His Majesty King Abdullah II
Remarks of HM King
Abdullah II to the
2nd World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies (WOCMES)
June 12, 2006
(Delivered by HRH Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammed)
Bism Allah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim
Al-Salamu ‘Aleikum wa Rahmat Allahi wa –Barakatuhu
Your Royal Highness Prince El-Hasan bin Talal,
Distinguished Participants,
I am delighted to welcome such a distinguished group of scholars and
participants to this second World Congress for Middle East Studies (WOCMES). It
is the first time that we in Jordan, and for that matter, that any Arab country
hosts this meeting, and we are especially proud that it is the largest gathering
of its kind ever held in the Middle East.
You have come to discuss and debate many issues of relevance and importance to
this region and beyond. The opportunities and constraints that history,
geography and politics present are facets that you will spend the next few days
reflecting on. Your conclusions and recommendations will undoubtedly provide
important advice and information for those in this region who are determined to
pursue, peace, tolerance and development in this region. We in Jordan are, by
the Grace of God, leading this constituency of peace. We are working with other
partners to ensure that the lessons learnt from the past will provide a
blueprint for a better future, for the sake of our own people, and that of the
rest of humanity as well.
Friends,
Above all, you have come to this Blessed Land for the pursuit of knowledge.
This noblest of goals has always been of the highest priority to us. Indeed, it
is knowledge that is addressed in the very first Revelation of the Holy Qur’an:
Recite in the name of thy Lord who created. / Created man from a clot.
/Recite; and thy Lord is the Most Bountiful. / He who hath taught by the pen. /
Taught mankind what they knew not. (Al-Alaq, 96:1-5)
The Holy Qur’an also says:
Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know? (Al-Zumar, 39:9)
And in yet another verse, the prayer:
Oh Lord, increase me in knowledge! (Ta Ha, 20:114)
The highest kind of knowledge of course is knowledge of God, His Attributes, and
His Ways (Sunan), and the knowledge of the religious sciences. But we
also pursue the knowledge of the mind, of reason and of science. It is this kind
of knowledge that was the hallmark of classical Islamic civilization, with its
vital contributions to the world in the different disciplines and fields
including: mathematics; algebra; astronomy; medicine; law; history; biology;
chemistry; pharmacology; optics; agriculture; architecture; theology;
philosophy; music, and sociology.
Distinguished Participants,
In these and other areas, expert knowledge helps our societies make informed,
successful decisions about policy and resources. Such knowledge is empowering –
and essential. This is one reason why, for Jordan and other Middle Eastern
countries, education and research must be a strategic priority. Indeed, here in
Jordan, building knowledge is a core part of our national reform agenda. Our
initiatives include support for educational excellence … academic networking …
and public-private partnerships to increase access to technology and other
resources. We have looked to the Jordanian academic community itself for
leadership. We have also opened Jordan’s doors to the global intellectual
community. Not only have we welcomed WOCMES-2. But ten days from now, Nobel
Laureates from around the world will meet again in Petra to work together for
positive change.
Building informed, empowered societies is only one way in which the academic
community impacts the future of this region. A second, and equally important
role, is that of communicators. Among you are university professors and essay
writers … and experts whom the world press calls for insight into breaking
events. Some of you may sit on boards of NGOs. Others testify before parliaments
and provide counsel to governments. No one is in a better position than you to
correct false information and stereotypes about the Arab world … no one can
better convey the reality of our diverse, complex societies … and no one can do
a better job of focusing world attention on the interests most important to our
future.
Friends,
On the religious side, Jordan has sought to promote true knowledge of Islam, and
knowledge of true Islam. This was the object of the Amman Message of
November 2004, and of the International Islamic Conference held in Amman in July
2005. Their content is epitomized by 3 points: (1) the specific recognition of
all 8 Mathhabs of Islam, and the definition of who is a Muslim. (2) An
effective moratorium on Takfir between Muslims, and (3) the specification
of subjective and objective conditions for the issuing of fatwas, thereby
stemming irresponsible and ignorant edicts in the name of Islam. These ‘3 points
of the Amman Message’ were ratified unanimously by all the members of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference in Mecca in December 2005. This
historical consensus has given new voice all over the world to traditional,
orthodox, moderate Islam — the Islam we have always aspired to; the Islam of
over 95% of the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims.
Ladies and gentlemen,
True knowledge and understanding of Islam and of other religions and cultures is
the key to world peace and happiness. True knowledge and understanding of
science and of other disciplines is the key to world prosperity and development
We must thus focus like a laser upon truth and knowledge; we must make
the pursuit of truth and knowledge our true pursuit. God says in the Holy
Qur’an: We raise in degrees whom We will, and above every possessor of
knowledge there is one with more knowledge (Yusuf, 12:76).
Before concluding, I would like to thank and recognize His Royal Highness Prince
El-Hasan bin Talal for organizing this conference. His Royal Highness has always
been a tireless bridge-builder and a promoter of knowledge for Jordan, and
indeed for the whole world. The convening of this conference here is only one of
the many fruits of his great labours.
Thank you all very much,
Wal-Salaamu ‘Aleikum