH’s board of directors, Hoda Kanoo said the upcoming event will highlight Islamic art which “has made great contributions in various fields of art for more than ten centuries.” The collection of Dr. Kanoo, a scholar of Islamic heritage and founder of “Beit Al Qur’an” (House of Qur’an) in Bahrain, will be on display at the event. It documents the progress of Islamic civilization in the Gulf region. It comprises more than 5000 pieces of art that reflects the diversity and glory of Islamic civilization. The ten-day exhibition is expected to attract a large number of Islamic scholars, art lovers, historians and all those who are interested in culture. IINA

The visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his gratitude and deep appreciation to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for facilitating the construction of an Orthodox Church in UAE for the Russian community living in the country. At a meeting also attended by Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department of external relations, and Pastor Alexander, Head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sharjah, the Russian president said that UAE stands distinct with its faith in religious tolerance, its penchant for dialogue between civilizations and coexistence with different nations, WAM reported.


Metropolitan Kyrill hailed the spirit of tolerance and the moderation which are evident in the wise policies of UAE, adding that the Russian Orthodox Church will strive to instill the same spirit among its followers living in UAE. IINA

The 247th Session of the Board of Executive Directors of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) approved $ 755.5 million to finance several development projects, trade operations, grants and special assistance to member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries. These included 11 development projects, eight trade operations, seven grants and special assistance. The two - day board meeting, held at the headquarters of IDB, initially approved the Phase -1 of the Pilot Project of IDB’s Microfinance Development Project (IDB-MDP) to be started in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Sudan.


The board also approved the following allocation from the IDB Waqf Fund: $ 150,000 for construction of Hostel Building at Maulana Madani Memorial English School, Deoband Town, Uttar Pradesh State, India

Dr. Saleh Al Wohaibi, secretary general of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), underlined the need for creation of a Muslim lobby in the United States, especially in the Congress, to protect the rights and interests of Muslims. He said that Muslims, like all other communities, are enjoying freedom for work, religious propagation, construction of mosques and Islamic centers and the like in the United States. “However, they do not have any influence in decision making process in the country. Moreover, Islam and Muslims are the most misunderstood section in the American society,” he said in a statement. Although Jews make up only about two percent of the US population, they wield immense power and influence, vastly more than any other ethnic or religious group. Muslims are also equal to the number of Jews in the country. While the global population of Jews is some 15 million, there are nearly 1.2 billion Muslims in the world. Dr. Al Wohaibi noted that the Jewish lobby, represented by the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is the most powerful in decision making in the United States. “But Muslims do not have any such organisation in that country. Therefore, Muslims should not sit idle leaving everything to the Jewish lobby. As an open country, Muslims should play a creative role in this respect,” he said. IINA

The number of divorce cases in Indonesia has reached 200,000, the highest rate in the Asia Pacific region. Serious disputes in marriage have become the main reason for a divorce. Karuniawati, head of women’s affairs division of PKS, said that although the local religious high court had suggested solutions, urging the disputing couples to cancel their planned divorce, only about 1,000 couples withdrew their law suits in Surabaya. Data showed that the number of divorce cases in East Java alone in 2003 reached 40,391, in 2004 increased to 42,769, but in 2005 skyrocketed to 55,509 cases. IINA

The Ministry of Health has called on Saudi doctors who are not working during the Haj season this year to register with the ministry and contribute in humanitarian efforts to help the pilgrims. Dr. Redha Khaleel, adviser and head of the Haj Preparation Committee at the ministry, said that out of necessity, the ministry is recruiting only 50 doctors and 100 nurses from abroad during this year’s Haj. “Local doctors who are not working during Haj are welcome to participate,” he said.


Announcing the ministry’s plans this year for Haj, the official said that the Mount Arafat Hospital would be renovated at a cost of SR22 million. The improvements would increase the hospital’s bed capacity to 250. The official noted that 9,600 medical officials, including doctors, nurses, field workers and inspectors, would work during this year’s Haj and 86 health centers would operate in Arafat, Muzdalifa and Mina to serve sick pilgrims. IINA

Libya marked the 76-year anniversary of the death of national hero Omar Al Mukhtar. The Libyan people commemor-ated on August 16 the anniversary of the martyrdom of Omar Al Mukhtar, the Sheikh of Martyrs and the hero of the holy Jihad, who sacrificed his life for the sake of the nation. On August 16, 1931, Italian forces in the city of Solouq, in the North African country, executed Mukhtar. Mukhtar is one of the most influential national heroes the Libyan people cherish. He led the resistance movement against the Italians for over 20 years. Mukhtar was an Islamic teacher before founding and organizing a resistance movement that led successful attacks against the Italians.


