| THE WORLD ISLAMIC CALL COUNCIL CONSEIL MONDIAL DE L'APPEL ISLAMIQUE
Report by the Executive
Committee For the period from
The World Islamic Call Society (WICS), has undertaken many different activities to implement the resolutions of its eleventh session and to carry out the ideas postulated in speeches by the Leader of the World Islamic People's Leadership (WIPL) in his trips to Niger, Nigeria and Chad. Various goals were achieved in many sectors which has had a positive impact on the course of Islamic Call. The most important of those sectors are:
The following is a report summarizing activities and achievements during the aforementioned period in the three sectors. Daa’wa and Islamic Centres Introducing Islam and disseminating Islamic culture
Choosing Islam In the period following the eleventh session, nearly 3,000 people were guided to lslam including 2,307 who embraced Islam at the hands of the Leader of the World Islamic People's Leadership (WIPL) during his visit to N'djamena. Here, he led the congregation of' hundreds of thousands of Muslims in the congregational prayers held there on the first Friday of Muharram Al Haram. The new Muslims received all care and assistance by WICS. They were provided with Islamic publications in their own language to assist them in learning more about the faith. Educational and professional courses to teach them skills and to help them integrate into their new societies were organised for the new Muslims in Thailand, Chad, Southern Sudan, Mali, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Benin and the Gambia. Countering the Christianization efforts A seminar was held on Christianization in the Sudan in cooperation with Africa International University entitled "Christianization and Colonialist Penetration" to expose the doat to the methods used by Christianizers and observe their efforts to weaken Islam and destroy the Muslim character. Several papers presented in the seminar discussed the impact of Chritianization on the political, social, cultural, educational and economic aspects of Muslim societies. A second seminar was held on the same topic in cooperation with the University of Sai in Niger in which prominent members of staff at Nigerian universities took part. The two seminars were part of WICS's efforts to counter the Christianization schemes hostile to Islam. Because of the emphasis placed on science in the two seminars, WICS will publish the research papers presented, which will be used as reference to researchers and doat everywhere. Appointment of Doat and Teachers WICS has appointed 45 doat and teachers in Southern Sudan, Ghana, the Gambia, Rwanda, Zambia, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Surinam, Korea, Malaysia, Canada and the Netherlands. There is urgent need for doat and teachers to guide Muslims to implement the teachings of Islam in the proper manner. Symposiums For the Doat Two gatherings for the doat were held, the first being in Al -Harth (November) 1427 B.P. (1997 C.E.) in Thailand attended by (156) doat from fifteen states from Australasia in addition to Ulamma and those active in the field of Daa’wa. Sheikhs of Sufi Tariqas from Syria, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Australia and China also attended. The theme of the gathering was "Towards an Islamic Call: More understanding of contemporary realities". Several urgent Islamic issues and programmes of Daa’wa for the end of this century were discussed. Specialists in Daa’wa, Islamic culture and the Arabic language also delivered lectures to the gathering and a communique was issued at the conclusion of the gathering which included the action plan of doat for the forth coming period. The second gathering was held in Harare, Zimbabwe in Arabie (March) 1428 B.P. (1998 C.E.) and was attended by 96 WICS doat from East, Central and Southern Africa. They came from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, the Comoro Islands, Somalia and Eriteria. Representatives of Islamic societies and youth associations from the region also attended. The theme of the gathering "Islamic Daa’wa in the face of contemporary challenges" included lectures and discussion on issues of concern to the doat in the region. Financial Assistance to Islamic Centres WICS has extended financial assistance to Islamic institutions and centres to assist them to carry out their role. An example is the Islamic Centre in Utrecht, which is among the largest and most active in Western Europe. WICS bought a plot of land to be annexed to the centre in order to help it to increase its capacity and the centre itself was completely renovated. WICS has also extended financial assistance to complete the utilities of the Islamic centre in Romania and Al-Haramain centre in Lusaka, Zambia and renovated the Islamic Centre in Cyprus. Educational and cultural programmes were held in centres affiliated to and cooperating with WICS. These include commemorating religious occasions, especially the month of Ramadan, where several reciters of the Qur’an were sent to a number of countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Surinam, Canada, Cyprus, Mali and Uganda. The programmes also included contests in the memorization and recitation of the Holy Qur’an as well as celebrating the anniversary of the Birth of the Prophet (SAW) "Al-Mawlid Anabawi Asharief". Other Assistance to Centres
