RIYADH, 28 October 2006 — Islam spread through its teachings and the examples of its followers rather than through the sword, Islamic scholar Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Eidan said speaking at a two-day conference held under the auspices of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs Call and Guidance.
Some 2,000 people, including delegates from India, attended the event organized by the Saudi National Islahi Center as part of the Eid Al-Fitr festivities here.
Earlier, Manager of Air-India Central Province Rattan Ghosh gave away prizes to the winners of the Qur’an knowledge contest. SriLankan Airlines, Atlas Jewelry, Mix-Max Fleeriya, My Own Garments and Malila Trading were the other sponsors of the event.
The conference was held with an aim of countering the negative information that is being circulated by the Western media at the global level that Islam preaches violence and hatred against the followers of other faiths.
This argument was challenged by all of the speakers who cited historical examples to prove that violence has never sustained the momentum of any faith, including Islam.
Earlier, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Shaikh, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, greeted the audience in a live broadcast in which he congratulated the Indian community on its initiative to promote peace and unity through Islam.
In his keynote address, Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Eidan stressed the need for a campaign to remove distortions about Islam.
He said history is witness to the fact that Islam gained adherents throughout the world on the strength of its teachings. The best examples were the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the successive Caliphs who practiced what they preached in their conduct of affairs. The sense of compassion and justice, which they brought to bear in their rulings, brought about conversions to Islam. There was no element of compulsion; the change of heart was voluntary.
Elaborating on this point, P.V. Ashraf, Saudi National Islahi Center spokesman, said Kerala’s first contact with Islam was in the first century of Hijra when Malik bin Dinar and his companions landed in Kerala from Hadramaut in Yemen. This period coincided with the life and time of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
He added that these Arabs, who came as traders, built a mosque in Kodungalure in Kerala.
In his recorded speech, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jibreen, the former mufti of Saudi Arabia, called on people to understand Islam from its original sources i.e. the holy Qur’an and the life and teachings of the Prophet (pbuh). He said the Qur’an, as a source of divine guidance for mankind, sheds light on the right path for their success in this life and the hereafter.
Special invitees from India included A.P. Abdul Khader Moulavi, general secretary Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen, and Abdul Rahman Salafi, K.N.M. Kerala called on Muslims to follow the true teachings of Islam — the religion of peace and compassion.
Speaking on the main theme of the conference “Islam for mercy, not for mutiny” M.M. Akbar, director of Niche of Truth (Kerala) and a well-known speaker on comparative religion, highlighted the personality of the holy Prophet and his compassionate attitude toward the nonbelievers of Makkah on the occasion of the historic Makkah victory over them.
He showed mercy and unconditionally forgave even the murderers of his closest companions and relatives.
He also noted the growing anti-Muslim sentiments recently in the media controlled by forces hostile to Islam. He also answered questions from the audience, which included a large number of non-Muslims.
Dr. Saad Al-Araifi, professor at the King Saud University, called on Muslims to open dialogue with other religions to remove misconceptions about Islam and strengthen religious harmony and peace. Dr. Mohamed Ashraf from the Islamic University of Madinah spoke on the subject “Death, the Door to Eternal Life.”
Inaugurating the women’s conference, Sheikha Sultana Al-Shaikh, a noted scholar, reminded people that the propagation of the message of Islam was the duty of every Muslim.
She also stressed the importance of acquiring knowledge and drew the attention of the audience to the scholarly achievements of Ayesha, wife of the holy Prophet.
Sheikh Abdullah A. Al-Shaikh from the Ministry of Islamic affairs, Director of Call and Guidance Center in Batha Sheikh Nooh Bin Nassir, Shaikh Abdul Rahman Al-Jibreen, Zubair Peedikakkal, Abdussalam Madeeni, Dr. Umer Farooq, Iqbal Gopakumar, Muhamad Rakhesh, Abdul Rahman Solahi, Abdul Qayyom Bustani, Dr. Shoukathali, Abdul Latheef Sullami, Abdullah Jamali, K. Imbichikkoya, N.V. Salim, Hameed Naha, Abdul Razak Solahi, Sufiyan Abdul Salam, P. Noushad Ali and P.V. Ashraf also spoke.
Abdul Razak Koduvally, the national secretary, welcome the gathering and Abdul Razak Baqawi, secretary of the Islahi Center in Riyadh, proposed a vote of thanks.
