MAKKAH, 6 January — Scholars from around the world who began a six-day conference in the holy city of Makkah yesterday were urged to work out a clear definition of terrorism to help ward off a malicious smear campaign against Islam and Muslims.
Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, inaugurating the 16th convention of the Islamic Fiqh (Jurisprudence) Academy of the Muslim World League on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, called on the scholars to explain to the world the true nature of Islam which teaches tolerance and moderation.
"We hope the conference would serve as an opportunity for Muslim scholars to explain to the world the true teachings of Islam which is free of any form of extremism and intolerance," King Fahd said in his speech read out by Prince Abdul Majeed. "The ulema should also work to clear Islam of any characteristics unjustly associated with it. They should lay down practical measures to remove the causes of weakness, disunity and backwardness among Muslim societies and foster Islamic brotherhood," he said.
MWL Secretary-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki said it was the duty of Muslim scholars to work out a comprehensive and objective definition for terrorism and to clarify this concept for Muslims.
"The league will distribute your definition to governments and Islamic and international establishments concerned with world peace and security," added Turki.
"This would silence the enemies of Islam and no one would dare to challenge the unified word of the scholars of the Muslim nation," he said.
Turki said that enemies of Islam were trying to influence world public opinion by insisting that "there is a link between this religion and terrorism" which is contrary to all established facts.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, the Kingdom’s grand mufti and head of the Senior Ulema Council, urged the convention to "defend Islam by clearing all baseless accusations which aim at distorting the image of the religion." He said Islamic states in general, and Saudi Arabia in particular, have been the target of "a fierce and criminal campaign by ... unfair and unjust media which have been reversing facts and using false information to defame Islam and Muslims."
A large number of scholars as well as experts in medical sciences and economics are taking part in the convention to discuss a number of modern day issues related to Islam, such as race, Islamic investment, and medicines containing narcotics.
