DR. Abdullah Omar Naseef gave out an impassioned plea to Muslims “to work towards making use of the power of knowledge and to introduce some ways and means to make it instrumental in our life. Knowledge is not only theoretical; it has to be practical. Allah the Almighty elevates the people who seek knowledge, acquire it and work in that field. Allah has promised lift them up and upgrades them in their life here and Hereafter.” While speaking about the power of knowledge at the 21st Annual Islamic Dawah Conference, organized by Forum for Social Studies, at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London, on 9th August, 2008, Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, the former Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Chairman, Kingdom's Shoura Council, and presently Secretary General of the International Islamic Council for Dawah and Relief (IICDR), said, “Islam is the religion of knowledge. Allah said, “The people who have the knowledge are not equal to those who do not know.” He also said that Allah will raise up the people who have knowledge that the people who have knowledge are more fearful of Allah the Almighty and follow His Orders and the Commandments.” Speaking about the problems facing by the Muslim world, Dr. Naseef said, “We have hundreds and thousands of Universities and millions of graduates but how much knowledge do they have, not only in the field of specialization but also in the field of Shariah and the work of uplifting community. We have to realize that and seek guidance from Allah the Almighty and look into our shortcomings and improve the ways to acquire knowledge and make use of it as a power and as an energy.” Speaking about demands for changing the curriculum, Dr. Naseef said, “After the 9/11 events in America, there was a hue and cry and calls for changing the Islamic element in our curriculum so that we move forward and avoid the criticism from the West. But this is not the way to improve our knowledge or to acquire knowledge or to march towards a better future. This is only a pretext.” Dr. Jamal Badawi speaking on the topic “Integration, Isolation, and Assimilation,” said, “I could not find any evidence in the Qur'an or Sunnah in support of isolation from society.” He cited the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). “We all know that he was born in a Jahiliyah society with all its ills. Did he isolate himself? We all know that even in the persecution period in Makkah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not isolate himself; he reached out to the people when the pilgrims came from the various parts of Arabia.” “The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us that there is no problem in cooperating with others. When the Qur'an is speaking about the cooperation, it speaks in an inclusive term: cooperate in everything that is righteous and good and don't cooperate in anything that is shameful and aggressive. It is our Prophet teaches us that you can find common ground that would benefit all, Dr. Badawi stressed.” Dr. Badawi argued, “If we look at the period of the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Rightly Guided Khalifahs, the generations following them, we find that they did not isolate themselves from their societies and until today, Muslims are living side by side, as a minority or majority with other people of other faith communities.” Dr. Badawi observed, “When the Prophet (peace be upon him) speaks about kindness to neighbours; when the Qur'an itself speaks about neigbours even whom you do not know, who may not be Muslim, even then you have to be kind to him. Islam would have become localized and confined to Arabia had it not been for the early Muslims who understood the teachings of Islam to go forward and live with others.” Discussing the strategy of assimilation. Dr. Badawi said, “Assimilation, by definition, means a person sacrificing his or her own identity. When we speak about trying to please others, to fit in, we are giving up the basic focus of our identity as Muslims. And I believe that any sincere person following any religion with focus on his or her relationship with Allah as the core of one's identity, there is always some impact of your belief or non-belief in Allah that constitute the core of your identity. And when I seek to fit in the society we are sacrificing or compromising our relationship with Allah the Almighty and our identity as Muslims.” Dr. Badawi added, Is there anything based in Qur'an or Hadith that may help us to conclude that this is wrong as we did in matter of isolation. There is a Hadith saying: The person who seeks the pleasure of Allah, even if that be at the expense of or displeasure of others, Allah would be pleased with him and would make people pleased with him. And the one who seeks the pleasure of human being, at the expense of displeasing Allah, Allah would be displeased with him and would make people displeased with him,” concluded Dr. Badawi. __
