FROM THE HOLY HARAMS

Do not worship idols by cultural influence

MAKKAH/MADINAH - Sheikh Saud Al- Shuraim, Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, said on 18 October that before Islam, the people used to live in darkness and ignorance, as the divine revelations had stopped and there was no ray of light whatsoever to show the people the straight path.

So, he added, the people went astray and made their deity with their own hands and worshiped them, and then they worshiped trees, stones, statues and other objects and invented names for them. Later on it was discovered that most of the idols happened to be pious men who lived in the remote past, and when they passed away, the people who were close to them made their images in statues just for their remembrance and, gradually, they came to worship them.

It was reported that Amr Ibn Luhai was the person to introduce the idols into Hijaz and called on the simple people to worship them.

Sheikh Al-Shuraim said that Allah revealed Islam to Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) to guide the people from the darkness of ignorance to the light of Islam, and decreed five principles to be observed and guarded: religion, human self, property, honor and intellect.

He said that the Prophet (peace be on him) cleared Makkah and the Arabian Peninsula of polytheism and worship of idols, thus when he entered Makkah in triumph, he started destroying the idols and statues kept around the Holy Ka'bah, saying." Truth (Islamic Monotheism or Jihad against polytheists) has come and Batil (Falsehood or polytheism) has vanished."

Sheikh Al-Shuraim told Muslims to keep their houses and other places belonging to them free from idols, placed for adornment and decoration because the angles do not enter any place where there are any idols.

He said Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab was told that some people went out to pray under the tree where the Al-Ridwan Bay'a (pledge of Ridhwan) was concluded. He told them to stop such practice. He added that when this action was repeated he ordered that the tree should be pulled down.

The Imam said that the graves should not be built as a lofty structure, but rather should be on level with the surface of the ground.

He said, "People are now living in the era of materialism and global culture, but still some of them worship idols due to the weakness of their belief."

He enjoined Muslims to purify their inner souls from whatsoever may turn them away from monotheism and worshipping Allah Alone. - SPA

In a Washington Post editorial, US President called upon to state his position

ISESCO commends the Washington Post editorial condemning the attack on Islam

RABAT - Dr. Abdul Aziz Othman Altwaijri Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) expressed his appreciation for the Washington Post editorial published recently entitled "Defaming Islam," condemning the statements of some prominent leaders of America's Christian right that defamed Islam and its noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him)

The letter addressed on 24 October by the Director General of ISESCO to Washington Post editor in-chief reads: "I have read the editorial published in your newspaper Washington Post, issue of 6 October, 2002, under the title: "Defaming Islam."

On behalf of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), which numbers 49 member states from the states members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), I would like to express to you deep appreciation for the condemnation of the utterances made by some prominent leaders of the American Christian right movement, defaming Islam and its noble Prophet; utterances that have shocked and angered hundreds of millions of Muslims through the world.

Addressing the editor in chief of Washington Post, the Director General of ISESCO pointed out: "You are right in calling upon President George W. Bush to state his position about the utterances of those prominent leaders of the American Christian right movement, who are considered as his supporters and closely associated with him.

They are not ordinary people without any influence on the American public opinion. And what they said was a fallacy and an outright defamation of Islam, of its great Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) and of all the Muslims of the globe, not to mention the fact that those fallacies are entirely contrary to the numerous statements made by President Bush himself.

ISESCO's Director General paid tribute to the Washington Post editorial in question for the spirit of justice and equity which is likely to help remove the causes of tension in international relations and put right the errors and mis-representations being made by some people who are deprived of wisdom, logic or honesty and who are acting against the principles of tolerance, coexistence and dialogue among civilizations and cultures.

Four religious leaders of the American Christian right movement defamed Islam in extremely racist statements. Priest Franklin Graham said: "Islam is a very evil and wicked religion." Priest Pat Robertson declared: "to think that (Islam) is a peaceful religion is fraudulent."

In a television program he also said about Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) that he was: "an absolute wild-eyed fanatic... a robber, a brigand and a killer." Likewise, Priest Jerry Falwell stated in a televised program on CBS: "the Prophet of Islam is a terrorist."

In another development, the Lebanese Cabinet Council agreed on 24 October on the joining of the Republic of Lebanon to the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - ISESCO. The number of ISESCO Member States thereby rose to 50. - Press

Islam: a peaceful religion

Dr. Nora Ahmed

IT is a heresy to use violence and attack innocents in the name of Islam as some rogue elements claim to satisfy their own immediate worldly desires. God Almighty prohibited aggression in the Holy Qur'an: "pray to your Lord humbly and secretly and verily He does not like aggressors."

Islam does not allow its followers to attack others because they believe in a different religion. In Islam, the only wars that are permitted are among armies and they should engage on battlefields and engage nobly. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) said, "Do not kill women or children or non- combatants and do not kill old people or religious people," and he mentioned priests, nuns and rabbis. And he said, "Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees and do not poison the wells of your enemies." The Hadith, the sayings of the Prophet (peace be on him), say that no one can punish with fire except the Lord of fire. It's prohibited to burn anyone in Islam as a punishment.

