KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 Bernama) -- For four days more than 1,000 graduates of the famed Al-Azhar University, including those who have become ulama, gathered here to discuss Islamic civilisation and its challenges.

The Islam Hadhari approach, however, cropped up often during the presentation of papers by speakers at the World Al-Azhar Alumni Multaqa, and at the end of it, the delegates agreed that the Hadhari approach could be effective in arresting the backwardness and maladies in several Islamic nations.

Thus, they agreed too that society need not dispute the "Hadhari" terminology as it originates from the Arabic word "hadhara", which means civilisation, while the approach itself emphasises the building of a civilisation based on Islam.

The conference was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who had introduced the Hadhari approach to Malaysia.

Al-Azhar Sheikhul (Grand Sheikh) Dr Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, in his address, said "Islam is an open religion that is not restricted to one sect or school of thought".

Later at a press conference, he stressed that Al-Azhar held steadfast to the concept of moderation and as long as an individual pronounced the syahadah and performed his/her religious obligations, he/she was considered a brethren.

The Al-Azhar Sheikhul also opined that the Hadhari approach was not something new at its 10 principles encompassed Islamic teachings brought by Prophet Muhammad to guide Muslims for this world and the hereafter.

Perhaps based on this view, that many of the foreign delegates at the conference were keen to know more about the Hadhari concept which is still in its early stage of implementation in Malaysia.

According to National Fatwa Council chairman Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Hussin, the effects of its implementation could be seen, for instance, in the field of education with the introduction of the J-QAF programme in schools, and also in the fast-growing Islamic banking system.

He said many of the delegates were interested in the J-QAF programme which not only taught children to read the Quran but also to write and read Jawi (Bahasa Malaysia in Arabic calligraphy).

In tabling the conference resolutions yesterday, Al-Azhar University vice-chairman Dr Muhammad Abdul Fadzil said the delegates were in awe of efforts undertaken by the Malaysian government in building an Islamic civilisation in a modern way but without neglecting the Islamic characteristics.

Throughout the multaqa, Muslim intellectuals were also urged not to narrow their thinking to only the four mazhab in Islam and to close their doors to ijtihad (investigative studies before making a religious ruling) as "Islam is a religion that moves with the times".

In that context, Islamic scholars and intellectuals must be open to new ideas and discuss matters indepth before deciding whether they are against islamic teachings or not.

As suggested by the prime minister in his opening speech, Muslims must free themselves from narrow-mindedness, which is really their most dangerous enemy, more dangerous that the propaganda spread by Islam's enemies.

Abdullah said narrow-mindedness caused Muslims to reject development and progress although this was enjoined by Islam.

-- BERNAMA