RIYADH, 17 March — A total of 120 Islamic and other religious scholars from 20 countries, including the Kingdom, are participating in a four-day international symposium on “Islam and the dialogue of civilizations” that opens at King Abdul Aziz Public Library today.
A well-known personality participating in the symposium is Yusuf Islam — formerly Cat Stevens — who composed and sang many hit records, selling approximately 40 million long playing records throughout the world.
Since embracing Islam, Yusuf Islam has been actively engaged in education, Daawa and humanitarian relief work. His latest production is a book and CD/cassette recording of “A is for Allah”, which teaches about Islam.
Describing it as the first of its kind, Dr. Abdul Kareem Al-Zaid, deputy supervisor general of the library, told newsmen that the keynote speaker at the inaugural session will be Dr. Abdullah ibn Abdulmohsen Al-Turki, secretary-general of the Muslim World League. He will speak on the role of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd in promoting dialogue between civilizations through the establishment of Islamic cultural centers around the world.
He said the symposium will bring together other eminent personalities, including Islamic scholar Dr. Jamal Badawi and former US Ambassador to the Kingdom, Richard Murphy.
Dr. Saleh Abdallah ibn Humayyed, chairman of the Majlis-e-Shoura, will deliver a speech on “Islam’s position vis-a-vis terrorism”.
Other topics of discussion include “A conflict of civilizations or a conflict of interests and domination,” and “Islam and civilization: Conflict or dialogue?”
