By NNN-Bernama
Putrajaya : Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to open the Al-Azhar World Alumni Multaqa on Feb 15 which will gather intellectuals from all over the world who had graduated from the Al-Azhar University in Egypt.
The chairman of the organising committee for the multaqa, Dr Abdul Hamid Othman said among matters to be discussed at the gathering were the management style of a country according to the requirements of Islam and the suitability of the Islam Hadhari or Civilisational Islam concept introduced by the Malaysian government for adoption by other Muslim countries.
“The Islam Hadhari concept introduced by the Prime Minister to ensure the wellbeing of the ummah in line with the country’s development is expected to get recognition from the ulama from all over the world through the resolution to be issued on the last day of the four-day multaqa to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
“Ulama from all over the world including alumni from Al-Azhar University will come and recognise that this (Islam Hadhari) is the method of national management that adheres to the requirements of Islam.
“If outsiders have given recognition (to Islam Hadhari), why don’t we want to accept the concept which aims to guide the people to live in a comfortable environment and all their advice will be considered for improvement,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview at his office, here Wednesday.
He said the multaqa with the theme “Islam Hadhari: Between Heritage and Current Challenges” would gather many Al-Azhar intellectuals from all over the world and more than 1,000 participants from within and outside the country.
Dr Abdul Hamid, who is also Religious Advisor to the Prime Minister, said Muslims all over the world must work together to face the challenge posed by foreign influence especially that of the western power.
On the acceptance of the Islam Hadhari concept by other Muslim countries, he said thinkers, lecturers and the ulama supported the concept but it was rather difficult to implement in their respective countries because of ideological diferences with the ruling government.
He said the multaqa would be the third gathering organised by the Malaysian government with the cooperation of Al-Azhar University, and would be the first one to be held outside Egypt.
Dr Abdul Hamid said Malaysia was chosen as the host this time because it was the best model of a Muslim country that had brought prosperity to the people in line with its social and economic development.
He said Malaysia represented a nation that managed Islam well because it had succeeded in addressing two issues namely eliminating famine and ensuring the people’s security.
Dr Abdul Hamid said the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Dr Muhammed Sayyid Tantawi, was expected to attend the gathering where he would also be conferred an honorary doctorate by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).