Lagi dari Islamonline.com

Addressing the issue of Muslim-Christian cooperation and ways of enhancing it, the well-known Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states the following:

There are many common fields that we can work together to widen and to enhance.

Focus on Common Factors:

This refers to the the focus on common factors between us and people of other divine revelations. This is why Allah says: [ And argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in (a way) that is better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our God and your God is One, and unto Him we surrender.] (Al-`Ankabut 29: 46)

As we come together through dialogue we need to remember the points on which we have common ground, not those on which we differ.

There are Muslim extremists who claim that there are no common grounds between us and Christians and Jews, but this is a wrong perception of the Islamic viewpoint. Otherwise, why would Allah allow us to marry Christians and Jews? Why were the early Muslims sad when the Persians defeated the Romans-the former were magus (worshippers of fire) while the latter were Christians?

Later on Allah revealed in the Qur’an a verse that gave the Muslims glad tiding that the Romans would gain victory in the near future and that victory would be a source of happiness for them. Allah Almighty says: [ Within ten years Allah's is the command in the former case and in the latter and in that day believers will rejoice‏. In Allah's help to victory. He helpeth to victory whom He will. He is the Mighty, the Merciful.‏] (Ar-Room 30: 2-4)

This shows that Christians and Jews, despite being non-believers of Prophet Muhammad's message to humanity, are yet closer to Muslims than others who are idol worshippers.

Cooperation to Oppose Atheism and Promiscuity:

Together we can stand together to confront the enemies of religious faith and those who call for atheism, promiscuity, materialism, abortion, homosexuality, unisex marriages, bloodshed, misappropriation of others’ property, and enhancing materialistic trends in man at the expense of his spiritual elevation.

We all need to stand together as one forum against those who want to ruin humankind by their calls and action and to reduce it from humanity to animalistic levels. Allah Almighty says: [ Hast thou seen him who chooseth for his god his own lust? Wouldst thou then be guardian over him? Or deemest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are but as the cattle, nay, but they are farther astray!] (Al-Furqan 25: 43-33)

And we witnessed Al-Azhar and the World Muslim League come together with the Vatican to stand as one front during the conference on Population, held in Cairo, in 1994 and in the Women's Conference in Beijing 1995 to oppose the non-religious sentiments, and the attempt of breaking the family ties, destabilizing the natural instincts that Allah Almighty has created to guide human beings to the straight path.

Advocating Just Causes and Standing by Weak Nations:

We have to come together to advocate just causes and to stand by oppressed citizens who have their rights taken away from them, such as the Palestinians, Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Kashmir as well as the blacks who are the victim of discrimination in the US and elsewhere.

Islam is against oppression and stands by those oppressed people regardless of color or religion.A committed Muslim usually stands Full Square behind truth, justice, good and freedom. When it comes to facing injustice, a Muslim is required to face it courageously.

Spreading the Spirit of Tolerance not Fanaticism

This should include spreading spirit of tolerance, kindness and mercy when dealing with people from other religions not the spirit of fanaticism, cruelty and violence. Addressing the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Allah Almighty says: [ We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples.] (Al-Aniyaa’ 21: 107)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: “I have been sent as a guiding mercy.”

Referring to the Children of Israel (Banu-Israel) in the Qur’an, Allah Almighty says: [ Then, even after that, your hearts were hardened and became as rocks, or worse than rocks…] (Al-Baqarah 2: 47)

While addressing his wife `Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says, “Allah loves kindness and gentle approach in all cases.”

In conclusion, we can say that, the compassionate human trend included in the biography of Jesus is held in high esteem by both Muslims and their creed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) never addressed Jesus, Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them all, save by saying, “My brother Jesus.”

Info menarik dari Islamonline.com

Islam and Freedom of Faith

It was in 622 AC, that Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, introduced the Charter of Madinah, which in fact was the first ever written constitution in the history of mankind. It gave the people the right of protection, security, peace and justice; not only to Muslims, but also to the Jews who lived in the City of Madinah, as well as the allies of Jews who were non-Muslims. It recognized Jews as a separate political and ethnic minority, and allowed them to practice their religion quite freely. In fact, Jews were considered on an equal bases as Muslims under the Islamic State.

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was the main enforcer of human rights. Over a period of 10 years, from where the Islamic calendar begins, he, peace and blessings be upon him, entered into many alliances, many treaties with the Muslims and the non-Muslims, securing peace and tranquillity for the Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Freedom of Religion

One right in particular is the freedom of religion. There is sometimes a misunderstood view, that if any non-Muslim lives under the rule of Islam, he/she would be curtailed in their religious freedom. There is no compulsion in Islam to accept Islam as your faith. It is a misconception to say that Islam is spread by the sword, with forced conversions. That never took place.

Secondly, if you again look at the practice of Prophet Muhammad, he provided excellent facilities for non-Muslims. For instance in his time, the monks of Mount Sinai were given protection. The monasteries were protected, the monks themselves were protected from any attack or persecution. Churches could not be pulled down to be replaced by mosques or to build houses. They were seen as a place of sanctuary and protected by the Islamic state.

The Jews were given a free hand to practice their faith. The interesting right that the Jews and the Christians were given because they were the main minority living under the Islamic state, was their right to have a holiday, the Jews on a Saturday, and the Christians on a Sunday. Interestingly enough, in many Western countries, up till now, Muslims are still struggling to have Friday as their public holiday. Only what they are given now in some Western countries is just an extra hour for lunch so that they can partake in their obligatory Friday Prayer. But under an Islamic state, Shariah stipulates that if a Jewish person or a Christian person wishes to have a holiday, to have time off on their particular religious day, they should be given that.

