International conference discussing reform at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.

On Monday October 19^th, the Arab League headquarters in Cairo hosted an international conference discussing “the future of reform in the Islamic world“ which aimed at sharing experiences with Turkish Sheikh Muhammad Fethullah Gulen concerning the social civil reform movement.

The conference titled “The future of reform in the Muslim world” was held under the patronage of the cultural studies center and the intercultural dialogue center at the Cairo University and the Academic and internet studies and the Hiraa magazine in Istanbul. The conference emphasized the importance of intellectual and intercultural dialogue between the Arab and the Turks in general and the Turks and Egyptians in particular mainly on issues concerning the Islamic nation in general with special focus on “Reform and Recreation” which was at the top of the list of the issues discussed.

Among the main goals of this conference were: Introducing the Academic elites, to the Arab and Egyptian audience in general and the introducing of the Turkish “Fethullah Gulen movement”. The movement is considered a social civil reform movement with an Islamic background which has a global impact on the promoting of dialogue among different faiths”

Many questions were addressed to the researchers and discussions brought up in this conference, which lasted two days, the reformist role”. The participants discussed differences, highlighting the efforts and activities of Sheikh Fethullah Gulen and the affects of reform and progress in the Muslim world within the last five decades.                                                                       

The International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS), has expressed deep concern for the so-called fading call for political reform in some Arab and Islamic countries along with efforts to deter reform efforts 

“Diversity in reform is required”

The conference stresses the fact that diversity in the recreational and reform models originates from “The Islamic reference”. Giving a floor for diversity among viewpoints that operates under a unified system is essential and is a clear demonstration of how Islam is a comprehensive system. Moreover, this diversity reflects the true origin of views and is in line with the nature of the political and social realities responding to the essence of the human nature which is against stereotyping and calls for diversity.

Such diversity goes in parallel with the essence of Islam which calls for diversity in harmony with the diversified nature of the universe and social life. These goals and visions  were covered under the title “reform and renewal in the Muslim world; “concepts and experiences” in which Dr. Muhammad Salim Al-Awa, Secretary-General of the International Union for Muslim Scholars will convey his vision on basics and branches of the curriculum for reform and renewal.

The second session titled “Reform and Renewal in the Muslim world undergone through the last half of the century shows “Models and Convergence Points Of View”, headed by the Islamic thinker Dr. Mohamed Emara, trying to shed light on the most important forms of renewal and reform that have emerged around the world during the second half of the twentieth century.

The third session of the Conference was getting into depth with Sheikh Fethullah Gulen’s intellectually and physically with efforts highlighting his philosophy of the reform. While the fourth session focused on Turkish Gulen’s status between Turkish movements demand for change and reform as it shed light on what is known as the “philosophy of service to change.”

The fifth and sixth sessions discuss experiences of reform movements turned it into an international movement addressing topics such as: “Philosophy of Education: Swimming in the vital area,” global dialogue: The models of coexistence, a platform for dialogue on integration.”

The seventh and final session of the Conference tackles crucial focal point fighting poverty as top priorities for social and civil reform movements in Turkey and the Muslim world where the most important platforms and projects have been achieved in this field.

Dynamic reform experts

Academic elites introducing the Arab and Egyptian audience in general and contemporary for the Turkish “Fethullah Gulen movement attended the conference.

The most prominent figures took part in the conference from Egypt including

 Dr. Abdel-Halim Hassan Dahir Aweys, PhD, Islamic History & Civilization, Al-Azhar University

 Dr. Al-Awa

 Dr. Emara

 Tariq al-Bishri, First Deputy President of the Council d’etat

Dr. Heba Raouf Ezzat: Assistant Lecturer in the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences, Cairo University

Dr. Hassan Makki form Sudan

 Dr Radwan Al-Sayyed from Lebanon

Dr. Bin Yarub Al-Marzouki from Tunisia.

 “The cultural studies center and the intercultural dialogue center” was established at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University as the first University’s research unit interested in the subject of dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations. The “Academic and internet studies along with Hiraa magazine in Turkish city of Istanbul was founded in 1997 to perform various activities in the field of education, culture, and  to sponsor scientific research  creating opportunities for researchers..