A galaxy of renowned scholars, intellectuals, and politicians from different parts of the globe gathered in London to discuss the contributions that Islam can give to the West. Organized by the Global Civilizations Study Centre (GCSC), the third annual seminar raised the question of what Islam can offer the West. The inauguration session held on Friday, May 23, 2007, witnessed huge presence of Muslim activists, community leaders, scholars, and intellectuals, particularly from Europe.
This seminar lasted for three days and discussed a great number of research papers submitted by renowned scholars and intellectuals, such as Dr. Robert Crane, Dr. Ahmad Farid Mustafa, Dr. Abdul Majeed An-Najjar, and Mr. Idris Tawfiq.
The Project's Aims
The project, launched in May 2006, aims at maintaining dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim scholars, restudying the Qur'an and the Sunnah from various perspectives, defining some research projects, establishing a charity trust in the West to support progress of Muslims and development of scientific research, and bringing scholars in the West together to conduct scientific research.
Outlining the philosophy behind the project, Dr. Kamal El-Helbawy, chairman of the GCSC, said:
Some people, even scholars, consider this project a dream that cannot be fulfilled until Muslims get out of their underdevelopment. Others see that mosques are doing this task in
Friday sermons. In fact, this project is neither a dream nor is it dealt with in Friday sermons.
There is a crucial question that awaits answer from all interested and qualified Muslims. What can Islam or contemporary Muslims through proper understanding of the Qur'an and the Sunnah offer the West?
Unfortunately, many Muslims are in the West just to receive and take, not to offer and give. Many of them think that they have nothing to give and that the West is saturated and self-sufficient except for oil, raw materials, and some strategic locations, which the West found and controlled in many places, including the Arab World.
We know that many Muslims are influenced by some secularist thinkers, writers, and philosophers. I do believe that if Muslims understand and practice Islam comprehensively, they can and should offer the West many useful discoveries, inventions, ideas, and cooperation.
Not only that, but I do also believe that there are vacancies or diseases in the West that will not be filled or cured except by Islam, and this can happen at the hands of good, committed Muslim citizens. Drugs, crime, and social disintegration are among the diseases, as Samuel Huntington referred to in his book Clash of Civilizations as reasons behind "civilization in decline."
Our belief as Muslims is that Islam is the message of Almighty Allah to all humanity since the first human being, Adam (peace be on him), up to the end of the world; it is not only a message to Muslims; it is a message to humanity.
Muslim philosophers and scientists may be able to develop a new set of rules and systems compliant with the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
It is therefore clear that the project's main goal is to encourage Muslims to undertake their
duties toward humanity. Indeed, this is the very role that we, Muslims, have to play: leading humankind to well-being, justice, security, and peace.
Fruits of the Project
Dr. El-Helbawy further elaborated on the great fruits expected from this outstanding project.
First, this topic is a practical challenge for Muslim scholars and scientists. They should attempt to discover the scientific secrets hidden in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, rather than wait until philosophers and scientists of the West declare their discoveries to the world and then reference is made to the Qur'an or the Sunnah by Muslim scholars.
The positive results of the seminars will raise the morale of Muslims, especially the new generations born in the West and living there. These generations live with feelings of defeat and helplessness because of the underdevelopment of contemporary Muslim societies after the glory the Islamic civilization reached in the past.
Witnessing these positive results, people will respect Islam and Muslims; they will understand that this religion has something to offer for the benefit of others and that it is neither a vague religion nor a religion that is against scientific advancement.
Also, Muslims may be able to convince Western philosophers and scholars to refer to the Qur'an and the Sunnah as authoritative and authentic references that offer a better understanding of science.
The seminars can help young Muslims integrate more effectively into Western societies as equal citizens. This can combat the "inferiority complex" plaguing some Muslim communities in the West. Committed Christians are integrated even if they believe in the Ten Commandments, so why not Muslims?
The seminars can also have a positive impact on Muslim countries, impressing their rulers and institutions with the significance of Islam in future global politics. The status quo of these countries may be changed if they see that Western philosophers and scholars respect and appreciate Islam. The defeated are always fond of the victorious.
Muslim philosophers and scientists may be able to develop a new set of rules and systems compliant with the Qur'an and the Sunnah. These can complement the discoveries of Western philosophers and scientists.
The seminars will encourage Muslims to move beyond pure da`wah (inviting people to Islam) and actively participate in the betterment of their societies as a whole. Muslims should not limit themselves to helping their fellow Muslims; they must reach out to the society as a whole, away from confined thinking and the mentality of taking without giving.
The seminars are expected to broaden the horizons of Muslim thought and encourage Muslims to actively engage in reshaping the world for the better. They challenge the argument of Orientalists and secularists that Islam is incompatible with democracy. They also refute the notion that "religion should be kept separate from state."
The seminars promote a more deep-rooted faith and confidence among Muslims in general and those living in the West in particular. Muslims will always be reminded that they have a message to spread and something special to offer the world.
The seminars also endeavor to show both Muslim and non-Muslim Westerners that there are vacancies in different fields that need to be filled. They emphasize that this is the role of Islam and committed Muslims, away from violence and extremism that lead only to more underdevelopment.
These vacancies, however, cannot be filled by the existing social, educational, and cultural systems in the West. Moreover, civilizations should integrate and cooperate rather than confront one other. Differences in beliefs and doctrines should be set aside. They should be addressed only by religious scholars who have extensive knowledge about these sensitive and divisive issues.
Moreover, these seminars can bring Muslims and non-Muslims together. Muslims believe that guidance to the right path is in the hands of the Creator alone, not human beings. Therefore, everyone should have the rights given to others. Almighty Allah has created human beings as nations and tribes so that they know one another, cooperate, and exchange experiences for the benefit of the whole humanity.
The seminars can also lessen the amount of hatred and mistrust plaguing the relationship between Islam and the West. Freedom should not curtail the rights of others or justify affronts. Another expected fruit is delegitimizing the beliefs and ideologies that justify violence and terrorism.
Undoubtedly, the above fruits can be attained only in cooperation with interested governmental and nongovernmental agencies, scholars, philosophers, and charity organizations, especially those in the West.
Finally, the project calls for establishing the following institutions that can participate in reshaping the future: an institution for pondering over skies and earth; an institution for research and future thinking; an institution for strategic thinking for diffusing global crises; and a strategic institution for international leadership training.
Wa'il `Abdel-Mut`aal Shihab is the deputy managing editor of the IOL Shari`ah Department (English). He graduated from Al-Azhar University and got his master's from Al-Azhar in Islamic studies with a major in Islamic jurisprudence and its principles. He is working on his doctorate in the principles of Islamic jurisprudence. You can reach him at wael.shihab@iolteam.com .