There also exist the rights of non-Muslim minorities. They would be protected from any external threat from any other nation. But perhaps more importantly for them, they would be protected from more internal threat, persecution and prejudice.

Confirming this is the following statement of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, in which he sheds light on the philosophy of human rights in Islam. An Arabic word for non-Muslim is Dhimmi. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them in more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment." Here we have the highest, the most revered and most esteemed Prophet of Islam, himself being the champion for non-Muslim minorities.

Right to follow one's own religious laws

In most Western countries, whatever the law of the land is must be followed without any recognition to one's personal beliefs. However, an Islamic state is much more flexible in this. Non-Muslim minorities, in certain matters of personal law, such as marriage, divorce, inheritance would be able to implement their own religious laws and would not be subject to Shari`ah-law.

Right to consumption of alcohol and pork

Another interesting fact in Islamic history is that although Muslims are prohibited from entering into manufacturing, selling and consuming alcohol, whereas the ruling is not the same with non-Muslim. If there was a non-Muslim minority in an Islamic state who wish to do so, and do not involve Muslims, they would actually be given this right.

This points out that the concept of human rights in Islam has often been given a much negative view. I would urge all readers, Muslims or non-Muslims, to study the concept of human rights in Islam. To research that Islam is in fact not the violator of human rights but rather the champion of it."

Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: http://www.westernviews.com/issue2/humanrights.htm

Shedding more light on the treatment of non-Muslim minorities through Islamic history, we'd like also to cite the following:

"While on his deathbed, the Second Caliph `Umar ibn al-Khattab dictated a long will consisting of instructions for the next caliph. Here, is the last sentence of that historic document:

"I instruct you on behalf of the people who have been given protection in the name of Allah and His Prophet [i.e. the non-Muslim minorities within the Islamic state known as dhimmis]. Our covenant to them must be fulfilled, we must fight to protect them, and they must not be burdened beyond their capabilities".

At that time Caliph `Umar was lying in pain because of the wounds inflicted on him by a non-Muslim who had stabbed him with a dagger soaked in poison while he was leading the Fajr (Morning) Prayer. It should also be remembered that he was the head of a vast empire ranging from Egypt to Persia. From normal rulers of his time or ours, we could have expected vengeance and swift reaction. From a very forgiving head of state we could have expected an attempt to forget and forgive - and that would be considered noble. But a command to protect the minorities and take care of them?

What is even more remarkable is that for Muslim historians the entire affair was just natural. After all it was the caliph himself who had established the standards by writing the guarantees for the protection of life, property and religion in decree after decree as Muslims opened land after land during his rule. The pattern established here was followed for centuries throughout the Muslim world.

Of course, Caliph `Umar was simply following what he learnt from the Prophet Muhammad himself. That the protection of life, property and religious freedom of minorities is the religious duty of the Islamic state. That he personally would be demanding justice in the Hereafter on behalf of a dhimmi who had been wronged by a Muslim. That there is no compulsion in religion and that Muslims must be just to friends and foe alike.

The result of these teachings was a Muslim rule that set the golden standard for religious tolerance in a world that was not used to the idea. Not only that the Muslim history is so remarkably free of the inquisitions, persecutions, witch hunts, and holocausts that tarnish history of other civilizations, it protected its minorities from persecution by others as well. It protected Jews from Christians and Eastern Christians from Roman Catholics. In Muslim Spain under the Umayyads and in Baghdad under the Abbasid Caliphs, Christians and Jews enjoyed a freedom of religion that they did not allow each other or anyone else.

The path that the Western world took to provide harmony in society was to banish religion from the public square. For this achievement, it thinks that it has earned lecturing rights over the issue. So it may be good to remember that while it has indeed made huge progress in the area of tolerance during the last century (which should be appreciated), it has a long way to go before it can reach the standards established by Islam.

First, while Muslim Personal Law is not recognized in the West, the Personal Law of non-Muslim minorities has always been recognized in the Muslim world.

Second, while throughout Europe and America, Muslims are not permitted to make the call to prayer (adhan) on loud speakers, church bells ring freely in the Muslim world.

Third, the wide spread of anti-Islamic prejudice in the Western media is both a cause and a consequence of the underlying intolerance.

Fourth, hate crimes are a fact of life in the West. As just one small indication, nearly two-dozen incidents of vandalism have taken place against Mosques in the peaceful USA during the last seven years, not to mention hundreds of attacks against individuals.

Muslim scholars send Christmas greetings to Christians

ROME (UCAN): Muslim scholars have followed up their groundbreaking letter to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders with Christmas greetings to Christians around the globe.

"Peace be upon you," begins the message, in which the scholars present a passage in the Qur'an that cites Jesus and attributes a quotation to him.

Earlier, in October, 154 Muslim scholars -- 138 original signers and another eight who signed later -- sent their letter "A Common Word Between Us and You" to the pope and other major Christian leaders.

These scholars represent a broad cross-section of the Islamic community, including Sunni and Shi'i (Shia) Muslims from more than 40 countries, experts in Islamic jurisprudence and other religious sciences, business and political leaders, university presidents and professors, and practitioners of Sufi spirituality.

