Iumsonline.net – July 4th, 2008
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Al-Basa’ir
An internal e-magazine issued by:
Muslim Minorities Affairs Committee
affiliated to IUMS |
Dr. `Ali Al-Qurrah Dhaghi, head of
the Muslim Minorities Affairs Committee affiliated to the
IUMS, confirmed that there is a Muslim minority in almost
every country of the world whether its number is large or
small. This is good news and a miracle of Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him), as he gave Muslims the
glad tidings that this would happen even though Islam was
then restricted to the area inside Madinah and its
outskirts.
He added that all indications show
that the number of Muslim minorities living under non-Muslim
countries amounts to 450 million, or even more, throughout
the six continents.
This, he stated, burdens us with a
huge responsibility from two sides: exerting all possible
efforts, whether financial and Da`wah-oriented, and
preserving the accomplishments in the field of preaching, or
– in other words – preserving the Muslim minorities
scattered throughout the world by taking care of their
affairs, sympathizing with their problems and reacting
positively to them.
This is mentioned in the editorial
of the third issue of Al-Basa’ir electronic bulletin
released by the Muslim Minorities Affairs Committee
affiliated to the IUMS. This issue focuses on Muslim
minorities in the world – especially Asia, Europe, and
Africa – on the occasion of a special symposium on “Muslim
Minorities – focusing on India”.
This issue consists of an
introduction, three chapters, and a conclusion. The
introduction discusses the concept of minorities, the
characteristics and constituents of Muslim minorities, and
the geographic and statistical distribution of Muslim
minorities around the world. The first chapter deals with
Muslim minorities in Asia, the second one concentrates on
Muslim minorities in Europe, and the third chapter
highlights the affairs of Muslim minorities in Africa. The
conclusion contains a number of deductions and
inferences.
Al-Basa’ir is the first
enlightenment product of the Muslim Minorities Affairs
Committee that is affiliated to the IUMS. However, it does
not necessarily represent the views of the IUMS or the
Committee, as it is issued with the aim of providing
awareness and enlightenment concerning the affairs of the
Muslim nation.
The first issue of Al-Basa’ir
included a detailed report which was regarded as an
inclusive file about the issue of Darfur. This file, or
report, oversees and analyzes the existing conflict, by
following up and investigating the roots, causes, and
backgrounds of the conflict. It then demonstrates the most
important factors that prevented it from turning into an
internal tribal affair – which is a consistent part of
Sudan’s old and modern history – into an affair disturbing
international public opinion.
The second issue of Al-Basa’ir,
which was released on the first day of Sha`ban 1428 A.H.
corresponding to August 14th 2007 A.C., dealt with the
Somali issue, including the civil war and the direct
occupation. This was examined through a number of major
subjects following an introduction about the geographic
location and the provinces of which Somalia is composed, in
addition to a preface about the Somali population.
