State Information Service- Speeshes - <BR>Address by President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak to the 9th World Islamic Conference

Sunday, July 13, 1997

Address by President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak to the 9th World Islamic Conference

At the very outset, I would like to welcome the distinguished guests and honourable scholars to Egypt the cradle of civilization, knowledge, tol-erance, peace and safety for all peoples who come to or live in it since the dawn of history.

It would be impossible for a clash between the Islamic civilization and the West to take place although some voices are echoed warning against that, following the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the former So-viet Union. Islam would not be the new enemy following the end of the West's first enemy: Communism.

Under the tolerance of religions and the human fraternity, thousands of years ago on the Egyptian soil, religions, creeds and cultures had a dia-logue and interacted together. Some people today hoist the slogan of clash of civilizations but Egypt along its history was the basis of culture interac-tion and fraternity of religions. There is no doubt that your historical meet-ing in Cairo in the Ninth Conference of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs is considered an excellent opportunity to exchange viewpoints on the issue of the Islam-West relation in past, present and future.

This issue became persistent on the intellectual and political arenas in the Islamic and Western world especially after the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the former Soviet Union that some voices deemed Islam as the substitute threat to Western civilization, besides, some thought that there would be an immanent clash between the two sides. But at the same time, some fair voices aroused and called on to learn from Islam and the Is-lamic civilization.

We have not to forget or neglect this issue because we are living in an interacted age where cultures are linked and the countries are connected with joint interests. So, it is hard to live in isolation away from the world community. This means to look for a joint and solid ground to set upon it all peoples' cooperation.

The reality which cannot be neglected or ignored is that there is a cooperation on several tracks; economic, political and cultural between the Islamic World and the Western World and recently there is a continuous di-alogue between the two sides which originated from some tangible circum-stances that have had great influences on policies and interests represented in the high standards of human and natural resources in the Islamic World and the technological and political superiority of the West. But this is not enough for establishing the required cooperation because the coordination of interests must be preceded by mutual understanding which is a basic pre-condition of cooperation .

So, both sides feel that there is a dire need for seeking solutions on the cultural, civilizational and religious levels so as to be, at least, complemen-tary to the existing solutions. But, it is noticed that the efforts exerted in this respect are characterized by modesty despite their extreme importance. More obstacles should be removed in order to pave the way before mutual understanding, respecting and constructive cooperation. This depends on exerting more of cooperative and sincere efforts to get rid of prejudices and erroneous concepts of both sides.

In this respect, we must affirm that the attempts to impose a certain civilization or culture on peoples does not serve world peace. Even if we suppose that it can be realized practically, nevertheless, every people has its own different civilization, culture, method of life style of conduct and creed. These are peculiarities that should be respected to interact with other civilizations and cultures in order to achieve guiding principles and com-mon relations among peoples. God Almighty created various races from the human species and turn them into peoples of different origins not for con-flicts and disputes but for knowing each other, harmonisation and co-operation.

Prophet Muhammad adopted in the document of Al Madina AlMonoura the religious, social, cultural and racial multiplicity. He made this multiplicity the base of a new community in AI-Madina. Every person has the same rights and duties so, the Prophet adopted the unleash of creeds and human rights regardless of the individual's religion, sex or colour as long as being committed to keeping peace and stability of the community.

The relation among Islam and the West has passed by tide and flow, peace and war periods. But these conflicts do not forbid the culture and civilization among them.

When Moslems began to found their civilization they translated useful things from other cultures including the old Greek civilization making use of all these cultures developing, adding and innovating in many fields.

On the other hand, when Europe decided to get rid of ignorance and medieval darkness, they restored to Islamic civilization which arrived to Europe through Andolusia and Sicily.

Europeans started to translate Moslems' sciences which they were the bases of the European Renaissance and the vast leap in the Modern age. Thoughts and cultures do not know hinders and obstacles to spread world-wide for human welfare.

Consequently, If we discuss today in this conference the relationship between Islam and the West in past, present, and future, we should not discuss for a long time the negative effects, ignoring the joint points between the two civilizations.

We desire to look for a common ground and a firm base of co-operation on one hand and pay attention to the future to spread hope and optimism in both the West and East.

Thus, we can contribute to building world peace which is the hope of every individual.

The West should objectively, understands true Islam as shown in it's original sources and acknowledged teachings rather than judging it by the digressions of some Moslems here or there. Such objective understanding will have its positive impact eliminating many misunderstandings that have accumulated throughout many centuries. Consequently, facilitating building up constructive cooperation on sound bases without fear or misun-derstanding.

It's the West's right to claim the similar position i.e. to understand Is-lam apart from the burdens of the past. Yet, we should bear in mind that Islam recognizes all religions and all Allah's Prophets who were missioned to humanity in the different periods of history.

We are here not to hold one party responsible but to escape the vicious circle to the vistas of a future which is full of great expectations and optimism.

Our dialogue, in this conference is not out of courtesy but rather of a candid nature. Emanating from it's historical, cultural and religious respon-sibility, Egypt welcomes you today with an open heart and a conscious mind aware of the great responsibility that we have all to shoulder, to overcome all obstacles and we are certain of the good intentions of both sides.


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