WASHINGTON, 10 July — In hopes to clarify a multitude of misconceptions about Islam, a delegation of internationally recognized Muslim leaders, scholars and jurists are traveling through the United States on “a goodwill mission.”
Organized by the Muslim World League, the delegation is headed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki, secretary general of the Muslim World League, and former Saudi minister of Islamic Affairs.
During their three-week tour the group will visit Washington, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, and will meet with leaders and officials of the government, academia, interfaith communities and the media to discuss the post-Sept. 11 issues that concern Muslims and Islam.
“There is no benefit to continue misunderstandings about our religion, so we are here to participate and have exchanges and find common ground,” said Dr. Al-Turki, during a luncheon Monday organized by the Washington-based Islamic Institute. “This is not to say there will be no diversity in our talks, but we’re here to find a common ground.”
“Our plan is to enhance the understanding of Islam in the US through interfaith projects, where we hope to establish a much healthier bridge of understanding,” Ahmad El-Hattab, assistant secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America, told Arab News.
“As Americans, we are an extension of the Muslim world and we feel it is our responsibility to be a bridge and communicator. We are loyal American citizens and also representatives of very rich cultural heritage. We represent 70 nations of varied cultural backgrounds, which is a great contribution and enhancement of America’s cultural fabric.
“So we ask Americans not to define us by those people who commit atrocities and who have no authority to represent us, our religion and the true teachings of our religion.”
“It is important, and our duty, to clear up these problems of stereotyping,” said Dr. Al-Turki. “Our trip is part of this mission to help clarify these misconceptions about Islam. We are searching for the truth.”
“Interfaith-intercultural dialogue is a two-way street,” said Dr. Ahmad Turkistani, director of the Washington-based Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America. “The delegation is here to express their concerns and to carry their message back to the Muslim world.”
“We also need to work to extend this dialogue with journalists,” said Dr. Muzammil Sidiqqi, director of the Islamic Society of Orange County in South California and former president of the Islamic Society of North America. “And we would like to see how we could work together to avoid stereotypes and misconceptions about Muslims and Islam.”
Experts on the Middle East were also invited to the luncheon, and Dr. John Duke Anthony, president of the National Council on US-Arab Relations, put forth a suggestion for the group: “If one is concerned about public policy, one must work to change pubic policy. I recommend you focus on three objectives, because the US media is massively ignorant of these three concepts.”
Dr. Anthony said he had never seen the word ‘jihad’ used, “without being referenced as a holy war; the word ‘madrassa’ (school) has also been grossly misinterpreted and misunderstood; and ‘Wahabism’ is used in Congress to indicate an extreme branch of Islam.
“If your delegation could help those you meet have a clear understanding about these concepts, especially with all newspaper editors, then it would be a great contribution.”
“We don’t have ‘Wahabism,’ we have four different schools of thought…” said Dr. Al-Turki.
“Exactly my point,” said Anthony.
