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Al-Ahram Weekly 17 - 23 June 1999 Issue No. 434 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 17 - 23 June 1999 Issue No. 434
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Living Travel Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters World Muslims gather in Cairo
By Mona El-NahhasSixty-nine Islamic countries and six Islamic organisations will take part in the 11th Islamic conference scheduled to open on Tuesday. Addressing a news conference on Monday at the headquarters of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Hamdi Zaqzouq, minister of Al-Awqaf (religious endowments), said all Arab countries, including Sudan and Iraq, had been invited to the four-day gathering.
ñWe are keen on inviting all Islamic countries without excluding anybody,î Zaqzouq said. In addition to the Arab countries, Egypt invited 17 African countries, 11 Asian nations and 22 countries from Europe and the Americas. Asked whether Iran had received an invitation, Zaqzouq said, ñThere is a possibility that Iran will be invited.î
He said around 140 leading Islamic world figures will take part, with Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, acting as honorary chairman.
The participants will join President Hosni Mubarak in celebrating the Prophet MohamedÍs birthday on Thursday. In the course of the celebrations, eight Islamic figures, including six Egyptians, will be given awards in recognition of their efforts in preaching Islam.
The theme of the conference, organised by the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, is ñTowards a civilised plan for realising an Islamic renaissanceî. In 55 research papers and nine working sessions, the conference will address the cultural, social and economic factors necessary to achieve progress in the Islamic world.
Zaqzouq said the cultural aspect would be ñthe most important because culture is the basis of any progressî. Cultural discussions will deal with the general cultural characteristics of the Islamic world, current cultural trends and the impact of globalisation on Islamic culture. Under the latter topic, discussions will be held on means of maintaining a distinguished cultural entity by reviving Islamic culture and by promoting cooperation between cultural and scientific research institutions inside and outside the Islamic world.
Discussions on social questions will focus on the social values of work and money in Islam, as well as the roles of the state and civil institutions in achieving social justice among Muslims, Zaqzouq said. Discussions will also cover the role of women in society and IslamÍs position on marriage, divorce and inheritance.
Discussions on the economy will centre on cooperation between Islamic states and ways of promoting it further.
