Ain-Al-Yaqeen - September 24, 2004

		September 24, 2004

IN A SPEECH ON BEHALF OF THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES DELIVERED BY PRINCE ABDUL MAJEED AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE MUSLIM WORLD LEAGUE'S CONSTITUENT COUNCIL:
KING FAHD IBN ABDUL AZIZ STRESSES THAT ON THE BASIS OF ISLAM SAUDI ARABIA FIGHTS TERRORISM.
MUSLIMS' ISSUES ARE NUMEROUS AND THIS MAKES IT NECESSARY FOR THEM TO COORDINATE AND COOPERATE AMONG THEMSELVES TO FIND GRASS-ROOTS SOLUTIONS TO THESE ISSUES.
THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES:
SAUDI ARABIA WILL CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT JUST CAUSES OF MUSLIMS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND DEFEND THEIR LEGITIMATE RIGHTS.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz called upon Muslims to promote dialogue with other communities and nations and support efforts to foster mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence among countries, peoples and cultures.

In his opening address to the 38th session of the Muslim World League's Constituent Council in Makkah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz also said that Saudi Arabia would go ahead with its battle against terrorism.

The King emphasized the right of every nation to defend its rights and adhere to its culture.

The Monarch said devious interpretation of Islam had led some of its followers to violence against their own nation.

He commended MWL's efforts to promote moderate Islamic teachings and bolster Muslim unity. "The Kingdom has been making relentless efforts to introduce Islam and explain its moderate character," he said, adding that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism.

The address, which was read out by Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, emphasized the need for cooperation and coordination among Islamic organizations to address various Muslim issues and engage in activities that would help restore the Ummah's glory.

The speech called for boosting dialogue with others and supporting peaceful efforts to achieve the greatest possible understanding and coexistence among the world's peace-loving countries, peoples and civilizations with the right of all nations to defend their homelands and adhere to their cultural and civilization principles.

The speech stated that Saudi Arabia always seeks to explain the teachings of Islam and show its moderation and innocence from terrorism.

The speech stressed that based on Islam's principles, Saudi Arabia fights terrorism.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz said Saudi Arabia would continue its efforts to support just causes of Muslims all over the world and defend their legitimate rights. He urged Muslim countries to support the Palestinians to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Muslims' issues are numerous and this makes it necessary for them to coordinate and cooperate among themselves to find grass-roots solutions to these issues, he said.

However, this is best manifested in the Prophet's Hadeeth in which he called on Muslims to cooperate and work together for the prosperity and well-being of the Ummah, he said.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said, the Kingdom's policies are consistent and evident and are based on supporting all Muslims' issues and defending their legitimate rights.

The development of the international relations and means of communication make it inevitable for the entire Ummah not to isolate themselves and interact with the world to achieve the largest possible degree of understanding and cohesion.

This can be achieved if we strictly adhere to our genuine Islamic principles advocating moderation, flexibility and tolerance. This also offers me a unique opportunity to call on the sons of the Ummah to fully support our Palestinian brothers in their fair struggle to regain their legitimate rights and put an end to the Israeli arrogance. We should also support the Iraqi national unity and call on the Iraqi people to maintain the unity of their country. In line with the Islamic principles the Kingdom is fighting terrorism and terrorists who terrorize innocent and peaceful people. The Kingdom is determined more than ever to fight this deviant group and eliminate them. I pray to Allah to safeguard the Ummah from seditions and help them to unite their world.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd stressed that Saudi Arabia would continue its efforts to restore the national unity of the war-ravaged country and reinforce peace and stability there.

The speech stressed that Saudi Arabia fights terrorism based on Islam's ‏ principles. ‏ ‏

"The speech called for boosting dialogue with other peoples and supporting ‏peaceful efforts to achieve the greatest possible understanding and coexistence among the world's peace-loving countries, peoples and ‏civilizations with the right of all nations to defend their homelands and ‏ adhere to their cultural and civilization principles."

Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Al Sheikh, the Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Constituent Council, denounced allegations that Saudi Arabia showed enmity toward other religions.

"Muslims respect non-Muslims living in the Kingdom and we consider attacking others as a crime. Islam has a distinguished position in the Arabian Peninsula where there is no room for religions other than Islam," the mufti said.

He urged MWL to confront enemy onslaughts on Islam, the Qur'an and the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and correct distortions of the divine religion.

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and President of the Muslim World League constituent assembly Sheikh Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Al Al Sheikh delivered a speech in which he said that Allah sent prophets to human beings. Followers of these prophets disputed with one another and there was a conflict among them. Final of these prophets is Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be On Him), who established an Islamic state in Madinah Munawwarah. His prophethood is for all the times and all the peoples. He taught the human beings how to establish relationship among themselves and with others.

"Relations of Muslims with the contemporary civilization are based on certain principles and values laid down by the Glorious Qur'an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be On Him). The Muslim Ummah should accomplishe its objectives which Allah has ordained for it," he said.