Youth Assistance The WICS believes in the importance of education and culture in building Muslim character. It also sees the need to give impetus to Muslim youth by encouraging them to memorize the Holy Qur’an, and learn Arabic. As a result, it has provided further local scholarships at all educational levels and inaugurated courses for the memorization of the Holy Qur’an and the teaching of Arabic in Islamic Centres and mosques. WICS has also provided large quantities of textbooks to societies and universities in a number of states. Students attending the WICS-run courses came from Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Burkina Faso. Arabic courses are run continuously throughout the year with elementary, intermediate and advanced levels supervised by full-time specialists. These were held in the Netherlands, Uganda and Surinam. Seasonal (two courses per year) were held in the Gambia, the Maldives, Malta, Mali, Madagascar, Niger, Somalia, Benin and Ghana. The students were provided with all books and study material and prizes were given to outstanding performers at the conclusion of every course. WICS contribution to Qur’an Memorization Two symposiums concerning the Arabic language and its spread were organised by WICS in Somalia and the Gambia in cooperation with local societies. All regions were encouraged by WICS to expand courses and contests for the memorization of the Holy Qur’an all year round. The holy month of Ramadan and Al-Mawlid Anabawi were commemorated by providing gifts, prizes and funds. Among the regions that witnessed large attendance for Qur’an memorization courses were Chad, Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Cyprus, Sweden, the Maldives, the Netherlands, Benin, Ghana, the Gambia, Surinam, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Women’s Training Assistance was provided for cultural courses and training programmes under the supervision of women’s societies and unions in Guinea-Conakry and the Sudan underlining the WICS's emphasis on Muslim women’s education. Aid was provided to Al-Amal institute for deaf mutes in the Sudan for rehabilitation of the handicapped. Assistance was also provided to the Muslim girls club in the Netherlands. Computer courses have expanded and improved. As a result a course was held in Somalia in cooperation with the Islamic Society there. Computer courses are also continuing in both Sri Lanka and at the Islamic Centre in the Netherlands. Embroidery courses have enabled thousands to earn a good living and have been very well received. The WICS offices, therefore, have continued to organise and manage several such courses in cooperation with social affairs ministries and women societies in Madagascar, Niger, Mali, the Gambia, the Philippines and Somalia. The WICS has also extended aid in the form of embroidery machines to women societies in the Philippines, Zimbabwe and Somalia. Assistance to Muslim Minorities The WICS has continued its support of Muslim minorities to help preserve their character and encourage an Islamic upbringing that will protect them against social diseases. This has included contributions to building mosques, schools and Islamic centres. Many organisations have benefited from such programmes. They include:
Aid to Muslim Institutions In cooperation with Islamic organisations, WICS has provided social, cultural and humanitarian assistance to Muslim institutions throughout the world including construction of mosques and schools, assistance in the maintenance of Islamic centres as well as the establishment of orphanages and facilities for the welfare of new Muslims. Muslims who have benefited from such programmes include those in:
Cooperative Agreements WICS received delegations from various countries and signed cooperation agreements and joint action projects with them so that Muslims could benefit and Islamic action could be given greater impetus. Some documents signed are as follows:
Conferences, International Institutions and Relief
Cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) At the conclusion of his visit the to the WICS offices in Arabie (March), the assistant director of UNESCO signed a memorandum reconfirming an existing cooperation agreement between WICS and the above International Organisation. The memorandum included some procedural measures concerning the implementation of programmes previously agreed to in Al-Harth (November) 1427 B.P. (1997 C.E.). In cooperation with UNESCO, the "Individual and Society in Islam" compiler was published in English. It is the Second volume in the Great Islamic Encyclopedia financed and supervised by the WICS in cooperation with UNESCO under the title "Diverse Aspects of Islamic Culture". The volume was previously published in French and will be ready in Arabic in the coming months. Implementing the agreement signed between WICS and UNESCO, the two sides concluded a preliminary field study in preparation for the digging of 26 water wells in Mali and Burkina Faso. The study was conducted in coordination with and the cooperation of specialists from both countries. A meeting of delegates of WICS, UNESCO and representatives of official water authorities in Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso was held in the Nigerian capital, Niamey to discuss the start of the digging of bore holes in the Sahara belt region. Practical measures for the digging operation in the region were discussed. Cooperation with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) Confirming the continuing cooperation between WICS and ISESCO, an agreement concerning the spread of Arabic language and Islamic culture was signed at the offices of ISESCO on 27 Naser (July) 1428 B.P, (1998 C.E). The agreement included a number of programmes in the fields of education, culture and science to be jointly implemented in the Sahara belt countries. With the cooperation of both parties a training course was organised for inspectors of Arabic language in Mauritania during 11-25 Aynar (January) 1428 B.P. (1998 C.E.). 