ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: President International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) Dr Anwar Hussain Siddiqui has urged the Muslim community leaders to focus on easing the troubled situation for Muslims in non-Muslim societies instead of concentrating on conversion of non-Muslims to Islam.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of 23rd International Human Resource Development Training Programme organized by the Dawah Academy, IIUI, here on Tuesday.

Twenty-six community leaders from 16 Muslim minority countries are participating in the programme. Prof Abdul Jabbar Shakir, head Dawah Academy, Dr Imtiaz Zafar, head International Training Programmes, and a number of university teachers, researchers and officers were also present on the occasion.

Dawah does not necessarily mean conversion of non-Muslims to Islam, continued Dr Siddiqui. Now is the time to take Dawah in its broader sense and to take it is educating Muslims how to live in a multi-faith environment, he said.

“Inspiring others through the best of Islamic manners, tolerance, positive attitude and respect for the laws of the country, where you are living, should top the priority list of Muslim social workers and community leaders.”

On the issue of Hijab, Dr Siddiqui said that Islam had defined sattar (proper dressing). “Veil, Hijab and many other kinds of dresses are permissible. It is, therefore, highly considerable not to dress in a way that may annoy majority of other countrymen,” he said.

He said Muslim minorities should try to become integral parts of the societies they were living in instead of trying to be seen as strangers. He said minority Muslims needed to adopt highly positive and very balanced attitude for influencing non-Muslims through their action instead of mere preaching good values of Islam.