A two day five-yearly assembly of the World Muslim Congress (Motamar Al Alam Al Islami) was held on 13th and 14th November, 2011 at Hotel Ramada, Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka. This international conference was organised by Sri Lanka Islamic Centre-Maligawatta in association with Motamar al-Alam al-Islami (World Muslim Congress), Islamabad, Pakistan. The theme of the conference was "Problems faced by the World Muslim Community and Solutions".
The opening session was addressed by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. D. M. Jayarathna and Minister for External Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris. The delegates included Field Marshal Abdul Rahman Sowar Al-Dahab, former President of Sudan, Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef, former Deputy Chairman of the Shoura Council of Saudi Arabia, M.H. Mohammed, Senior Vice President, Sri Lanka Islamic Institute; Senator Raja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq, Secretary General of the World Muslim Congress, Senior members of the executive council of the Motamar, eminent scholars and a large number of Muslim religious and political leaders from all parts of the world.
In an interview about the conference on his return to Jeddah, the WMC President Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef said: "The theme of the conference was what we shall do under the present situation of the Muslim world? How to help the people to overcome the difficulties and to cope with the very good changes that are taking place? The conference discussed this besides the five yearly affairs of the Motamar. People spoke about how the Muslims should be able to adapt to the Islamic principles with the changes that are happening in the Muslim world and the Arab world. People were also discussing that we have to keep in our mind that Islam has solution to all affairs of the people for all the time. So we should be able and be careful about to adhering to our Islamic principles as far as the future of the Muslim Ummah is concerned politically, socially and economically and so on." He said, the conference also discussed, the international economic situation today the fall of the western system of capitalism and what Muslims can offer, the Islamic economic system of banking, finance and all the related subjects, in this situation. He also added that we should encourage people to introduce whatever knowledge they have about Islamic economics to offer to solve the problems of the west and the east.
Referring to the problems of both the societies of the east and that of the west, Dr. Nasseef said: "We should be modest to show that we have very important and valuable system to overcome the interest problem. Because Riba (interest) is the source of all the evils which are happening today. We can introduce the Islamic finance system which has no interest (Riba) involved. This kind of interest-free financing system should be introduced and encouraged and should find its way towards media and to the people in action in the west."
Palestine issue
The conference discussed the general issues such as Arab Spring, Palestine issue and others. Speaking about the Palestine issue, Dr. Nasseef said, the conference urged people "to aid the people in Palestine to cope with whatever they are faced with and to bring real unity to overcome the differences happening between Hamas and Fatah." He said, "It is time they should be united towards their cause, because Israelis are eager to spread their settlements there and continue to divide people particularly the Palestinians and we urge them to be united and complete the process of peace between the factions there and to struggle for their cause in a proper manner."
In this connection, Dr. Nasseef mentioned about the Palestinian camps in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and other places. He said, "We urge people to give attention to the Palestinian camps in Lebanon, in Syria, in Iraq and Jordan and in other places. There the Palestinians are living in inhuman conditions and they need the help of Muslims, individuals and organisations, to support their infrastructure and to support them in so many ways so that they can live standard human lives."
Somalia
Dr Nasseef disclosed that the World Muslim Congress (the Motamar) also talked about Somalia. He said, the things in Somalia are little bit improving but it needs help from Muslims. In next eight months, there will be new election for the Parliament and the President of Somalia. Dr. Nasseef said, the WMC conference urged the government of Somalia to make the process a success and hoped the new election for the Parliament and the President should be normal. He said the conference wished them good luck.
South Sudan
Referring to the southern Sudan which was also discussed in the conference, Dr. Nasseef said: "The Conference talked about the creation of the southern state of Sudan. The Muslims in the southern Sudan need support, help and guidance because they are not educated and they have no place in the society. May be, they have very few people in the Parliament; there was not a single Muslim minister and we have to encourage Muslims to involve themselves in the political, economic and educational life of their country. The conference asked the Muslims to support projects there to have schools, centres for the Muslims. We should encourage Muslim countries, Muslim individuals and organisations to donate aid to help and support Muslims in southern Sudan."
Arab spring
In reply to my query what the conference discussed about Arab spring, Dr. Nasseef said: "The conference expressed concern and asked people to keep their Islamic system of life, and we urged Syria and Yemen to stop bloodshed and transfer power smoothly."
Condolences to King Abdullah
Dr. Nasseef also mentioned that the Conference sent the condolence messages on the demise of late Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, first to King Abdullah and later on to the Crown Prince, Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz and wished them success in the service of Islam for Muslims throughout the world.
Dr. Nasseef also mentioned that another item which the Motamar appreciated was the establishment of a Centre for Dialogue and Anti-terrorism in Vienna by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.
