JEDDAH, 7 January 2006 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has emphasized the need for Muslims having a correct perspective of their religion, away from extremism, to play a significant cultural role in the world.
In his keynote speech to a conference organized by the Makkah-based Muslim World League on Thursday, King Abdullah noted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to strengthen Muslim unity and resolve problems within the Ummah (the global Muslim community).
“One of the most dangerous challenges facing the Ummah and its future is something related to Islamic education, its sources and curricula,” the king said in his speech, which was read out by Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed.
He said the wrong education would have a negative impact on the Ummah as it would deviate Muslims from a glittering cultural track to a totally strange one. “Our stands and activities should be positive and realistic ... and based on the Shariah,” he said.
King Abdullah said Muslims must confront cultural globalization jointly and with self-confidence. The king referred to the past glories of Islam as a guide for the future of the Ummah.
“We have to tell the world through our words and deeds that we are a nation that, in its heydays, promoted a culture of science, knowledge, truth and justice, and protected human rights, keeping away from extremism, terrorism and violence in dealing with others,” he said.
King Abdullah said extremism and violence promoted by small groups of Muslims violated the essence of Islam and its culture.
“We have to confront this (extremism) through awareness and educational programs and deal with its advocates with force and determination,” he added.
He also referred to the Kingdom’s efforts to make the recent Islamic summit in Makkah a success. King Abdullah called on the extraordinary summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to discuss the present situation of the Ummah and find solutions for its problems.
In his speech, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh said educating the new generation in the Islamic world was the duty of all Muslims.
“If we teach our children the basic teachings of Islam and its prohibitions, they will be protected from the advocates of corruption and ignorance,” he said in reference to terrorist groups.
Addressing the conference, entitled “Developing Islamic curriculums”, Abdullah Al-Turki, secretary-general of Muslim World League, said his organization had set an international commission to draft educational policies and plans and prepare curriculums based on the moderate teachings of Islam.
“There is nothing wrong in revising the Islamic curricula to remove shortcomings and make it more effective,” he said.
Turki announced plans to organize an international forum for dialogue in a European country.
He emphasized the need for a strong non-Arabic media to confront the smear campaign against Islam and Muslims.
The conferees held three sessions yesterday. In its first session, the participants made an in-depth assessment of the Islamic curricula in the light of four research papers. The second session, which also debated four papers, focused on reforming the curricula.
Participants of the third session discussed the Islamic education impact on justice, peace and cooperation among peoples and nations in the light of four other researches.