Now they have sent the first joint message from leading Muslims to Christians on the occasion of Christmas. The Vatican-based Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has sent a greeting and message to Muslims on the occasion of Id al-Fitr, one of the two major annual Muslim feast, which ends the fasting month of Ramadan, for more than 30 years.

The Muslims' Christmas message refers second major feast, Id al-Adha, which comes at the end of the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. This feast commemorates Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son at God's command and celebrates God's substitution of a ram, thus keeping Abraham from sacrificing his son. The Muslim scholars draw a message of peace from this feast, complementing Jesus' message of peace that they cite.

The full English text of their message follows:

A Muslim Message of Thanks and of Christmas and New Year Greetings, December 2007

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
May God bless Muhammad and his kin and bless Abraham and his kin

Al-Salaamu Aleikum; Peace be upon you; Pax Vobiscum

Peace be upon Jesus Christ who says: Peace is upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am resurrected (Chapter of Mary; the Holy Qur'an; 19:34).

During these joyful holidays we write to you, our Christian neighbors all over the world, to express our thanks for the beautiful and gracious responses that we Muslims have been receiving from the very first day we issued our invitation to come together to 'A Common Word' based on 'Love of God and Love of Neighbor' .
We thank you and wish you all a joyous and peaceful Christmas Holiday Season commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, may peace be upon him.

We Muslims bear witness that: There is no god but God, without associate, and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, and that Jesus is His Servant, His Messenger, His Word cast to Mary, and a Spirit from Him .... (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Ahadith al-Anbiya').

We pray, during these blessed days, which have coincided with the Muslim feast of the Hajj or Pilgrimage, which commemorates the faith of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), that the New Year may bring healing and peace to our suffering world. God's refusal to let Abraham (peace be upon him) sacrifice his son-granting him instead a ram-is to this day a Divine warrant and a most powerful social lesson for all the followers of the Abrahamic faiths, to ever do their utmost to save, uphold and treasure every single human life and especially the life of every single child. Indeed, it is worthy of note that this year Muslim scholars issued a historic declaration affirming the sanctity of human life-of every human life-as an essential and foundational teaching in Islam upon which all Muslim scholars are in unanimous agreement (see details at www.duaatalislam.com).


May the coming year be one in which the sanctity and dignity of human life is upheld by all. May it be a year of humble repentance before God, and mutual forgiveness within and between communities.

Signatories (in Alphabetical Order)

1. His Royal Eminence Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Ababakar
   The 20th Sultan of Sokoto; Leader of the Muslims of Nigeria
   
2. H.E. Shaykh Dr. Hussein Hasan Abakar
   Imam of the Muslims, Chad; President, Higher Council for Islamic Affairs, Chad
   
3. H.E. Prof. Dr. Abdul-Salam Al-Abbadi
   President of Aal Al-Bayt University; Former Minister of Religious Affairs, Jordan
   
4. Prof. Dr. Taha Abd Al-Rahman
   President of the Wisdom Circle for Thinkers and Researchers, Morocco;
   Director of Al-Umma Al-Wasat Magazine, International Union of  Muslim Scholars
   
5. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
   Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of the Cordoba Initiative; Founder of the ASMA Society (American Society for Muslim Advancement); Imam of Masjid Al-Farah, NY, NY, USA
   
6. Sheikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah
   Vice President of the Fiqh Council of  North America, USA
   
7. Dr. Shaykh Abd Al-Quddus Abu Salah
   President of the International League for Islamic Ethics; Editor of the Journal for Islamic Ethics, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
   
8. H.E. Prof. Dr. Abd Al-Wahhab bin Ibrahim Abu Solaiman
   Member of the Committee of Senior Ulama, Saudi Arabia
   
9. Dr. Lateef Oladimeji Adegbite
   Acting Secretary and Legal Adviser, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
   
10. H.E. Amb. Prof. Dr. Akbar Ahmed
    Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University in Washington D.C., USA
    
11. H.E. Judge Prince Bola Ajibola
    Former International High Court Judge; Former Minister of Justice of Nigeria; Former Attorney-General of Nigeria; Founder of the Crescent University and Founder of the Islamic Movement of Africa (IMA)
    
12. H.E. Prof. Dr. Kamil Al-Ajlouni
    Head of National Centre for Diabetes; Founder of the Jordanian University of Science and Technology (JUST), Former Minister and Former Senator, Jordan
    
13. Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Salim Al-‘Awa
    Secretary General of the International Union of  Muslim Scholars; Head of the Egyptian Association for Culture and Dialogue
    
14. Mr. Nihad Awad
    National Executive Director and Co-founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), USA
    
15. H.E. Prof. Dr. Al-Hadi Al-Bakkoush
    Former Prime Minister of Tunisia, Author  
    
16. H.E. Shaykh Al-Islam Dr. Allah-Shakur bin Hemmat Bashazada
    Grand Mufti of Azerbaijan and Head of the Muslim Administration of the Caucasus
    
17. H.E. Dr. Issam El-Bashir
    Secretary General of the International Moderation Centre, Kuwait; Former Minister of Religious Affairs, Sudan
    
18. H.E. Prof. Dr. Allamah Shaykh Abd Allah bin Mahfuz bin Bayyah
    Professor, King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia; Former Minister of Justice, Former Minister of Education and Former Minister of Religious Affairs, Mauritania; Vice President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars; Founder and President, Global Center for Renewal and Guidance
    
19. Dr. Mohamed Bechari
    President, Federal Society for Muslims in France; General Secretary of the European Islamic Conference (EIC), France; Member of the International Fiqh Academy
    
20. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Shawqi Benbin
    Director of the Hasaniyya Library, Morocco
    
21. Prof. Dr. Allamah Shaykh Muhammad Sa‘id Ramadan Al-Buti
    Dean, Dept. of Religion, University of Damascus, Syria
    
22. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Çağrıcı
    Mufti of Istanbul, Turkey
    
23. H.E. Shaykh Prof. Dr. Mustafa Cerić
    Grand Mufti and Head of Ulema of Bosnia and Herzegovina
    
24. Professor Ibrahim Chabbuh
    Director General of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Jordan; President of the Association for the Safeguarding of the City of Qayrawan, Tunisia
    
25. H.E. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Cherif
    Muslim Intellectual; Former Minister of Higher Education and Former Ambassador, Algeria
    
26. Dr. Caner Dagli
    Assistant Professor, Roanoke College, USA
    
27. Ayatollah Prof. Dr. Seyyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad
    Dean of Department of Islamic Studies, The Academy of Sciences of Iran; Professor of Law and Islamic Philosophy, Tehran University; Fellow, The Iranian Academy of Sciences, Iran; Former Inspector General of Iran
28. Ayatollah Seyyed Abu Al-Qasim Al-Deebaji
    Imam Zayn Al-Abideen Mosque, Kuwait
    
29. H.E. Prof. Dr. Shakir Al-Fahham
    Head of the Arabic Language Academy, Damascus; Former Minister of Education, Syria
    
30. Shaykh Seyyed Hani Fahs
    Member of Supreme Shia Committee, Lebanon; Founding Member of the Arab Committee for the Islamic-Christian Dialogue, and the Permanent Committee for the Lebanese Dialogue
    
31. H.E. Shaykh Salim Falahat
    Director General of the Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan
    
32. Chief Abdul Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo
    Member, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of Nigeria; Vice President, Jamaat Nasril Islam
    
33. H.E. Shaykh Ravil Gainutdin
    Grand Mufti of Russia
    
34. Justice Ibrahim Kolapo Sulu Gambari
    Justice of  Nigerian Court of Appeal; National Vice Chairman, Nigerian Football Association (NFA)
    
35. Prof. Dr. Abd Al-Karim Gharaybeh
    Historian and Senator, Jordan
    
36. H.E. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Yusuf Al-Ghoneim
    Director of the Kuwaiti Centre for Research and Studies on Kuwait; Former Minister of Education, Kuwait
    
37. H.E. Prof. Dr. Bu Abd Allah bin al-Hajj Muhammad Al Ghulam Allah
    Minister of Religious Affairs, Algeria
    
38. Prof. Dr. Alan Godlas
    Co-Chair, Islamic Studies, University of Georgia, USA; Editor-in-chief, Sufi News and Sufism World Report; Director, Sufis Without Borders
    
39. H.E. Shaykh Nezdad Grabus
    Grand Mufti of Slovenia
    
40. H.E. Shaykh Dr. Al-Habib Ahmad bin Abd Al-Aziz Al-Haddad
    Chief Mufti of Dubai, UAE
    
41. Shaykh Al-Habib Ali Mashhour bin Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafeeth
    Imam of the Tarim Mosque and Head of Fatwa Council, Tarim, Yemen
    
42. Shaykh Al-Habib Umar bin Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafeeth
    Dean, Dar Al-Mustafa, Tarim, Yemen
    
43. Professor Dr. Farouq Hamadah
    Professor of the Sciences of Tradition, Mohammad V University, Morocco
    
44. Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson
    Founder and Director, Zaytuna Institute, CA, USA
    
45. H.E. Shaykh Dr. Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun
    Grand Mufti of the Republic of Syria
    
46. H.E. Shaykh. Sayyed Ali bin Abd Al-Rahman Al-Hashimi
    Advisor to the President for Judiciary and Religious Affairs, UAE
    
47. Prof. Dr. Hasan Hanafi
    Muslim  Intellectual, Department of Philosophy, Cairo University
    
48. Shaykh Kabir Helminski
    Shaykh of the Mevlevi Tariqah; Co-Director of the Book Foundation, USA
    
49. H.E. Shaykh Sa‘id Hijjawi
    Chief Scholar, The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought; Former Grand Mufti of Jordan
    
50. H.E. Prof. Dr. Shaykh Ahmad Hlayyel
    Chief Islamic Justice of Jordan; Imam of the Hashemite Court; Former Minister of Religious Affairs
    
51. H.E. Amb. Dr. Murad Hofmann
    Author and Muslim Intellectual, Germany
    
52. H.E. Dr. Anwar Ibrahim
    Former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; Honorary President of AccountAbility
    
53. H.E. Shaykh Dr. Izz Al-Din Ibrahim
    Advisor for Cultural Affairs, Prime Ministry, UAE
    
54. H.E. Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
    Secretary-General, Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
    
55. H.E. Prof. Dr. Omar Jah
    Secretary of the Muslim Scholars Council, Gambia; Professor of Islamic Civilization and Thought, University of Gambia
    
56. H.E. Prof. Dr. Abbas Al-Jarari
    Advisor to HM the King, Morocco
    
57. Shaykh Al-Habib Ali Zain Al-Abidin Al-Jifri
    Founder and Director, Taba Institute, United Arab Emirates
    
58. H.E. Shaykh Prof. Dr. Ali Jum‘a
    Grand Mufti of the Republic of Egypt
    
59. Prof. Dr. Yahya Mahmud bin Junayd
    Secretary General, King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, Saudi Arabia
    
