Cairo, Egypt—An international Islamic conference opened in Cairo Sunday, April 17, with a focus on the universality of Islam as a bridge to the gulf with the other.

Egyptian Awqaf (religious endowment) Minister Mahmoud Zaqzouq said the conference will address four main issues: Islam’s recognition of the other and the concept of cultural pluralism, Islam’s relation with other civilizations, the universal nature of the Islamic values and women in Islam.

“The conference is aimed at standing firmly in the face of anti-Muslim campaigns worldwide and presenting a clear vision on the true essence and values of Islam,” he added.

Attending the four-day event, entitled “The Nobility of the Islamic Civilization,” are delegations from 64 countries including 19 Arab, 12 African, 13 Asian and 14 European countries.

Representatives from five more North and South American countries as well as Australia will also show up.

Seven international Muslim organizations, including the Islamic Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), will also take part.

The four-day annual conference is organized by Egypt’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA).

Powerful Muslims

Addressing the opening session, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohammad Sayed Tantawi said Muslims should benefit from other civilizations and cultures.

“There is nothing called clash of civilizations since all civilizations deliver the message of peace, justice and welfare,” he said.

The scholar maintained that Muslims would only regain world respect and reverence if they emerged powerful and self-sufficient.

“The weak have no room in today’s world even if they speak the truth,” Tantawi said.

Speaking on behalf of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Zaqzouq blamed ignorance of Islam for equating it with terrorism.

He, however, said all countries should coordinate their efforts in uprooting terrorism and shifting billions of dollars from wars to development.

Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria said the West owes a big thank-you to the Muslims for the current scientific progress.

“The West had greatly benefited from scientific Muslim documents, which had been translated into Latin,” he told the audience.

Reform

The reform process also took central stage.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the Arab world is in a dire need to translate its speeches on reforms into action plans.

He said the pan-Arab body was ready to activate the dialogue between Islam and the West.

Sudanese Awqafs Minister Esam Al-Bashir welcomed “proposals” put forward by the West on reform.

“But it [the West] is not entitled to impose its reform recipe on others,” he stressed.

“Arabs and Muslim could scrutinize these proposals and choose what fits them.”

Bashir said it was high time that the Muslim world acted in unison and followed in the footsteps of the European Union.