35 inspectors from various Mauritanian jurisdictions took part in the course which included lectures designed to upgrade the level of the participants. International symposia of Specialists - Symposium on The Muslim World and Challenges of the next Century The symposium was held in Cairo between 9-11 Anowar (February) 1428 B.P. 1998 C.E. and was attended by Ulama and intellectuals from various parts of the world. Also in attendance was the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Several research papers and speeches addressed the challenges facing the Ummah especially in the fields of culture and the society and some solutions to confront the challenges were proposed. Participants emphasized the need for such gatherings to continue using cultural, economic and social experts to conduct in-depth studies of the challenges and to suggest solutions. Participants recommended the convening of symposiums and seminars on "Globalization, Secularism and Modernism" since these ideas, if implemented, may negatively affect the cultural identity and the pure concept of the Muslim society. Consequently, three symposiums were organised at the Arab International Centre in Cairo, financed and supervised by the WICS. The following topics were discussed:
Several research papers were presented at those symposiums which clarified the true concept of those terms, their political, social, economic and cultural impact tiid reflections oil the Ummah. Lecturers from research centres took part in the symposia and proceedings of their deliberations were published. Participation in international conferences, gatherings and symposiums WICS took part in the meeting held in Cairo under the auspices of Al Azhar Asharief to assess programmes of Islamic-Christian dialogue. The meeting was attended by several Islamic institutions that have dialogue programmes with Christian institutions. A number of issues concerning Islamic-Christian dialogue was discussed especially the type of topics and their resolutions. WICS presented a paper to the meeting in which it summarized its discussions with a number of Christian institutions foremost of which was the meeting with the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious dialogue of the Vatican. The paper also included suggestions and ideas put forward as a result of WICS’s experience in this field. WICS was chosen as a member of a subcommittee that will convene at a later date to study criteria for Muslim-Christian dialogue and to work out a mechanism to coordinate discussions between Islamic institutions and Christian organisations involved in this activity. WICS took part in the proceedings of the eighth Islamic summit held in the Iranian capital, Teheran last Al-Kanoun (December) 1997 C.E. (1427 B.P.). WICS took part in the proceedings of the twenty fifth session of the OIC foreign ministers conference convened in Doha, capital of Qatar during 15-19 Arabie (March) 1428 B.P. WICS's address to the conference reflected a summary of its activities in the religious, educational, cultural and humanitarian sectors. It also reflected its position with regard to a number of Muslim and international issues. In addition, a report on the activities of WICS in Arabic, English and French entitled "A quarter century of continuous providence" was circulated to delegates who attended the conference and to the Islamic media covering the session. WICS took part in the twelfth session of the Joint Islamic Action Coordination Committee held in Teheran, the capital of Iran, during 23-25 Al-Maa (May) 1428 B.P, 1998 C.E. The session was attended by representatives of member associations of the committee, Ulama, intellectuals and chairpersons of Islamic institutions in Iran. The WICS Secretary addressed the inaugural ceremony as chairman of the eleventh session of the coordination committee. He emphasized WICS’s continual support for every Islamic action that aims to unify the ranks of the Ummah and demonstrate its strength. WICS participated in the Islamic cultural symposium organised by the Islamic Centre of Moscow during 13-15 Asaif 1428 B.P., 1998 C.E. More than 150 scholars, Imams and experts in Islamic issues from throughout the Russian Republic and some states in the former Soviet Union attended. The WICS representative addressed the opening ceremony and reiterated WICS's continued support for conferences that highlight Islamic culture, illustrate Muslim contribution to human civilization and call for the implementation of true Islamic principles devoid of violence and extremism. In their final communique, participants praised WICS's role in this respect. WICS participation in other conferences
Assistance for Popular Islamic congresses In the area of youth organisations and support for educational and cultural programmes, financial assistance was extended to the General Congress of Ugandan Youth to organize a number of educational, cultural and social activities. These were intended to alert Muslim youth to a number of issues that pertain to their role in society and improving their scientific and professional skills.