60. Dr. Ibrahim Kalin
    Director, SETA Foundation, Ankara, Turkey; Asst. Prof. Georgetown University, USA
    
61. H.E. Amb. Aref Kamal
    Muslim Intellectual, Pakistan
    
62. Professor Dr. ‘Abla Mohammed Kahlawi
    Dean of Islamic and Arabic Studies, Al-Azhar University (Women’s College), Egypt
    
63. Prof. Dr. Said Hibatullah Kamilev
    Director, Moscow Institute of Islamic Civilisation, Russian Federation
    
64. Prof. Dr. Hafiz Yusuf Z. Kavakci
    Resident Scholar, Islamic Association of  North Texas, Founder & Instructor of IANT Qur’anic Academy; Founding Dean of Suffa Islamic Seminary, Dallas, Texas, USA
    
65. Shaykh Dr. Nuh Ha Mim Keller
    Shaykh in the Shadhili Order, USA
    
66. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Hashim Kamali
    Dean and Professor, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), International Islamic University, Malaysia
    
67. Shaykh Amr Khaled
    Islamic Missionary, Preacher and Broadcaster, Egypt; Founder and Chairman, Right Start Foundation International
    
68. Prof. Dr. Abd Al-Karim Khalifah
    President of the Jordanian Arabic Language Academy; Former President of  Jordan University
    
69. H.E. Shaykh Ahmad Al-Khalili
    Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman
    
70. Seyyed Jawad Al-Khoei
    Secretary-General, Al-Khoei International Foundation
    
71. Shaykh Dr. Ahmad Kubaisi
    Founder of the ‘Ulema Organization, Iraq
    
72. Mr. M. Ali Lakhani
    Founder and Editor of Sacred Web: A Journal of Tradition and Modernity, Canada
    
73. Dr. Joseph Lumbard
    Assistant Professor, Brandeis University, USA
    
74. H.E. Shaykh Mahmood A. Madani
    Secretary General, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind; Member of Parliament, India
    
75. H.E. Prof. Dr. Abdel-Kabeer Al-Alawi Al-Madghari
    Director General of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency (Al-Quds Fund); Former Minister of Religious Affairs, Morocco
    
76. H.E. Imam Sayyed Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi
    Former Prime Minister of Sudan; Head of Ansar Movement, Sudan
    
77. H.E. Prof. Dr. Rusmir Mahmutcehajic
    Professor, Sarajevo University; President of the International Forum Bosnia; Former Vice President of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina
    
78. Allamah Shaykh Sayyed Muhammad bin Muhammad Al-Mansour
    High Authority (Marja’) of Zeidi Muslims, Yemen
    
79. Prof. Dr. Bashshar Awwad Marouf
    Former Rector of the Islamic University, Iraq
    
80. H.E. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Matloub
    Former Minister of Culture; Acting President of the Iraqi Academy of Sciences, Iraq
    
81. Prof. Dr. Ingrid Mattson
    Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations and Director, Islamic Chaplaincy Program, Hartford Seminary; President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), USA
    
82. Dr. Yousef Meri
    Special Scholar-in-Residence, Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Jordan
    
83. Dr. Jean-Louis Michon
    Author; Muslim Scholar; Architect; Former UNESCO expert, Switzerland
    
84. Shaykh Abu Bakr Ahmad Al-Milibari
    Secretary-General of the Ahl Al-Sunna Association, India
    
85. Pehin Dato Haj Suhaili bin Haj Mohiddin
    Deputy Grand Mufti, Brunei
    
86. Ayatollah Sheikh Hussein Muayad
    President and Founder, Knowledge Forum, Baghdad, Iraq
    
87. Prof. Dr. Izzedine Umar Musa
    Professor of Islamic History, King Sa‘ud University, Saudi Arabia
    
88. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Farouk Al-Nabhan
    Former Director of Dar Al-Hadith Al-Hasaniya, Morocco
    
89. Prof. Dr. Zaghloul El-Naggar
    Professor, King Abd Al-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Head, Committee on Scientific Facts in the Glorious Qur’an, Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs, Egypt
    
90. Mr. Sohail Nakhooda
    Editor-in-Chief, Islamica Magazine, Jordan  
    
91. Prof. Dr. Hisham Nashabeh
    Chairman of the Board of Higher Education; Dean of Education at Makassed Association, Lebanon
    
92. H.E. Professor Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr
    University Professor of Islamic Studies, George Washington University, Washington D.C, USA
    
93. Prof. Dr. Aref Ali Nayed
    Former Professor at the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (Rome); Former Professor at International Institute for Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC, Malaysia); Senior Advisor to the Cambridge Interfaith Program at the Faculty of Divinity in Cambridge, UK
    
94. H.E. Shaykh Sevki Omarbasic
    Grand Mufti of Croatia
    
95. Dato Dr. Abdul Hamid Othman
    Advisor to the H.E. the Prime Minister of Malaysia
    
96. Prof. Dr. Ali Ozek
    Head of the Endowment for Islamic Scientific Studies, Istanbul, Turkey
    
97. Imam Yahya Sergio Yahe Pallavicini
    Vice President of CO.RE.IS., Italy, Chairman of ISESCO Council for Education and Culture in the West, Advisor for Islamic Affairs of the Italian Minister of Interior.
    
