|
TRIPOLI, November 27 (Mercy for Mankind) – The first evening
session of the second day of the seventh general conference of the
World Islamic Call Society (WICS) went underway Saturday, November
27, with the first paper presented to the conference the only item
on agenda.
The session started a little before 5 p.m. (Tripoli Local Time)
and the first speaker was Dr. Ahmed Omar Hashem, former-head of
Al-Azhar University in Cairo.
Dr. Hashem's word was centered on the greatness of Islam as a
religion for all humanity, promoting peace, love and security for
all.
Dr. Hashem presented to the guests the author of the paper,
Ibrahim Al-Ghowail, the general rapporteur of the conference. The
paper is entitled; "The Seal of the Messages: Accommodating the Past
and Prospecting the Future".
Al-Ghowail then started reading out the paper in brief, starting
with the fact that the history students are taught now in textbooks
is actually the western version of history, not the true one.
"The Western vision of history – unfortunately imposed on us – is
responsible for forging the sound preview of human history, nations'
contributions and national cultures in the civilization, historical
course of humanity.
"That vision is responsible for such arrogance that rejects the
contributions of other cultures. Their arrogance makes them believe
they are the end of history and represent the last of mankind.
Moreover, they believe they are the last man and super man.
"Their vision of history makes them believe they are the top
point of history and the end point of history. That made us, and
other cultures, believe there is no other choice but to be followers
of the West.
"If we all do not like it, the only choice left is to return to
our past history and be excluded from modern and future human
history."
After presenting the first part of the paper, entitled "the
prevalent vision of history", Al-Ghowail then presented his own view
of history, basing it on the divine teaching of knowledge and names
to Adam.
"The historical vision we adopt is based on the fact that the
birth of history goes back to when Adam acquired knowledge and was
taught all names. The base of human knowledge and its certain
starting point is divine inspiration that formed the initial
knowledge frame, consistent with human instinct.
"Sound religions are based on the instinct Allah created humans
on. The history of inspiration, starting from Adam, passing by all
messengers and prophets, till Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is clearly a
build-up from a starting point to a concluding one.
"All this reveals that human knowledge and human historical walk
have evolved and taken a new direction. All that followed the
certain starting point that put down the general guidelines.
"Therefore, we can say the line of evolution and progress
recorded by humanity all through its long walk has been based on
instinct that was emphasized by prohibiting any deviation and
ordering good deeds.
"The line of evolution and progress was established the day Allah
created Earth and Heavens. Following that respectful history led by
messengers and prophets… what Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received for
his people and all mankind launched the era of nationalism in human
horizons. Therefore his call was not only for his people, but also
for the whole of mankind.
"The religion of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last stage of
divine inspiration in history. It is complete in its final form and
can be taken as a base or origin for legislations.
"Secularists who deny the existence of Allah were motivated by
some ideas like liberating man from fear, feeling of not being
sacred while handling his daily problems and liberating man from the
suppression of dominant classes.
"Islam, by rejecting atheism and worshipping any one or anything
other than the Mighty Lord, has liberated man and subjected all
other creatures to serve him. In Islam, there are no double
standards in Islam, equality covers all."
Concluding, Al-Ghowail, in his paper, said: "This vision of history
presents many corrections for history unlike others who wanted to
impose their flawed vision on us.
"Our vision is based on a defined theory of knowledge. The day
Adam was taught all names was the day history started. Prophets and
messengers helped, through the inspiration and messages they
received, the process of evolution and progress take a steady line
up that was completed with the last of prophets (PBUH).
"Time then turned, people moved on two directions: time and
evolution and progress. Instead of history moving forward for all
people, there have been two courses; one Jewish-Christian and
another Arab-Muslim.
"Unfortunately, the Jewish-Christian course was marred by the
Greco-Roman heritage. Arab-Muslim course was also marred by the
transfer from the idea of inspiration to the individual person, from
the message being achieved to glorifying the person, from the shura
for all to a certain chosen group.
"Our vision of history presents many corrections, being: 1- The
first attempt in our contemporary era to explain our "civilization
history", against the prevalent explanation based o western
centralism. 2- This attempt says history has two dimensions; one of
time and another of evolution and progress.
"3- It says our history reached a peak of completion with the
last of Prophets (PBUH), then entered a new era of mind
independence, without ignoring the greatness of the previous stage.
"4- This attempt says whatever retreat our nation has bee
suffering from is always compared to that peak it reached at the era
of the last prophet, not compared to the general historic frame.
"5- Our nation is capable of saving itself and all mankind by
siding with good and right I the middle of hanging questions raised
by technology.
"6- All options now appear divided between leaning towards war
and destruction or towards peace and stability.
"The choice is always ours."
After finishing, participants started commenting and discussing
the paper till Maghreb prayer.
An interval was then called and discussions were to resume in the
second evening session. |
