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Scholars Call for Renewing Islamic Thought
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The
scholars called for settling controversial Islamic issues once and
for all
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AMMAN
, August 24 (IslamOnline.net) – Some 80 Muslim intellectuals and
scholars have called for renewing Islamic thought and introducing
much-needed reforms to save the nation from the current state of
perplexity.
Taking
part in Al-Bayt Foundation for Islamic Thought's 13th General
Conference in
Jordan
, the prominent Muslim figures said in their final communiqué the
Muslim nation is knee-deep in confusion because many controversial
issues have not been settled yet once and for all,
Jordan
’s Al-Rai newspaper reported Tuesday, August 24.
Chief
among which, the statement said, are women’s issues, freedoms,
democracy and the role played by religion in society.
“We
should root out extremism, open up to the other and renew the Islamic
thought, which should be given first and foremost priority,” it
said.
Jordanian
Crown Prince Hamza inaugurated the conference Saturday, August 21,
urging Muslim scholars to
address their nation's woes and defend it against
relentless campaigns seeking to defame Islam.
Established
in 1980, Al-Bayt Foundation is an international, non-governmental
charitable foundation comprising a membership of 129 of the world's
top Muslim scholars and
intellectuals.
Reform,
Democracy
The
statement said the Muslim nation is in a dire need of reform, which
should come from within and should not be imposed from outside.
It
called for reconciliation between the Islamic governments and peoples,
hitting out at arbitrariness and totalitarianism.
“Muslim
leaders should take good care of their peoples, who should, in turn,
obey them,” it said.
“Islam
respects laws and gives no room to arbitrariness and totalitarianism.
And all people, rulers and ruled, should not be immune from
accountability.”
It
also stressed the importance of political pluralism, noting that
“our differences make us stronger”.
The
conference brought together around 80 scholars, intellectuals and
academics from 40 Arab, Islamic and foreign countries including
prominent scholar Yusuf Al-Qaradawi and Shiite scholar Ayatollah
Mohammad Ali Taskheeri, vice chairman of the Muslim Scholars Union.
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