The Libyan hero was captured after being wounded in a battle when he was in his late sixties and was later publicly hanged in Solouq along with his fellow fighters. Libyan reports say nearly 75,000 people were killed during the Italian invasion and occupation of the country, which ended following Italy’s defeat in the Second World War. Libyan leader Col. Moamer Al Gaddafi has asked Italy to “compensate Libya for its colonizing period” during a speech he gave on the 35th anniversary of the Libyan revolution he led that toppled the monarchy. Italy declared on July 9, 1998 for the first time its apology to the Libyan people for the Italian colonization and admitted its responsibility for the malicious era of colonization and the damage caused to the Libyan people and their properties.

The Middle East’s largest water theme park was officially opened here recently with a giant splash. The $50 million Lost Paradise of Dilmun will be open to the public from 10 am to 10 pm, seven days a week. A cascade of color heralded the official opening, under the patronage of Royal Court Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. The water park, which features some of the world’s largest aquatic hi-tech rides, is part of the $1 billion leisure residential Al Areen Development Project. It is billed as the most high-tech and largest park of its kind in the Middle East, covering 77,000 sq. meters and featuring the latest water park technology, designed by Malaysian company Sim Leisure Consultants. The water slides, wave pool and interactive structures are also new to this part of the world and were constructed and installed by Canada’s Whitewater West.


The park, near the Bahrain International Circuit, is extensively themed around Bahrain’s rich cultural history, from a time 4,000 years ago when the kingdom was the centre of the Dilmun civilization, a place with an abundance of water, springs and shallow wells; the legendary source of eternal life. IINA

Dubai tops the list of Internet users in the Middle East with 1.4 million persons using the Internet.  This constitutes 7.3 per cent of the Internet users in the Middle East. According to the Internet World Stats report, there were 19 million Internet users in the Middle East, 1.8 per cent of the users worldwide. Among the world nations, UAE ranked 9th while Qatar was placed 23rd and Kuwait on 35th position. However, it must be noted that 70per cent of the UAE residents are expatriates. Among countries of the declining access, Syria came third, Yemen was placed in the 16th position followed by Mauritania 34th and Sudan 38th. Iraq   under US occupation and Somalia were not included in the list.

The Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Dr .Abdullah Al-Turki received here recently the Secretary General of Ahl-Al-Hadeeth Society in India Sheikh Ali Imam Mehdi Al-Salafi. Speaking on the occasion, Al-Salafi highlighted the great attention given by Saudi Arabia to the Muslim minorities around the world.


They reviewed issues pertain-ing to Islamic propagation in India. On his part, Dr. Al-Turki reiterated the keenness of the MWL on promoting cooperation with all Islamic institutions which represent the Muslim minorities in various parts of the world.  IINA

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla has expressed hope that Muslims would agree on a single criterion to determine an Islamic calendar, specially the date of the Eid-ul Fitr celebrations, to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. “We have to study and agree on one criterion, which would cause us to unite. So long as there are still three criteria, even in a century we will never be united,” he commented while opening an international symposium on efforts to unify an international Islamic calendar. Jusuf Kalla said so far there had often been differences with regard to the day of the Eidul Fitr in Indonesia. The symposium was organised by Muhammadiyah, the second biggest Islamic organization in the country. IINA

The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) denounced the Israeli occupation authorities preventing the Manuscripts Department in Jerusalem from restoring the Islamic manuscripts within the precinct of the Haram area, which are subject to damage. In a statement, ISESCO strongly condemned the refusal of the Israeli occupation authorities to allow the entry of necessary chemical substances and specialized technical equipment to restore and preserve these manuscripts. ISESCO pointed out that Israel is seeking through this measure to damage valuable Islamic manuscripts with a view to obliterating the Arab Islamic identity of Jerusalem, stating that this measure which is incompatible with international laws reveals one aspect of the Israeli racist policy aimed at Judaizing Jerusalem and erasing its Arab Islamic civilizational heritage. IINA

