Held In Colombo, Sri Lanka during 5-6 Hanibal (August) 1997.

The proceedings of this session were inaugurated by the recitation of some verses from the Holy Quran. Brother Mohammed M. Zuhair, member of the World Islamic Call Council from Sri Lanka welcomed the brother members of the Council who came from all parts of the world. He declared that the people and the Government of Sri Lanka, as well as its Ulemas, welcomed the participants and guests and wished them a pleasant stay and success to their deliberations.

The brother Secretary General then spoke on behalf of the members of the Council and conveyed his greetings, thanks and appreciation to the people of Sri Lanka and to the President, Prime minister and government of the Republic. He also praised the extraordinary efforts of brothers Mohammed H. M. Ashraff and Mohammed M. Zuhair who had made all the necessary arrangements for convening this meeting. He expressed his appreciation to the members for their determination to participate in this Session, despite the hardship of such a long trip, coming as they did from all parts of the world to strive for the sake of Allah and the Islamic Call.

The Secretary General paid tribute in his address to the Ulamas, Scholars of Islam and Sufi Leaders who attended the meeting of the General Secretariat of the World Islamic Peoples’ Leadership and were at present participating in the deliberations of the 11th Session of the Council.

The brother Secretary General expressed his sorrow on the death of two faithful brother members of the Council who, through their ethics, knowledge and endeavour for the sake of Allah, were models of what a da'i should be. He asked that duas be recited for Mubarak Qasamullah Zayed, Head of the Islamic Call Organization of the Sudan, and brother Juma Sibuliba, Secretary General of the Islamic Council Federation of Eastern, Southern and Central Africa.

The Secretary General went on to explain that seven members of the Council were absent from the current session for unavoidable reasons and twenty-seven members attended. This constituted a quorum according to the Council's Statutes and its Internal Rules and Regulations.

The Council then proceeded to confirm the agenda as follows:-

1. Follow up of the recommendations of the Fifth General Conference of the Islamic Call
2. Review of the report of the Secretary General on the activities of the Call
3. Report on the Islamic Call College and its affiliates
4. Report on the Islamic College of London
5. Review of the reports of the members of the Council on the movement of the Call in their respective regions and new developments in the Muslim world.

The Council began a discussion of the first item regarding follow-up of the recommendations and resolutions adopted by the General Conference, which represent a broad outline of the action plan. The Council adopted the recommendations as an integrated action programme in the field of education, religion and the society.

The second item, the Report of the Secretary General, summarized the activities of the General Secretariat for the period between the 5th General Conference of the Islamic Call held in the month of Al Fateh (September) 1995 to the middle of the current year 1997. The report dealt with the programs implemented in the following sectors.

• The Call and the Islamic Centres
• The Conference and international institutions and relief
• Information, Research and Publications.

After discussing the report, the members of the Council expressed their profound appreciation for the efforts exerted, their versatility and overall efficiency of the Secretariat. Great importance was attributed to the success of the many programmes of Islamic Call and their impact on their religious, cultural, social and humanitarian aspects of the ummah. Emphasis was placed on the following:

• Development of a communication network between the World Islamic Call Society and Islamic institutions involved in the field of dawa, and the dais of the Society in various parts of the world. This is to facilitate the exchange of information and draw full benefit from the successful exchange in that field. Similarly, an integrated image could be demonstrated of the fine work done by the Society in all the continents of the world.
• Reconsideration of programs concerning the various interpretations of the Qur’an to ensure a sound rendering with an appropriate style and the simple and easy linguistic fluency prevailing in modern societies, the simple construction of sentences being advantageous to the proper understanding of the sacred verses.
• Better information programs to reflect the diversity of activities of the Society and to emphasize the role and wide range of activities of the Society in various regions of the world.