98. H.E. Shaykh Dr. Nuh Ali Salman Al-Qudah
    Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
    
99. H.E. Shaykh Dr. Ikrima Said Sabri
    Former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and All of Palestine, Imam of the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and President of the Islamic Higher Council, Palestine
    
100. Ayatollah Al-Faqih Seyyed Hussein Ismail Al-Sadr
     Baghdad, Iraq
     
101. Mr. Muhammad Al-Sammak
     Secretary-General of the National Council for Islamic-Christian Dialogue;
     Secretary-General for the Islamic Spiritual Summit, Lebanon
     
102. Shaykh Seyyed Hasan Al-Saqqaf
     Director of Dar Al-Imam Al-Nawawi, Jordan
     
103. Dr. Ayman Fuad Sayyid
     Historian and Manuscript Expert, Former Secretary General of  Dar al-Kutub Al-Misriyya, Cairo, Egypt
     
104. Prof. Dr. Suleiman Abdallah Schleifer
     Professor Emeritus, The American University in Cairo
     
105. Dr. Seyyed Reza Shah-Kazemi
     Author and Muslim Scholar, UK
     
106. Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali
     Chair, Association of Muslim Social Scientists, UK; Chair, Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism, UK; Academic Advisor, IIIT, UK
     
107. Imam Zaid Shakir
     Lecturer and Scholar-in-Residence, Zaytuna Institute, CA, USA
     
108. H.E. Prof. Dr. Ali Abdullah Al-Shamlan
     Director General of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS); Former Minister of Higher Education, Kuwait
     
109. Eng. Seyyed Hasan Shariatmadari
     Leader of the Iranian National Republican Party (INR)
     
110. Dr. Muhammad Alwani Al-Sharif
     Head of the European Academy of Islamic Culture and Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
     
111. H.E. Dr. Mohammad Abd Al-Ghaffar Al-Sharif
     Secretary-General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Kuwait
     
112. Dr. Tayba Hassan Al-Sharif
     International Protection Officer, The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Darfur, Sudan
     
113. Prof. Dr. Muhammad bin Sharifa
     Former Rector of Wajda University; Morocco; Fellow of the Royal Moroccan Academy
     
114. Prof. Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqui / on behalf of the whole Fiqh Council of North America
     Islamic Scholar and Theologian; Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America, USA
     
115. Shaykh Ahmad  bin Sa’ud Al-Siyabi
     Secretary General of  the Directorate of the Grand Mufti, Oman
     
116. Al-Haji Yusuf Maitama Sule
     Former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Former Nigerian Minister of National Guidance
     
117. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abd Al-Rahim Sultan-al-Ulama
     Deputy-Dean of Scientific Research Affairs, United Arab Emirates University, UAE
     
118. Shaykh Dr. Tariq Sweidan
     Director-General of the Risalah Satellite Channel
     
119. H.E. Shaykh Ahmad Muhammad Muti’i Tamim
     The Head of the Religious Administration of Ukrainian Muslims, and Mufti of Ukraine
     
120. H.E. Shaykh Izz Al-Din Al-Tamimi
     Senator; Former Chief Islamic Justice, Minister of Religious Affairs and Grand Mufti of Jordan
     
121. H.E. Shaykh Dr. Tayseer Rajab Al-Tamimi
     Chief Islamic Justice of Palestine; Head of The Palestinian Center for Religion and Civilization Dialogue
     
122. Prof. Dr. H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal
     Personal Envoy and Special Advisor of H.M. King Abdullah II; Chairman of the Board of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Jordan
     
123. Prof. Dr. Ammar Al-Talibi
     Former Member of Parliament, Professor of Philosophy, University of Algeria
     
124. Ayatollah Shaykh Muhammad Ali Taskhiri
     Secretary General of the World Assembly for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (WAPIST), Iran
     
125. H.E. Prof. Dr. Shaykh Ahmad Muhammad Al-Tayeb
     President of Al-Azhar University, Former Grand Mufti of Egypt
     
126. Prof. Dr. Muddathir Abdel-Rahim Al-Tayib
     Professor of Political Science and Islamic Studies, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), Malaysia
     
127. H.E. Amb. Prof. Dr. Abdel-Hadi Al-Tazi
     Fellow of the Royal Moroccan Academy
     
128. H.E. Shaykh Naim Trnava
     Grand Mufti of Kosovo
     
129. H.E. Dr. Abd Al-Aziz bin ‘Uthman Al-Tweijiri
     Director-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)
     
130. H.E. Prof. Dr. Nasaruddin Umar
     Rector of the Institute for Advanced Qur’anic Studies; Secretary General of the Nahdhatul Ulama Consultative Council; Lecturer at the State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta, Indonesia
     
131. Shaykh Muhammad Hasan ‘Usayran
     Jafari Mufti of Sidon and Al-Zahrani, Lebanon
     
132. Allamah Justice Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
     Vice President, Darul Uloom Karachi, Pakistan
     
133. Prof. Dr. Akhtarul Wasey
     Director, Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, Jamia Milla Islamiya University, India  
     
134. Shaykh Dr. Abdal Hakim Murad Winter
     Shaykh Zayed Lecturer in Islamic Studies, Divinity School, University of Cambridge; Director of the Muslim Academic Trust, UK
     
