By TCN Staff Reporter,
Mumbai: Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh)-based practicing physician Dr Javed Jamil, Executive Chairman, International Centre for Applied Islamics, has called for implementation of the socioeconomic agenda of Islam at the international level and socioeconomic empowerment of Muslims in India. He was addressing a gathering of intellectuals, social activists, academicians and media persons on 17th Jan. 2011 here in Mumbai.
Dr Jamil said that the world is heading towards chaos at individual, family and social level because the ideology of “Economic Fundamentalism” rules the world. He said that the present day economy under the so called New World Order has become centered around the commercialization and glorification of human weaknesses with the result that sex, gambling, alcohol and other susceptibilities have become some of the top industries of the world. He said that the dominance of the forces of Economics led by Western tycoons and thinkers has occurred because Muslims have failed in presenting the Socioeconomic Agenda of Islam and have also not focused on the socioeconomic empowerment of Muslims. He lamented that Islamic organizations, thinkers and activists have either focused the theological agenda or the Political agenda of Islam, and the socioeconomic agenda has been left unattended. He said that the time has now come when the socioeconomic agenda is given the importance it deserves.
Dr Javed Jamil said that a detailed strategy is being planned for the socioeconomic empowerment of Muslims in India in a way that they can play a meaningful role in national and international affairs. He indicated that a national level NGO of Muslims with a full-fledged Secretariat is on the cards and he is working on its structure in consultation with a large number of Muslim social and political leaders including Mr K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha and Mr Siraj Qureshi, leading industrialist and philanthropist.
The meeting resolved that a regional conference will be organized at Mumbai in the month of February or March with special emphasis on Socioeconomic Empowerment through Corporate Route.
Reacting to Dr Jamil’s talk, Dr Zahir Qazi, President of the most prominent Muslim organization of Mumbai, Anjuman-e Islam, said that the talk of “Socioeconomic Empowerment” looks very refreshing. He said that he strongly feels that this is not only a workable concept but needs to be explored without delay. He said that he was particularly impressed by Dr Jamil’s dynamic concept of Zakat, when he said that Allah’s calling for giving Zakat also implies that more and more of us should be in a position to give Zakat so that wealth generation within Halal limits should be promoted.
Veteran writer and activist, Mr Ghulam Muhammad Siddiqui said that he was greatly moved by the holistic approach of Dr Jamil and specially lauded him for his work on the dynamics of the current international
economics. He said that Islamic Banking should be incorporated as the integral part of the project.
For couple of years, Dr Jamil has been working for a grand conference on socioeconomic empowerment of Muslims in the country. He had announced to hold such conference in Delhi last year but it was postponed.