The Council then discussed the third and fourth items concerning the reports on the Islamic Call College and its affiliates in Damascus and Beirut, as well as the Islamic College of London. After a lengthy discussion of these reports, the members of the Council expressed complete satisfaction on what has been achieved and expressed their deep appreciation of the role of the college and its affiliates. The following recommendations were made:

• Continuing support of the Islamic Call College, providing the necessary material to enable it to fulfill its role in training the dai’s. Studying the possibilities of turning that college into a university including theoretical and technical faculties.
• Considering the possibilities of increasing the number of College affiliates in some African and Asian countries to eliminate gaps in the field of Islamic knowledge.
• Stressing the importance of adopting a scientific method in designing the programme and curricula of the College. This would enable it to provide highly qualified Muslim leaders and ensure that the College and its affiliates are recognized throughout the world.
• Continuing the process of developing programs in cooperation with Arab and Islamic universities, and strengthening these relationships so that College diplomas will be recognised by others.
• Stressing the need to prepare dais in special Islamic institutions. They should be screened so that, their cultural and scientific background are combined with a sound academic Islamic environment to ensure effective performance in their preaching role.

The Council discussed the fifth item regarding the review of the report of the members on the activities of the World Islamic Call in their respective regions as well as new developments in the Muslim world. The members submitted detailed reports. These concerned programmes, which were designed to implement the recommendations of the General Conference of the Islamic Call. The members’ reports reflected the importance placed on most of the subjects connected with the activities of the Islamic Call in all aspects of its work. The reports also provide ample evidence of the acute sense of responsibility of the members when planning and executing its specialized activities and highlight the awareness of danger that threaten Muslims. Enthusiasm was also manifest in outlining the cultural features of Islam and emphasizing its values founded on the Call of Allah, wisely and with benevolent counsel, in order to have a world where love, justice and fraternity would prevail.

In summary the common themes of the members’ reports are as follows:

• Consolidating the programmes of Islamic Call, particularly in Africa and Latin America. Paying special attention to the gatherings of dai’s and the training courses for those responsible for educational programs. Providing information to give a true image of Islam as a religion and as a civilization. Designing audio-visual programs and developing the media on which the Islamic Call Society depends to keep abreast with sophisticated techniques in that field and to coordinate with organizations and institutions.
• Maintaining the interest shown in Muslim minorities and organizing regular meetings and symposia to discuss their problems, boost their activities, provide them with information in their own language, enhance by every means their Islamic and cultural identity. In that respect priority should be given to the Muslim minorities in India and the Caribbean.
• Extending the teaching of Arabic and modernizing its techniques. Printing appropriate textbooks and continue cooperation with international and regional bodies for that purpose. Emphasizing the importance of holding meetings and symposia that project Muslim contribution to the civilization of mankind and correct some of the false ideas and concepts that information media are spreading through ignorance or willful intent.
• Emphasizing the importance of the training dais in special Islamic institutions. Ensuring that their cultural and scientific backgrounds are founded in an Islamic academic environment to guarantee success of their mission with respect to Islamic Call. Due account should be taken of a refreshing acceptance of other cultures, drawing full benefit of any positive elements thereof.

Regarding item six, organizational matter, the Secretary General briefed the Council members on the procedure adopted concerning that item pursuant to the recommendations of Fifth Islamic Call General Conference. The procedures adopted, emphasize the independent nature of the Council and legal status of its departments according to the Statute of WICS. The Secretary General's decision issued on Kanoun (December) 25th, 1424(from the birth of the Prophet(PBUH) (1995 C.E.), stressed cooperation based on Shura.

• At the General Conference, WICS was entrusted with outlining the general action plan for the period following its meeting. The WIC Council, follows up the General Conference resolutions and recommendations and schedules the implementation of its programmes.
• The Council's Executive Committee, supervises the implementation of programs recommended by the Council.
• The General Secretariat comprises an "Administrative Committee" the composition of which is decided by the Secretary General so that it may assist him in the direct supervision of the different activities.

The Executive Committee of the Council meets twice a year. The Secretary General therefore, refers back to it from time to time, to meet certain requirements related to programs which the Secretary General and the Administration Committee implement through the General Secretariat. The Council has delegated the Executive Committee and thc Secretary General to review these matters between the meetings, as necessary.

Regarding organizational matters and according to the Council's statute referred to above and adopted by the Council, the Executive Committee constitutes the following:

• The Secretary General
• The General Rapporteur
• Sheikh Rashed Al-Farhan representing the Arab World
• Dr. M. Samora representing Africa
• Mr. Mohammed Zuhair representing Asia.

Reports