Japanese save a lot. They do not spend much. Also Japan exports far more than it imports. It has an annual trade surplus of over 100 billions. Yet the Japanese economy is considered weak, even collapsing. Americans spend, save little. Also US imports more than it exports. Has an annual trade deficit of over $400 billion. Yet, the American economy is considered strong and trusted to get stronger. But where from do Americans get money to spend? They borrow from Japan, China and even India. Virtually others save for the US to spend. Global savings are mostly invested in US, in dollars. India itself keeps its foreign currency assets of over $50 billions in US securities. China has sunk over $160 billion in US securities. Japan’s stakes in US securities is in trillions. Result: The US has taken over $5 trillion from the world.

(Written by an Indian Economist)

A leading UAE English daily newspaper, the Gulf News has called on the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to take appropriate proactive efforts to put into action its Ten-Year program of Action. “During the month of fasting, it is timely to contemplate on the state of affairs of over 1.4 billion people in the Muslim world. To begin with, the living conditions of large numbers of Muslims are disturbing as much as disappointing,” it said. “Vast segments in the 57 Muslim countries are either mired in poverty, illiteracy, suffering from a high mortality rate, or living in shelters. The Muslim world today is plagued by a set of dangerous circumstances of under-development. The living conditions of many in the Muslim world have yet to reach the minimum basics of international living standards. Two years ago, members of OIC pledged to a Ten-Year Program of Action, one that would provide a blueprint for the advancement of the Muslim world in the 21st century. The goal was to enable Muslims to face the challenges with “the principle of Islamic solidarity,” the newspaper noted.


“In February this year, the Islamic Development Bank, an affiliate of OIC, announced the establishment of a humanitarian fund to reduce poverty in the Muslim world with an initial donation of $1 billion coming from Saudi Arabia. The total amount was raised to a little over $1.5 billion with other OIC members pitching in. In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stated: “If we want to champion prosperity and progress, we cannot ignore poverty that leads to isolation.”And it is within this frank approach at examining the root causes that the Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation was launched, a $10 billion endowment that aims to promote human development and knowledge. IINA

Through hundreds of questions and playful rules, a new American board game is promoting dialogue between Judaism, Christianity and Islam by helping teens and adults know more about their own faith as well as the faiths of others. Every effort was made “to be fair to each religion, offering answers according to that religion’s beliefs,” says John Cooper, the game’s developer. Cooper, a mechanical engineer from Lincoln, Nebraska, got the idea of the 7th Heavens game when he met a group of Iraqi refugees while volunteering at the Lincoln-based Christian charity People’s City Mission.


Cooper said he was also motivated by a time marred by many wars and bloody conflicts. I am trying to “provide a vehicle to start some type of peace happening.” Cooper consulted Muslim, Christian and Jewish theologians while revising questions and answers in the game. His game includes 300 questions tackling the different aspects of the three faiths. Do Muslims carry the sins of their ancestors? What does “70 x 7” refer to in the Bible? What is more important in Judaism - the self or the community”? are a few of the questions in the game. IINA

More than 45,000 Muslims from across the United States attended the 44th Annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America at the Donald E.Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, near Chicago last month. The convention featured multiple parallel sessions ranging from issues as diverse as economic development to the art of being interviewed. Most of the session centred on the convention theme: “Upholding Faith, Serving Humanity.” Keith Ellison, the first Muslim Congressman, underscored the importance of being proactive, at the ISNA Community Recognition Luncheon. He said Muslims have to be the ones to take initiative and not allow people or circumstances to act upon them. If Muslims want their stories told correctly, then they should be the ones to tell their own stories, and not leave it to others to tell their stories and portray them as villains. Addressing the opening session, Rabbi Eric H.Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism said the time has come to stand up to the opportunists, the media figures, the religious leaders and politicians who demonize Muslims and bash Islam, exploiting the fears of their fellow citizens for their own purposes.

International donors pledged about $20 million to help Palestinian refugees made homeless by a 15-week battle between the Lebanese army and militants holed up inside their refugee camp. The Nahr Al Bared camp was home to about 40,000 before fighting erupted on May 20, but is now largely destroyed. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora called a donors’ conference to seek funds to reconstruct the camp in north Lebanon. The amount pledged fell well short of estimates of what was needed to cover the costs of adequate relief for the refugees, the reconstruction of the camp and help for nearby municipalities. The government estimated the total required at $382.5 million.


