MAKKAH, 5 October — The imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah has called upon Muslim businessmen and mediapersons to establish powerful media organizations in order to confront anti-Islam campaigns effectively and efficiently.
Delivering the Juma sermon to more than 500,000 faithful who packed the large mosque complex, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais said the US bill identifying Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was a challenge to the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims.
"The unprecedented move to pillage Jerusalem’s Arab and Islamic character, defying historical rights and international resolutions was shocking," the imam said in reference to the US bill. He called for speedy Muslim action to confront the Zionist move and liberate the holy city.
Referring to the strident anti-Islam campaign launched by a certain section of the Western media, he said it was the result of the absence of an effective Islamic media to cope with modern technological development. The imam also stressed the need for establishing strategic research centers.
"In this age of cultural threat and media attack on Islam, there is a need for an Islamic cultural project that would coordinate Muslim efforts, unify their stands and promote goodwill and tolerance," he said.
Sheikh Sudais said: "The attack on Islam and distortion of its noble teachings are growing day by day. It is not limited to certain writers but carried out by research centers. This demands of Muslims to take serious steps. Every Muslim should contribute to this cultural project," he said.
Sheikh Sudais blasted a recent media attack on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). "They also call for the cancellation of Shariah, attack the Islamic dress for Muslim women and Islamic education curriculum and level false accusations against Islamic charitable and relief organizations," he said. "Such enemy falsifications would only strengthen Islam."
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive Islamic project to protect Muslims’ faith and identity. The imam said the new project he envisioned would bring about happiness, peace and prosperity for the whole humanity, in place of violence, terrorism and injustice."
He said the proposed Islamic project would not be based on fanaticism, bigotry, violence, extremism and hatred but on mercy, love and justice. The imam said globalization was aimed at imposing Western thoughts and culture on the Ummah. He lambasted the Zionist media campaign dubbing the Palestinian uprising against Israeli forces as terrorism.
He urged Muslims to look inward and correct their faith and behavior. "Dialogue with self is essential for dialogue with others," he added.