He expressed his hope that the conference would come up with useful recommendations for the betterment of the Muslims in the world. He expressed his thanks to the Government of Saudi Arabia for its efforts and support for the cause of Muslims every where in the world.

Meanwhile, addressing the meeting, MWL Secretary- General, Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, said that Muslims were facing various challenges and it was high time for them to mobilize their resources to meet the challenges, which they are facing at this juncture. He said that it was Islam, which developed relations with other civilizations.

Dr. Al- Turki said that the peace was the origin of relationship with other nations. Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be On Him) invited the people of the Book to get united with Islam for the betterment of humanity as a whole. He explained that Islam teaches tolerance even when dealing with enemies. In this regard, he cited the example of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be On Him), who, during the conquest of Makkah, granted a general amnesty to all his enemies.

Dr. Al-Turki urged the Muslim organizations and communities to hold dialogue with the followers of other civilizations in the various parts of the world. He thanked the Government of Saudi Arabia for its constant support to the MWL and its activities.

Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, Secretary General of MWL highlighted the delicate and critical time the Ummah is passing through and the challenges facing Muslim countries, saying, Muslims can overcome the situation only by unifying their ranks and mending their rifts.

He added: The laxity shown by Muslim scholars in presenting the international Islamic cultural project paved the way for the enemies of Islam to disseminate their destructive ideologies and frustrate all efforts made by Muslims to measure up to these challenges. However the situation necessitates that the Muslims work hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder to come out of this situation.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki, Secretary-General of MWL, urged Muslims to close their ranks, concentrate on reforms and comprehensive development and introduce Islam in a way that would remove misunderstandings and attract others to its lofty teachings. He also denounced foreign intervention in the Sudanese region of Darfur as well as the killings and destruction going on in Iraq.

Maldives President Maamoun Abdul Qayyoom, a member of the constituent council, called for efforts to defeat the dubious plans of Zionists and colonialists to weaken the Islamic nation and control its wealth. "I believe that MWL can play a big role in this respect with the help of scholars and intellectuals attending this conference," he added.

A speech ceremony was held on the occasion. Speeches were delivered by a number of Muslim scholars and dignitaries. The speeches focused on challenges facing Muslims and how to deal with them.

On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Abdul Majeed Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Makkah Region, opened the 38th session of the Constitutional Council of the Muslim World League at MWL's headquarters in Makkah Al Mukkarmah.

In a statement to highlight the event, Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al Turki, the Secretary General of MWL, said a number of papers on important issues were discussed in the conference which attracts prominent Muslim scholars, leaders, thinkers, callers and academics.

To mark the occasion, MWL secretariat general has issued a report on the objectives, internal administrative panels, achievements and activities of the organization.

The report said the MWL was established in 1962 and became a non-government observer at the United Nations Economic and Social Council, observer at the Organization of Islamic Conference, and member of the UNESCO and the UNICEF.

MWL's panels include the Islamic General Conference which held its first conference in 1962, the second in 1965, third in 1987 and fourth in 1990; thee 53-member Constitutional Council; the organization's supreme authority; the International Islamic Relief Commission; the inimitability of the holy Qur'an and Sunnah; Makkah Charity Institution; Holy Qur'an Memorization Commission; MWL's general conferences and Secretariat General, the report said.

The report said the 5-storey 50,000 sq.m. MWL's headquarters, a landmark of Makkah donated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, is one of several grants bestowed to MWL by the generous government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Among the most important efforts currently voluntarily carried out by the organization is its defense of Islam in non-Muslim countries in response to the fierce campaign against the religion in the west media.

The main issue is to explain that no link exists between Islam and terrorism or that Muslims are never terrorists or extremists.

In this connection, the Muslim World League has issued a number of statements, denouncing terrorist acts all over the world, the report concluded.

The Muslim World League (MWL) lashed out at the vicious campaign to defame Islam and alter the Holy Quran.

The MWL examined the escalating attacks and continuing defamation of Islam in consecutive media and cultural campaigns that drive accusations against Islam and distort its great intentions and noble human principles, defame its holy book (the Quran) and offend the carrier of its message, Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), a statement issued in Makkah said.

The statement called for joint defense of Islam by all Muslim nations, governments and organizations.

The MWL also lashed out at attempts to distort the Quran or replace it with another book, pointing out a recent attempt by what it described as a committee specializing in offending Islam and Muslims to publish a 12-chapter book that the latter claims to replace the Holy Quran.

The statement added that the way to protect and defend the Quran from those campaigns is to memorize it and adhere to its rulings.

The MWL's founding committee issued another statement condemning Israeli aggressions against Palestinians.

(The Palestinians) are facing continuous Israeli aggression in which Israel uses planes, tanks and missiles to bombard civilians in towns and villages and shed the blood of children, women and the elderly, thus killing thousands of innocent people and razing homes and entire neighborhoods, rendering many Palestinians homeless, detaining thousands of them, confiscating their lands and building settlements on them, in addition to the bitter security and economic siege imposed on Palestinian communities and building the racial segregation wall, the statement said.