The US led the pledges with $10 million. Germany offered $5.52 million, Norway $1.81 million, and Italy about 2 million euros. Saudi Arabia had pledged $12 million during the fighting and the United Arab Emirates pledged $5 million. UNRWA, the UN agency which cares for Palestinian refugees, said it needed $55 million to fund the first year of rehabilitation and emergency assistance to refugees from the Nahr Al Bared refugee camp. IINA

Turkey´s Youth and Sports Director Mehmet Atalay announced that Turkey has applied to host 2013 Islam Games in Diyarbakýr. Islam Games were held in 1980 at the post-coup period when Kenan Evren was the president and it was suspended until 2005.


After a break of 25 years, the games were held in Saudi Arabia in 2005 and Iran undertook hosting the games in 2009. In the games in Saudi Arabia in 2005, there was a problem about sportswomen. The deputy prime minister, Mehmet Ali reacted to this by saying: “If it is necessary for the sportswomen to wear headscarf, we will not bring any sportswomen.”

The Russian capital is planning the opening of Muslim-oriented chain stores to offer a wide array of halal products to the country’s sizable Muslim minority. “We should support representatives of all religious and ethnic groups,” said Igor Yeleferenko, the head of Moscow city council’s religious and ethnic affairs committee, Under the plans, at least one halal shop would be opened in every district in Moscow. The halal shops will be located outside the confines of mosque complexes, said Yeleferenko. Yeleferenko noted that the plan was initially proposed by the Russian Council of Muftis, which later sought the council’s help to put the ambitious plan into effect. The Russian Council of Muftis has developed a standard and checking procedure of halal production, which is now followed by hundreds of companies. There are some 23 million Muslims in the Russian Federation concentrated in the north of the Caucasus, representing roughly 15 percent of Russia’s 145 million population.

In a move regarded by many as a response to Western campaigns targeting Islam and Saudi Arabia, a group of Saudi scholars has come up with a project aimed at defending Islam and Saudi Arabia. The project, the “International books on Islam and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, is now in progress. Dr. Mohammad Bin Saud Al Bishr, professor of political communications and head of the project’s team, stated that 73 scholars, politicians and media representatives from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, the United States, Europe, Japan and Russia have contributed to the project. “This is a civilized, scientific and cultural initiative aimed at presenting an objective image about Islam and Saudi Arabia according to reality and not as portrayed by the Western research, strategic and media organizations,” he said.


Dr. Al Bishr said the project consists of eight books including, A Letter to the West, Saudis and Terror, Religious Police in Saudi Arabia; Women in Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia as Seen by a Diplomat’s Wife. The books will be published in English and French as well as Arabic. Asked about the objectives of the project, Dr. Al Bishr said the project aims to serve a number of goals. These include clarifying the position of Saudi Arabia vis-a -vis the topics and issues discussed in the project, to reveal the smear campaigns adopted by Western political, intellectual and media establishments in regard to the issues covered by the project and the presentation of a fair, unbiased vision emanating from the Kingdom’s domestic and foreign policies.


He added that the project also aimed to demonstrate the Kingdom’s viewpoints and stance on global terrorism as a key issue tackled by the project and to make clear the efforts taken by the Kingdom in fighting terrorism in the local, regional and international arena.


Dr. Al Bishr disclosed the project will be officially launched in Saudi Arabia and Europe, adding that politicians, intellectuals and media representatives will be invited for the launches. Asked about the distribution of the books Dr. Al Bishr said the eight books will be distributed free of charge to several institutions and centers in the West, Africa and the Arab world. The distribution will cover strategic, political centers and institutions, media establishments, oriental research centers, mosques, propagation centers, churches and organisations concerned with dialogue between religions. IINA 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon honoured wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Princess Haya bint Al Hussein by designating her as UN messenger for peace. Haya joins six other messengers of peace, who possess widely recognized talents in the fields of arts, literature, music and sports and help to raise worldwide awareness of the ideals and activities of the United Nations.   Known for her commitment to the humanitarian cause, Princess Haya served as a goodwill ambassador for the World Food Program from 2005 to 2007.  Daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, Princess Haya is the first Arab woman to compete in equestrian events at the Olympic levels and is now the President of the International Equestrian Federation and a member of the International Olympic Committee.