The Prophet (peace be on him) said that a martyr who dies doesn't have a reckoning on the Day of Judgment. It's an act through which he is forgiven. But the Prophet (peace be on him) also said that there are people who kill in the name of Islam and go to hell. And when he was asked why, he said, "Because they weren't fighting truly for the sake of God."

History bears witness to the fact that wherever Islam reached it survived, and that whoever the Muslim warriors went, they lived side by side with non-Muslim natives. Moreover, they argue, one cannot force a religion like Islam on any one and find him so sincere and honest about his faith as were those Muslims converts of the new lands. It needs more than compulsion to develop such good Muslims out of a defeated people, and it requires much more than suppression to make them uphold and cherish the 'forced' religion.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), who was commissioned by God as a mercy for all mankind, tried to approach the rulers of the neighboring territories, inviting them to embrace Islam and share in the mercy of God. He was a perfect example of the tolerant Muslim who approached states with peace and not war. It should also be remembered that they did not only reject his gracious invitation but also derided him and declared open wars against the Muslims. In his lifetime the Roman and Persian soldiers crossed the Muslims were involuntarily at war with their neighors.

Allah Almighty called him as "a mercy to the worlds." He was merciful to his family, followers, friends, and even enemies. He was merciful to young and old, to humans and to animals. Those who persecuted him in Makkah and killed his relatives and his followers, when they were defeated in the battles and brought as captives, were forgiven by him. He did not ever take revenge or retaliated. He was the most forgiving person. It is unfortunate that the rogue elements who claim to be Muslims today are using violence to create chaos instead of understanding the real message of Islam brought by Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him).

MWL delegation's visit to France opens horizons of dialogue and cooperation

Fozail A. Ghazali

Dr. Al-Turki urges teachers to pay more attention and care to students during his visit to European Institute of Humanities

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al- Turki, and his accompanying delegation, visited the European Institute of Humanities here on 7 October. The institute functions under the supervision of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in France.

Director of the institute Dr. Ahmad Jaballah and several other members of the federation welcomed Dr. Al-Turki and the MWL delegation. He informed them about the activities of the departments of the institute and presented them the samples of researches and studies, that it conducted in order to serve the Islamic causes and introduce them for the service of Muslim students in France, in particular, and in Europe, in general.

On his part, the MWL secretary-general urged the teachers of the institute to exert more efforts and care for their students, improve the curriculums to introduce Islam in a better way and train the youths as Da'wah workers and Imams.

Following this, exchange of opinions and discussions on developing the European Islamic University took place so that all Islamic institutes and colleges in Europe may function under its supervision, coordinate their activities, decentralise the university's system, and also correct their conception about Islam, which, unfortunately, have been distorted.

Dr. Al-Turki called for presenting the project of the European University to the institutes and colleges in Europe to know their views on it and the possibilities to discuss it in the meeting of the League of Islamic Universities, which will be held in Jordan in April next year.

It is also noteworthy that the number of teachers in the European Institute of Humanities exceeds 400, who teach the Arabic language and Shari'ah sciences and provides the opportunity for the continuation of their studies at other French and European universities on the post-graduate and doctorate levels.

Dr. Al-Turki receives  representatives of African Muslims

Meanwhile, Dr. Al-Turki and his accompanying delegation received the representatives of the African Muslims in France in Paris on 7 October. During the meeting they discussed the issues concerning the Muslims in France and the ways to solve them and cooperate with their surroundings.

Dr. Al-Turki explained them the mission of the MWL delegation in France, stressing the importance of introducing the French nationals the reality of cooperation, sentiments of Muslims and the fundamentals of Islam through the correct and trustworthy sources.

He urged the African Muslims to unify their views, increase contact with others and address them with a single opinion in an organized way to highlight the greatness of Islam, which calls for tolerance, dialogue, cooperation and shunning of violence, terrorism and killing of innocent peoples.

On his part, former Director- General of the UNESCO Dr. Ahmad Mukhtar Ambu emphasized the importance of unified methods of Da'wah workers and curriculums of Islamic schools, besides emphasizing the importance of coexistence with others with fair dealings, good conduct and sincerity in their activities.

Dr. Al-Turki meets with representatives of Islamic organizations in Lyon

In the meantime, Dr. Al-Turki, along with the MWL delegation, met with the representatives of the Islamic organizations in Lyon.

Director of the Islamic Center in Lyon Al-Haj Kamal Qabtan welcomed the delegation, wishing it success in its mission of explaining the realities about Islam and the Muslims, and confronting the biased campaigns that target Islam's achievements and malign its kind fundamentals.

