20 November 2004	Saturday	07 Shawwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Prof (Dr) Attaur Rehman has urged Muslim scholars to recommend internal reforms for the Muslim society to remedy problems and face challenges emerged after 9/11 events.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of Islamabad international consultation of Muslim scholars on state and society in the modern world here on Friday.

The three-day international consultation meeting organized by the HEC is expected to provide philosophical framework towards the development of a culture of enlightened moderation - a theme that is high on the agenda of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The international and regional Muslim scholars attending the consultative meeting are also expected to produce practical ideas leading to the establishment of a university for understanding Islam at Islamabad.

As a first measure, the scholars have agreed to come up with proposals during the meeting for organizing Muslim states and society in the 'modern world'. Dr Rehman urged the Muslim scholars to take stock of the prevailing situation in which Islam was often equated with fundamentalism and terrorism. They must come up with practical and doable ideas to remedy the problem, he said.

"We know the prevailing Western concept is not a reality but a misconception. Unfortunately, this perception prevails and, together, we must come up with a remedy to face the problem. But first, we must internally reform ourselves," he said.

He said he would consult science and technology ministers of 57 Muslim countries associated with Comstech in this regard. He also called for setting up an institute or university in Pakistan to initiate studies into the problems being faced by the Muslim world and come up with practical steps.

"We must ponder how far we have been left behind in the field of science and technology that had propelled many nations forward," Prof Rehman said, adding that scholars were best equipped to carry forward this task.

After having their initial say, scholars left for a meeting with President Musharraf, but they brought forth fresh approaches to meet wider concerns about issues confronting the Muslim world.

Dr Fatih Osman from Egypt spoke of the excitement he felt when a delegation of politicians visited his country in 1940s to explain factors which made it imperative to form a separate Islamic state in India. He said the creation of Pakistan provided a certification of Islam in the modern world.

An Iranian scholar, Dr Mohsin, asked for reconciliation between conservative jurisprudence and the reformist point of view. Dr Jamal Suleman cited Quranic verses to explain that Islam was the final religion, and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) came as mercy for mankind.

He said these Quranic verses explained the universality of Islam and its relevance to all parts of he world. Malaysian scholar Chandra Muzaffar mentioned Allama Iqbal's work that had a lot to do with the dispensation of justice.