The league called the UN and peace-loving countries to perform their duties of putting an end to the injustices brought about by Israeli state-sponsored terrorism.

The Muslim World League's constituent assembly strongly condemned the constant Israeli terror against the Palestinian people.

It called on the United Nations and the peace-loving people to put an end to this terror.

The statement stressed that Alquds is an Islamic Arab city since its foundation and condemned the Israeli measures to destroy its Islamic ancient places and its features.

The Muslim World League (MWL) condemned the bloodshed in Iraq where hundreds of Iraqis are killed or injured everyday.

In a statement issued during its meeting on the bloody events in Iraq WML Secretary General Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki said the WML, which represents Muslims in the World, has received the condemnation of many Muslim Ulema (scholars) and organizations of the chaos and bloodshed which is taking place in Iraq.

The Muslim World League has reiterated its condemnation of the terrorist acts which occurred during the recent years in various countries of the world.

The league called on peace-loving international powers to cooperate to protect human lives.

A statement by the league's Secretary General Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al Turki also denounced biased media campaigns linking Islam with terrorism.

The Muslim World League's constituent assembly issued a statement at the conclusion of deliberations.

The statement covered numerous issues facing Muslims today.

The statement called for mobilizing efforts to protect the nation by implementing the teachings of Islam. The statement called for dealing with causes misleading the youth of the nation away from the correct course of Islam.

The statement denounced the media campaigns against Islam, the Holy Quran and Prophet Mohammad, Peace Be Upon Him.

The statement called for plans to confront challenges facing the Muslim nation.

The statement denounced the terrorist acts which took place in the world.

It called for an international conference on international terrorism and ways of dealing with it in Islam.

The statement reviewed a number of issues concerning Muslims including those in Palestine, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia and other places. The statement dealt with other issues facing Muslims in the world and discussed the situation and needs of Muslims in a number of countries and Muslim minorities in the world and demanded giving fair treatment to Muslims everywhere.

The Muslim World League condemned ‏ the organized campaigns to undermine the image of Islam, the Holy Quran and ‏ Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and called on the Islamic people, organizations and ‏ governments to defend the Islamic religion.‏

A statement released by the pan-Islamic organization said the "enemies of the Islamic nation have been desperately attempting to push Moslems astray of ‏ the Holy Qoran through misinterpreting it," and that such campaigns aim at ‏influencing the Islamic education.‏ ‏

The statement urged Western intellectuals to cooperate for spreading the magnanimous image of Islam and to stand against attempts against the holy ‏book.

The President of the Maldives Mamoun Abdul Qayyoum had arrived in Jeddah to take part in the 38th session of the constitutional council of the Makkah-based Muslim World League held in Makkah.

He was received at King Abdul Aziz International Airport by MWL Secretary General Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al Turki and a number of officials. The Maldives President Maamoun Abdul Gayoom, a member of the constituent council, called for efforts to defeat the dubious plans of Zionists and colonialists to weaken the Islamic nation and control its wealth.

The President Maldives Mamoon Abdulqayoom left the Kingdom after taking part in the activities of the 38th session of the Muslim World League's constituent assembly which started in Makkah last Saturday.

He was seen off at King Abdulaziz International airport by Sheikh Mohammed bin Nassir Alobaidi, Assistant MWL Secretary General, and a numberof officials.

Meanwhile the Secretary General of the Muslim World League Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki received at his office in Makkah Kamal Ismail Alshareef, the Secretary General of the International Islamic Council for Call and Relief.

During the meeting, they discussed a number of issues of concern to the two Islamic organizations.

Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al Turki, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, also received at his office in Makkah Sheikh Omer Ahmed Jelo, Niger's Presidential Special Envoy Mohammed Tanja, who is also member of the MWL's constituent assembly.

During the meeting, Jelo briefed Al Turki on the situations of Muslims and Islamic educational institutions in Niger.

Meanwhile the first meeting of the Founding Committee of the International Symposium for Muslim Scholars was held from Sha'aban 4-6 during the 38th Session of the Muslim World League's (MWL) Founding Committee.

Among the subjects to be discussed at the meeting are the Constitution of the Symposium, its objectives and structure as well as the ways and means of achieving those objectives, according to Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki, Secretary-General of the MWL.

The Committee is consisted of a number of senior Muslim scholars. The International Symposium for Muslim Scholars was set up in line with a resolution of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting that was held in Makkah in 1423 AH. Its objective, said Dr. Al- Turki, is to unify the voice of Islam and to coordinate the stand taken by Muslim scholars on various contemporary matters and crucial issues affecting Muslims and Islam.

The meeting was chaired by the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and president of the Muslim World League constituent assembly Sheikh Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Al Al Sheikh. The gathering discussed important issues and take unified stand on them.