Qabtan admired the MWL for its guidance and the support and assistance that it extends to strengthen the relations among the Islamic societies and organizations in France and to strengthen the relations of Muslim communities with the French government.

Dr. Al-Turki urged the representatives of Islamic societies and organizations in France to increase cooperation and contact with the MWL so that it may give advices and extend assistance to serve the young Muslim generation and train them properly and protect them from disputes, that have, unfortunately, penetrated in some organizations.

He urged them to adopt moderateness and balance, teach the correct Islamic teachings, and practice the teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah in their various activities, schools, central mosques and education curriculums. After the meeting, they took dinner hosted in the honor of the MWL Secretary-General and his accompanying delegation by the Islamic organizations.

Earlier, Dr. Al-Turki had visited the Islamic Center in Lyon, where he delivered a lecture, in which he encouraged the audience to fear the Almighty while dealing with their offspring and train them on correct Islamic lines. They should also project themselves as good models for their offspring in whatever they talks and work.

At the end, Dr. Al-Turki answered the questions of the audience on the implementation of Islamic teachings on correct and agreed upon principles.

He emphatically said that the Wahabiism, as some call it thus, was a reformation movement, which is attributed to an Islamic scholar, who invited the people to practice the correct teachings of Islam. He further said that Saudi Arabia follows the Hambali School of Jurisprudence (Fiqh), which had been found 1,000 years before the birth of Late Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab.

Dr. Al-Turki calls on Lyon governor

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al- Turki, and his accompanying delegation, called on Governor of the Lyon Region Michael Base in the latter's office in Lyon.

While welcoming the MWL delegation, the governor expressed happiness over this meeting to strengthen the relations with Muslims through dialogues and discussions on the basis of cultural and civilizational issues, contacting the people and cooperation with one another for the service of humanity. He emphasised that these meetings and dialogues cement relations between France and the Muslim world, stressing that they should be based on clear foundations of common human values, that join all the followers of the Divine religions. He explained that the Muslim communities in the Lyon Region practice their religion freely. They are being provided with all necessary facilities as several mosques and Islamic centers can be seen mushrooming in the region.

On his part, Dr. Al-Turki explained the mission of the MWL delegation's visit to France and Italy, which concentrated on discussions and dialogues with the cultural, political as well as religious leaders in these countries, listen to their views and suggestions and exchange of views about burning issues against Islam and media' cultural onslaughts against Islam and the Muslims, besides presenting correct pictures of the fundamentals of Islam and their implementation.

Dr. Al-Turki explained that the purpose of his visit to France was to explain some realities, that, unfortunately, some media circles had distorted and attached Islam and some Muslims with violence, extremism and terrorism and that the Muslims do not want coexistence with others. "This is wrong attitude, totally against the teachings of the Qur'an, that encourage cooperation and coexistence, tolerance and contact among the peoples," he said.

On the other hand, the MWL delegation, headed by Dr. Al- Turki, met with Mayor and representative of Lyon to the French parliament Gerar Colomb, who gave the information about his city and about the cooperation with its Muslim communities and also about the facilities they are being provided by the French government. "Such meetings make us more informed and give us more understanding about the situations of other communities and the fundamentals of their religion, besides paving the way for solving most of their problems.

Following this, the MWL delegation explained the aims of its visit to France, that include opening horizons of dialogue, cooperation with others, listening opinions and comments that serve the peoples, strengthen cooperation and understanding, removing confusions and misunderstandings that some irresponsible sources propagate because that Muslims are against cultural conflicts and extremism.

The delegation discussed the topics regarding the Muslims' education, culture and worship, and explanation of correct understandings, besides removal of misunderstandings and confusions that have, unfortunately, crept in due to biased media campaigns against them.

On the other hand, the MWL Secretary-General met with the deputy mayor of the Eifro city at the Salam Mosque in Eifro. During the meeting, they discussed the ways of consolidating the relations among different peoples through dialogues; understanding and exchange of correct information about the blessings of the Divine religions.

At the end, the mayor of Lyon lauded the efforts of Saudi Arabia'sCrown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, regarding the peace in the Middle East, that have been supported by the Arab summit held recently in Beirut. He pointed out that these efforts have become the Arab peace efforts, that demonstrate the Muslims' desire to end conflicts in the region till all the nations in the region start enjoying peace and stability.

On his part, Dr. Al-Turki thanked the governor and the mayor of Lyon for their care of Islam and the Muslims. He said: "The MWL is ready with all at its disposal to improve the level of Muslims in the fields of education and culture, explaining the realities about Islam, which has no connections, whatsoever, with terrorism, extremism and exaggerations, besides most of the matters concerning sentiments can be dealt with through correct training and education till the Muslims follow a single straight path, cooperate with other communities and respect all in order to present good picture of Islam."

He emphatically said that the MWL delegations' visit to the United States, Belgium and Germany has yielded good results regarding the explanation of the Muslims' views on some issues.

(To be continued)