OMAN: Call for world Muslim unity

Mon, 15 April 2013

By Hasan Kamoonpuri — MUSCAT — Leading Islamic scholars of Egypt’s 1041 year old Al Azhar University and Oman have underlined need for a common vision and unity in the world of Islam so that challenges could be faced boldly together. They called for unity among world Muslims in general and scholar in particular at the inaugural ceremony of the three day (April 14-16) symposium on “Omani-Azhari Scholars: The Common Grounds” which began here yesterday under the auspices of Shaikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah al Khalili, Minister of Justice.

Leading Islamic scholars from the Arabic and Islamic world attended the inaugural ceremony of the symposium, which will discuss 28 working papers. In his welcome address, Dr Ali bin Saud al Bimani, Vice-Chancellor, Sultan Qaboos University, said the country is proud of the shared values and heritage of the Omani and Azhari scholars and emphasised the need to build on this co-operation. In his speech, His Eminence Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamed al Khalili, Grand Mufti of Oman and Vice -President of International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), focused on the great contribution made by the scholars of Al Azhar University, one of the oldest universities in the world and the most esteemed of Islamic academic institutions, to Islam and Muslims.

The Grand Mufti said the world of Islam face many challenges and this calls for unity among world Muslims through constant focus on their shared values. Abdul Tawab Abdulhakim Qutub, Under-Secretary at Al Azhar University, said ulema (Islamic scholars) have heavy responsibilities to work jointly for inviting people to all that is good and forbidding evil. He also underlined the need for the closer co-operation between Sultan Qaboos University and Al Azhar University, which is one of the oldest seats of Islamic learning in the world of Islam.

Dr Yusuf Qaradawi, President, International Union of Muslim Scholars, and world-renowned scholar shed light on the verse of Glorious Quran that asks Muslims to remain united. Experts said All the eight Schools of Thoughts in Islam, namely Hanafi, Maliki, Shafii, Hambali, Jaafari, Ibadhis, Al Zidi and Al Dhahiri hold that the Muslim Ummah is one, its doctrine, its holy book and Prophet are one and its juristic sources are almost uniform. Therefore it is only that they should face the challenges of the world of Islam together.

In the subsequent days, the symposium will focus on several topics pertaining to Oman and Al Azhar relationships in the past and present, Omani missions to Al Azhar and subsequent cultural exchanges and Omani and Al Azhari contributions to Islam. Experts said the roots of Al Azhar University are traceable to the expansion of the great mosque of Al Azhar, which was completed in 972 (361 AH) in Cairo during the period of the Fatimid dynasty. Until 1960, higher education at Al Azhar was devoted exclusively to Islamic studies.

The University of Al Azhar continually promotes intellectual unity among Muslims everywhere in the Islamic world, safeguards its language, and seeks to reform Islam's cultural heritage and illuminate it for the benefit of mankind. Its classical focus has been upon the Quranic sciences, fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and the traditions of the Prophet.