Islamic Jurisprudence-Forum opened at Damascus's al-Assad library
Regional-Syria, Religion, 4/13/2004

Syria's Minister of Islamic Trusts ( Waqf ) on Monday opened at al-Assad Library in Damascus the first Islamic forum on "Jurisprudence Between Renovation and Abuse" hosted by the Abul Nour Foundation in cooperation between the Ministry of Islamic Trusts and the World Islamic League (WIL).

The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Issam Ahmad al-Bashir, Sudanese Minister of Islamic Trusts and Guidance, Dr. Ahamd Hulail, Jordanian Minister of Islamic Trsusts and Holy Places, Shaekh Dr. Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, the Grand Mufti of Lebanon, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsen al-Turki, the WIL Secretary general, His Eminence Patriarch Zakka I Iwass of Antioch and All Orient for the Assyrian Orthodox, Dr. Jaafar Abdul Salam, Secretary general of the League of Islamic Universities, Dr. Hamdan bin Mosallam al-Mazroui, Deputy of the UAE Ministry of Islamic Trusts and Affairs.

Attending the opening ceremony were also senior officials of the Ministry of Islamic Trusts, several MPs, Arab and Islamic diplomats accredited in Damascus and other invitees.

Minister of Waqf Mohammad Ziadeh said in a speech that Islam represents all aspects of culture of life, stressing that the constructive dialogue incorporated in the Holy Quran entails innovative interaction between the human being and the eternal message of heavenly religions.

He said that Syria under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad seeks to accomplish the noble meaning and principles of Islam which maintain spiritual ideas and belief as well as strengthen the national unity that groups all the citizens apart from their religious affiliations.

The Minister added that Syria encourages the dialogue of civilizations and rapprochement among all sects. For his part, Dr. Salah el-Din Kaftaro, Director General of the Kaftaro Foundation in Damascus delivered the speech of Sheikh Ahmad Kaftaro, the Grand Mufti of the Republic and Head of the Supreme Council of Fatwa ( Islamic Laws). The Speech stressed that the convening of the Forum comes at a time where renovator scholars face up to great challenges on various political, economic, social and intellectual scenes. He pointed out that the needed renovation in the jurisprudence doesn't mean abuse or misuse of the Islamic law ( Shari'a ), adding that scholars and clerics are called on to encourage moderation and fight extremism so as the Arab Nation restores the initiative in the dialogue among civilizations.

Other speakers, including the Islamic researcher and intellectual Dr. Sheikh Youssuf Qaradai, Dr. al-Turki, Dr. Kamel al-Sharif of Egypt, praised Syria's role under the leadership of President Assad and his open-minded and insight. They also pointed out to the importance of renovation in the jurisprudence.

The 3-day Forum will center on several topics on jurisprudence. Senior clerics and scholars from Syria, the U.S.A., Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, UAE, Sudan and Qatar are taking part in the forum.

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