Role of Muslim Communities and Islamic Institutions
in Highlighting the Image of Islam
Role of Cultural Relations in Activating Muslim Minorities and Communities
The cultural relations Muslim minorities and communities build up in the host countries constitute, in their essence, a capital for the Islamic Ummah of which it may avail to deal in an intelligent way with the governments, official and popular organizations of these countries. The purpose is to promote the situation of Muslims in there, within the framework of diplomatic relations existing between these countries and the states in the Islamic world.
In any case, the cultural relations Muslim minorities establish in countries of emigration, whether in the East or the West, the North or the South, can be exploited to consolidate the Islamic presence in these places, using the means and methods guaranteed by international law. The aim is to rehabilitate the distorted image of Islam and preach the Islamic mission to the world in a clear language, a convincing logic and an attractive style not to the detriment of the essence of belief or in prejudice to any of the foundations of Islam and without begrudging Muslims any of their dues. This implies, as a necessary condition, acting in an appropriate way, a rational understanding of the exigencies of the cultural work in its international channels and a receptive awareness of the prerequisites of operating in these vital fields.
The channels the international work provides in the cultural field open up new ways for cultural relations between Muslim minorities and communities and non-Muslims at several levels. Through these courses, expatriate Muslims, in particular, can establish active relations of cooperation. Unless they know how to exploit and ensure an effective, calculated and perfect utilization of them, they cannot achieve many of the benefits that can be of a great avail to them in their countries of emigration, to the Islamic world as a whole and to all Muslims the world over. The reason is that the presence of Muslims in non-Muslim countries gives them various opportunities to serve the causes of the Islamic world and to work seriously and constructively in order to accentuate the image of Islam, explain its verities, refute the aberrations and correct the mistakes and delusions that have been published, broadcast and accepted by people in western countries as truths. This can be achieved at two levels :
First : The personal level which finds its expression in the personal behaviour based on the ethics of Islam which call for establishing good social relations, coexisting with all the people, integrating one’s social environment and striving to be of avail to society serving it with devotion. So that the Muslim individual gives, in the environment of which he is a member, the exemplar and model of the Islamic personality useful to one’s society, through one’s attitude, manners, behaviour and activities.
Second : The collective level which manifests itself in the establishment of a collective cooperation relation in accordance with the national laws and systems. The purpose is to serve noble causes at the top of which stands the preaching for Islam in wisdom and good advice in the full sense of the word. This should be done in an orderly way; respecting the laws and systems, through creating associations, clubs, leagues, institutions and cultural centres, publishing newsletters and keeping in touch with the media and the circles influencing the national and international public opinions. At this collective level, Muslims should participate in any of the public affairs of the community of which they are members, whether as immigrants, residents or natives having converted to Islam, and integrate the political, social, economic, cultural and intellectual public environment.
The role Muslim communities and minorities can assume to serve the noble goals of the Islamic world is of vital importance. Most important of these goals is the target of highlighting the image of Islam, redressing the aberrations and refuting the delusions published on Islam and Muslims. Only the support of Islamic institutions, especially those operating within the framework of joint Islamic work, can give more impetus to this role.
In order to describe the impact of this role and its importance in promoting the goals of joint Islamic action, we will address, hereinafter, the concept and status quo of the Islamic institutions before we come to discussing the relation of these communities and minorities with the institutions of joint Islamic work.
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