Relief and Refugee Affairs A medical caravan was sent to the Republic of Niger. It included a number of physicians and nurses as well as tons of medicines and food. The caravan arrived in Niamey on February 20, 1998 C.E. and continued to provide medical and relief services for a period of 25 days in the regions of Zender, Tanut, Doucour, Chenti Brown and Tilberi. Thousands of Nigerians benefited from the services of the caravan, and the medical team treated hundreds of cases in remote desert regions. Also, because of flood damage in the region, WICS has initiated another medical and humanitarian caravan to contribute towards alleviating the effects of the damage. The caravan was sent on Al Fateh (September) 1428 B.P, (1998 C.E). and provided food, clothing and blankets as well as treating the sick in various regions of Niger for a period of three weeks A medical caravan was sent to Surinam. It included a number of physicians and nurses as well as quantities of medicines. The caravan provided medical services to all the provinces in the country for a period of one month. A relief caravan was sent to Nigeria on October 28, 1998. That included a number of physicians, nurses and pharmacists as well as quantities of food, medicines and educational material. The caravan provided service to thousands of Nigerians for a period of three weeks. Two caravans were sent to the Republic of Mali. The first arrived in the month of Anowar (February) 1428 B.P., (1998 C.E). and included, as in previous occasions medical and educational experts as well as food and educational material. Services were provided to thousands of Malians for a period of three weeks in the provinces of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal. The second caravan sent during the month of Al-Fateh (September), included physicians and nurses in addition to quantities of medicines and food providing services to thousands in the Bamako region for a three-week period. A medical caravan was sent to Chad. It included several physicians and nurses as well as quantities of medicines, food and clothing providing services to thousands of Chadians in a number of towns and villages over a period of two weeks. The caravan also visited hospitals and medical centres and examined many school children. A similar medical caravan was sent to Burkina Faso providing services during the month of Asaif 1428 B.P., (1998 C.E). for a period of three weeks. The caravan had a great impact in alleviating the suffering of many people especially school children, youth and women. Medicines and relief materials were distributed to four camps houging refugees from Sierra Leone in Guinea-Conakry under the supervision of brother, Dr. Muhammad Samora, member of the World Islamic Call Council in coordination with WICS bureau in Senegal. The aid was distributed to camps in Vova, Amoria, Dagatembi and Tassin and included tons of food and medicines as well as providing meals to fasting Muslims. 150 sacrificial sheep were distributed to a number of needy families especially in areas housing refugees in Holland and Senegal.
Research, information and publication Holy Qur’an printing, recording and translations
4. By the end of Alfateh (September) 1428 B.P., (1998 C.E.) an audio cassette recording of the Holy Qur’an (Qaloun narration) has been completed by a famous Qur’an reciter from Great Jamahiriya. Printing, translation and publication of Islamic Book In connection with Islamic culture and the provision of Islamic books, WICS has circulated publications concerning Islamic unity, condemning divisions and sectarianism. Muslims are urged to adhere to the principles of solidarity, understanding and commitment and to their Islamic heritage. In this regard the following steps were taken: (a) Publication of new books. Twenty-two titles covering various aspects of Islamic culture have been printed. (b) There are a number of book projects in all fields of culture and knowledge under revision and inspection including:
In coordination with WICS bureaus in Ghana and Sri Lanka a translation on teaching Salat (prayers) and worship in Islam in the local languages of the aforementioned countries has been prepared. To consolidate ties with some Islamic institutions the following steps were taken.
Publication of Calendars and folders
Researches and Studies Cooperation with scientific and research centres Cooperation with research and study centres, information, and printing institutions is continuing. This is primarily in the area of media, information, publications and the exchange of visits. Cooperation with researchers in writing, compilation, translation, revision and assessment is also continuing and this is manifested by the number of books received, revised and assessed. As a result, cooperation with institutions of science and information in more than twenty countries continues. Participation in International and Local Bookfairs
WICS has also organised special book-fairs in cooperation with popular cultural institutions in the Gambia, Mali, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Ghana because of its interest in Africa and to confirm its cultural unity of Africans. Preparations are also under way to hold a special book-fair in the Spanish town of Dania during its annual celebrations. The town is the birthplace of Imam Abou Amrou Adani, whose type of calligraphy is known in the Mushaf of Al-Jamahirya. Also, in the total absence of Arab and Muslim institutions, WICS's display was alone at the Barcelona International Book-fair (Liber 98) held last Al-Fateh (September). The exhibit portrayed an image of the Arab and Islamic publishing movement. More than 800 publishers took part in the fair and many, especially from South East Asia, Europe and South America expressed the desire to consolidate cooperation with WICS and provide expertise in publishing. One of the highlights of the fair was the display of the special copy of the Mushaf Al-Jamahirya. Concerning audiovisual programmes, publication of textbooks and teaching Arabic to non-Natives:
Distribution Regarding its continuing cooperation with Islamic societies, regional international organisations as well as supporting the activities of Islamic minorities, the following steps were taken by the WICS:
Al Dawa Al-Islamia Newspaper The paper is attempting to carry out the required evolution both in form and content. During the past period the Arabic section has become separated from the English and French Section. This integrated independent work has resulted in an increase in the number of pages. The Arabic section now contains 12 pages. By doubling the English and French pages the paper now has 20 pages which has led to an increase in the topics discussed by the paper. To achieve better circulation and distribution as well as to fill the vacuum in the Islamic press cooperation with additional Arab and foreign correspondents was necessary. |