CMM President, Comm. Basman met with Amb. Wali of KSA and talked about the International Conference.

Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh!

I wish to express my thanks for the kind invitation of Dr. Taha Basman, President, Center for Moderate Muslims and the same time extend my congratulations to his organization fro holding this 3^rd International Islamic Conference.

-“Redirecting Islamic Da’wah: Addressing the Contemporary Concerns of the UMMAH (Muslim Community)”

Da’wah simply means preaching and inviting others to Islam.

The first Da’wah was started by our Holy Prophet when he was instructed by the Almighty Allah to start inviting people to Islam.

In the 628, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, sent messengers to the rulers of Egypt, Persia, Byzantium and the Yemen with an invitation to accept Islam.

Today, 1,381 years after, there are now 1.8 Billion Muslims in the world, thus making Islam the biggest religion on earth.   Furthermore, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the USA, most countries in Europe and Asia.

Here in the Philippines, I learned that in 1970, there was only one mosque in entire Luzon and the Visayas, and that is the Islamic Center in Quiapo, Manila.  Today, there are 125 mosques in Metro Manila alone, and more that 1,000 mosques in Luzon and the Visayas, or in every city and province in the Philippines, there are mosques.

Since we have now the quantity or numbers, the question is the quality or how strong is the faith in every Muslim?

We are certain that with the high rate of conversion in Muslim countries and the continued Da’wah activities of so many Muslim groups all worldwide, Islam will remain the biggest religion in the world, so we will always have the numbers  But again, how strong are the Muslims economically, politically, technically and even in terms of their religiosity?

Economically, majority of that 1.8 Billion Muslims are living below the poverty line, thus despite our numbers, we are a weak consumer market.  One reason for our weakness as a community is our failure to adopt Islamic economics as the basis of our business transactions.

Politically, the Muslims are too divided that we seldom have one voice and action in defense of Islam and our fellow Muslims all over the world.  Worst, in many cases, even Muslim minorities in many parts of the world are themselves divided in so many political groups.  An example would be the case of the Hamas and the Al-Fatah of Palestine.  Even in Mindanao, you have the MNLF, the MILF, and even other smaller groups, all claiming that they are fighting for the rights of their people and in defense of the Muslim homeland and their Islamic heritage.

And in so many instances, it is Muslim fighting against Muslim.  How could they gain strength when they violated the words of Allah Almighty when He said: “Hold the rope of Allah and do not be divided”,

In the battle of Uhud, the morning victory turned to near-defeat, when the archers disregarded the instruction of the Prophet, (PBUH) when they abandoned their position to join in the division of spoils.  How much more when you violated the instructions of Allah?

On the quality of Islam, among the 1.8 Billion Muslims, we can only ask how many of them are praying five times a day and paying Zakat for those endowed with means to give to the poor.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia assures all concerned of its continued support for the attainment of peace in Southern Philippines between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).  Its position is to support the call of the UN, the OIC, the EU, USA and all other countries that want to see peace in Mindanao.  With peace, development follows, and investments on agricultural projects will start to flow in Mindanao.  That could happen once there is sincerity in both parties for the quest for peace in the south.

Furthermore, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud launched a series of initiatives on Interfaith Dialogue whish started in the Kingdom.  It was then followed by the World Conference on Dialogue in Madrid, attended by hundreds of religious leaders and scholars of various creeds.  Furthermore, at the UN meeting of the Heads of States in New York participated by H.E. President Gloria last year.  These were all geared to find world peace and harmony and prosperity for all.

Thus, it is very timely to redirect da’wah to strengthen the 1.8 billion Ummah, economically by fighting the war against poverty; politically by uniting the diverse Muslim forces or groups; and improving the Islam in us by living righteously and through quality education, both Islamic and in the sciences and mathematics.

I do hope the conference should address the issues I outlined today.

Thank you and Wassalam.