135. Prof. Dr. Mohammed El-Mokhtar Ould Bah
     President, Chinguitt Modern University, Mauritania
     
136. H.E. Shaykh Muhammad Sodiq Mohammad Yusuf
     Former Grand Mufti of the Muslim Spiritual Administration of Central Asia, Uzbekistan; Translator and Commentator of the Holy Qur’an
     
137. Prof. Dr. Shaykh Wahba Mustafa Al-Zuhayli
     Dean, Department of Islamic Jurisprudence, University of Damascus, Syria
     
138. H.E. Shaykh Mu’ammar Zukoulic
     Mufti of Sanjak, Bosnia

New Signatories

216. Dr. Abdul-Aziz Al-Hafadhi
     Research Professor at Muhammad V University, Wajda Morocco
     December 25, 2007
215. Dr. Abdul-Fattah Al-Bizm
     Mufti of Damascus; Director of Al-Fath Islamic Institute, Syria
     December 25, 2007
214. Dr. Abdul-Hakim Ikaiwi
     Professor at Avenzoar University in Aghadir, Morocco
     December 25, 2007
213. Sayyed Abdullah ibn Mohammad Fad’aq
     Caller to the Faith, Mecca Saudi Arabia
     December 25, 2007
212. Dr. Abdul-Mu’ti Bayyoumi
     Member of the Islamic Body for Research, Azhar University Egypt
     December 25, 2007
211. Dr. Abdul-Nasser Jabri
     Dean, Islamic Call College, Beirut Lebanon
     December 25, 2007
210. Dr. Abdul-Rafi’e Al-Ilj
     Professor at ‘Wali Ismael’ University in Meknes Morocco
     December 25, 2007
209. Dr. Abdul-Razzaq Hirmas
     Professor at Avenzoar University in Aghadir Morocco
     December 25, 2007
208. Shaykh Adham Samcic
     Mufti of Banja Luka Bosnia
     December 25, 2007
207. Dr. Ahmad Fakir
     Professor at Avenzoar University, Agadir Morocco
     December 25, 2007
206. Dr. Ahmad Mihrizi Al-Alawi
     Professor at Qadi Iyadh University, Marrakesh Morocco
     December 25, 2007
205. Dr. Ahmad Omar Hashim
     Former President, Azhar University; Head of Religious Committee, Egyptian People’s Council Egypt
     December 25, 2007
204. Dr. Aisha Y. Al-Manna’ie
     Dean, Shariah and Islamic Studies College Qatar
     December 25, 2007
203. Shaykh Ajoob Dawtovic
     Mufti of Zenica Bosnia
     December 25, 2007
202. Dr. Al-Arabi Al-Buhali
     Professor at Qadi Iyadh University, Marrakesh Morocco
     December 25, 2007
201. Dr. Al-Arabi Busilham
     Professor at Mohammad V University in Rabat Morocco
     December 25, 2007
200. Dr. Al-Batul Binali
     Professor & Researcher, Faculty of Arts, Rabat Morocco
     December 25, 2007
199. Dr. Ali Binbraik
     Professor at Avenzoar University in Aghadir Morocco
     December 25, 2007
198. Dr. Al-Jilani Al-Murini
     Professor at Sidi Mohammad ibn Abdullah , Fes Morocco
     December 25, 2007
197. Dr. Asmat Mojaddedi
     Chairman of the Muslim council of Denmark (MFR) Denmark
     December 25, 2007
196. Shaykh Asmat Sebahic
     Deputy Head of ‘Ulama of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia
     December 25, 2007
195. Dr. Bassem H. Itani
     Director, Dar Iqra for Islmaic Sciences; Member of the Admin Body of Guidance and Reform Trust, Beirut Lebanon
     December 25, 2007
194. Dr. Buthayna Al-Galbzuri
     Professor & Researcher, Faculty of Arts, Rabat Morocco
     December 25, 2007
193. Dr. Hamdan M. Al-Mazroui
     Chairman of Abu Dhabi Religious Affairs Authority U.A.E.
     December 25, 2007
192. Shaykh Hamed Afandic
     Mufti of Gorazde Bosnia
     December 25, 2007
191. Prof. Dr. Hamed Ahmad Al-Refaie
     President of World Islamic Forum for Dialogue Saudi Arabia
     December 25, 2007
190. Prof. Dr. Hani Sulayman Al-Tu’aymat
     Dean, Shariah and Islamic Studies, UAE University Jordan
     December 25, 2007
189. Shaykh Hasan Makjic
     Mufti of Bihac Bosnia
     December 25, 2007
188. Shaykh Hussein Kvasovic
     Mufti of Tuzla Bosnia
     December 25, 2007
187. Shaykh Hussein Smajic
     Mufti of Sarajevo Bosnia
     December 25, 2007
186. Dr. Ibrahim Bumilha
     Head of Organizing Committee of Holy Quran Dubai International Award U.A.E.
     December 25, 2007
185. Shaykh Ismael Smajlovic
     Mufti of the Armed Forces Bosnia
     December 25, 2007
184. Dr. Jamal Farouk
     Professor of Faiths and Schools, Call College, Azhar University Egypt
     December 25, 2007
183. Prof. Dr. Jassem Ali Al-Shamsi
     Dean, Shariah College, U.A.E. University U.A.E.
     December 25, 2007
182. Shaykh Jihad Hashim Brown
     Director of Research, Tabah Foundation U.S.A.
     December 25, 2007
181. Shaykh Khaled Al-Sulh
     Mufti of Baalbek Lebanon
     December 25, 2007
180. Dr. Larbi Kachat
     Director of Dawah Mosque and Head of the Islamic Cultural Center, Paris France
     December 25, 2007
179. Dr. Maymoon Barish
     Professor at Qadi Iyadh University, Marrakesh Morocco
