Jordan Times
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Clerics to remove
misconceptions on Islam
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah has instructed the Ministry of Awqaf
and Islamic Affairs to dispatch Muslim scholars to Western nations in a bid to
reflect the true image of Islam.
Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Ahmad Hilayel told the Jordan News Agency,
Petra, that the King has issued instructions to prepare a plan to send ulemas
and preachers to several Western countries and the United States to explain the
real image of Islam which is known for its moderation and tolerance.
According to Hilayel, the ministry will send a similar mission to visit Arab and
Islamic countries to learn about their own methods and benefit from their
experience in handling the task.
The minister said there is an urgent need for a new Islamic policy to defend the
(Muslim) nation's causes, especially following the Sept. 11 attacks in the US.
He said this led to the creation of organised campaigns in the West, which
started casting doubt about the Muslim faith resulting in what came to be known
as Islamophobia.
In reference to the kidnapping of foreign nationals in Iraq, the minister said
such inhuman and condemned actions had nothing to do with Islam.
The minister spoke bout the preparations for this year's pilgrimage to Mecca
noting that the ministry has rented 11 residential buildings for Jordanian
pilgrims to facilitate the process of providing them with services during the
pilgrimage season.
He said 2,200 citizens have already registered for the Haj this year, but only
one thousand pilgrims per million of population are allowed according to a
decision taken by the Muslim countries. The minister said he would soon hold a
press conference to give more details about the pilgrimage season.