Forum on introducing Islam discusses ways to remove misgivings on religion

An international forum on introducing Islam to the world that began in Jeddah on Tuesday will wind up today with the issuance of a final communiqué.
More than 200 key figures including Islamic scholars, thinkers, and academics from 17 countries are taking part in the three-day event on introducing Islamic forums in different cultures, using Spanish culture as a model.
The International Commission for Introducing Islam, an affiliate of the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL), is organizing the forum under the patronage of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.
MWL Secretary General Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki, who is also head of the commission, chaired the opening session of the forum at Ramada Intercontinental Hotel on Tuesday.
Al-Turki said that the mission of introducing Islam will not complete without exerting concerted attempts to remove the misgivings about the divine religion. “Islam is a religion of mercy for the entire humanity. It is imperative to present the true picture of Islam, and for this we have to employ all the advanced means of modern technology,” he said. Al-Turki also called on Muslims to give Islamic values paramount importance in both their personal and social life. A number of prominent figures attended various sessions held on Wednesday.
The first session on introducing Islam to mankind in the light of different cultures was presided over by Yousuf Al-Ghamdi, undersecretary at Umm Al-Qura University. Perez Alvaro, a noted Spanish Muslim thinker, presented a paper on the situation of Muslims in Spain.
He refuted baseless allegations leveled against Islam in the name of Islamophobia.
“Islamic values do not represent any schools of thought but rather they are the divine values for the salvation of the entire humanity. The Spanish model of peaceful coexistence with followers of all religions is an exemplary one,” he said.
Referring to the ordeal experienced by Spanish Muslims in the past, Antonio Luis, a Spanish Muslim thinker and doctor who embraced Islam 10 years ago, called for fostering unity among Muslims. He also urged the international Muslim organizations to extend financial support to Muslims in Spain to establish schools, Islamic centers and printing presses, as well as introducing scholarships for students who learn Islam.
The second session was on the situation of introducing Islam in the Spanish speaking countries. Yasser Faras, official of the Islamic Cultural Center, Argentina, and Kablos Prito Eisa, chairman of the Islamic society of Mexico, presented papers in the session chaired by Talal Al-Suwail. The papers shed light on the condition of Muslims in Latin American countries as well as the major challenges they are facing and solutions to their problems.
There were also two other sessions yesterday in which a number of dignitaries spoke on cultural impediments while introducing Islam in non-Islamic societies and introducing laws prevailing in non-Islamic societies and how to use them in familiarizing Islam.
Today’s sessions will discuss topics such as introducing Islam to humanity in the light of various cultures, the best means to be used in introducing Islam, and horizons in introducing Islam.
Dr. Al-Turki will deliver the concluding speech today. Sheikh Habib Al-Harithy, assistant secretary general of the commission, said the forum would further highlight the role of Saudi Arabia as the main sponsor and supporter of Islamic activities worldwide.
“The forum will explore the best means to be used in introducing Islam as well as examining experiments to achieve this goal in addition to exchanging expertise in the field,” he said. Sponsors of the forum included the Saudi Research & Marketing Group.