     December 25, 2007
178. Dr. Milooda Shamm
     Professor at the Law College in Rabat Morocco
     December 25, 2007
177. Dr. Mohammad Binkiran
     Professor at Ibn Tofayl University in Qunaytira Morocco
     December 25, 2007
176. Dr. Mohammad Hasan Shurahbili
     Professor at Al-Qurawiyyin University Morocco
     December 25, 2007
175. Dr. Mohammad Kharobat
     Professor at Qadi Iyadh University, Marrakesh Morocco
     December 25, 2007
174. Dr. Mohammad Mattar
     Al-Qa’bi Director, Abu Dhabi Religious Affairs Authority U.A.E.
     December 25, 2007
173. Dr. Mohammad Rabi’e
     Al-Nadawi Chairman of Nadwat Al Ulama India
     December 25, 2007
172. Dr. Mohammad Rashid Qabbani
     Grand Mufti of Lebanon Lebanon
     December 25, 2007
171. Shaykh Muhammad Abdullah B. Qarachay
     Deputy Mufti of Russia Russia
     December 25, 2007
170. Dr. Mullay Al-Hussein Alhyan
     Professor at Al-Qurawiyyin University Morocco
     December 25, 2007
169. Shaykh Nafiullah Ashirov
     Mufti of the Asian Part of Russia Russia
     December 25, 2007
168. Prof. Dr. Najib al-Hsadi
     Professor of Philosophy,Gar Yunis University, Benghazi Libya
     December 25, 2007
167. Prof. Dr. Nasr Aref
     Head of Islamic Studies’ Department, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi Egypt
     December 25, 2007
166. Shaykh Nasrat Abdibigovic
     Mufti of Travnik Bosnia
     December 25, 2007
165. Dr. Qais ibn Mohammad Aal Mubarak
     Associate Professor of Jurisprudence, Faculty of Education, Al-Ahsa Saudi Arabia
     December 25, 2007
164. Dr. Ramez Zakai
     General Director, Albanian Center for Islamic Thought & Culture; Chairman of Supreme Council for Education & Culture in the West Albania
     December 25, 2007
163. Shaykh Rifat Vesic
     Chairman of Islamic Chaplaincy in Montenegro Montenegro
     December 25, 2007
162. Shaykh Saad Allah Al-Barzanji
     Prominent Scholar Iraq
     December 25, 2007
161. Shaykh Salah Al-Din Fakhri
     Director of ‘Azhar of Lebanon’ Lebanon
     December 25, 2007
160. Dr. Salah Al-Din Kuftaro
     Chairman of ‘Shaykh Ahmad Kuftaro’ Foundation, Damascus Syria
     December 25, 2007
159. Dr. Saleha Al-Rahooti
     Professor & Researcher, Faculty of Arts, Rabat Morocco
     December 25, 2007
158. H.H. Shaikh Salem Ibn Mohammad Al-Qasimi
     Chairman of Islamic Forum, Sharjah U.A.E.
     December 25, 2007
157. Shaykh Sayyed Smajkic
     Mufti of Mostar Bosnia
     December 25, 2007
156. Dr. Umar Abdul-Kafi
     Prominent Caller to Islamic Faith Egypt
     December 25, 2007
155. Sayyed Umar Ibn Hamed Al-Jailani
     Chief Jurist and Scholar Yemen
     December 25, 2007
154. Shaykh Dr. Usama Al-Rifaei
     Mufti of Akkar Lebanon
     December 25, 2007
153. Shaykha. Yasmin Mahmud Al-Husary
     Head of Husary Islamic Foundation Egypt
     December 25, 2007
152. Dr. Zumer Saleh
     Religious Leader of Albanian Community in London Albani
     December 25, 2007
151. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ahmed al-Sharif
     Director, World Islamic Call Society, Tripoli Lybia
     December 25, 2007
150. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Fathullah Al-Ziadi
     Dean, Islamic Call College, Tripoli Libya
     December 25, 2007
149. Dr. Muhammad Suheyl Umar
     Director, Iqbal Academy, Pakistan
     December 25, 2007
148. Prof. Dr. Basit Koshul
     Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan
     December 25, 2007
147. Prof. Dr. Najib al-Hsadi
     Professor of Philosophy,Gar Yunis University, Benghazi Libya
     December 25, 2007
146. Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid
     Chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
     November 17, 2007
     
145. Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
     Hanafi Scholar, Sunnipath.com
     November 6, 2007
144. Professor Tariq Ramadan
     Senior Research Fellow St Antony’s College (Oxford),
     President of the European think tank: European Muslim Network (EMN) in Brussels
     October 26, 2007
     
143. Mehrézia Labidi-Maiza
     International Co-ordinator of Religious Women for Peace Network. and
     Member of the Inter-Religious Council leading the RfP organization
     October 18, 2007
142. Dr. Hisham A. Hellyer
     Senior Research Fellow, University of Warwick, UK
     October 15, 2007
141. Amir Hussain, PhD
     Associate Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
     October 14, 2007
140. Dr. M. Saud Anwar
     Co Chair, American Muslim Peace Initiative.
     October 13, 2007
139. Sermon by Shaikh Ahmad Kutty
     October 13, 2007 ; Toronto