Editorial

Abstract

This issue coincides with several momentous events and trends in the world at
large and Muslim nations. The heads or top representatives of the 57 Muslimmajority
nations have held an extraordinary meeting at Makkah under the
Organization of Islamic Conferences’ (OIC) aegis. A major goal is to reactivate
and empower the OIC so that it can actively help the ummah deal with its
huge opportunities and challenges. Several salient issues were stressed: the
need for closer interaction, collaboration, and internal reform leading to a
peaceful, pluralistic, and moderate disposition of Islam and Muslims.
Muslim nations are trying to address their internal weaknesses and build
upon their strengths. In terms of human and material resources, the Muslim
world is composed of three kinds of countries: those with large populations
and poor economies, small populations and rich economies, and with both
fairly large populations backed by rich economic resources. They seem to
believe that Iraq and Iran, the very backbone of the third category, are currently
targeted for long-term occupation. They are exploring how to compensate
for one another’s drawbacks and reinforcing their assets.
The OIC declaration, hailed as a historic turning point, stresses that
Muslims take responsibility for their present plight and stop blaming others.
In addition, the organization will be renamed, get a new charter, and be run
by mandatory contributions from member nations. It will also feature conflict-
resolution and consensus-building mechanisms to resolve both minor
and major conflicts, such as Palestine and Kashmir. The ummah and the
world now wait to see whether such statements are more than rhetoric.
Concurrently, there is an increasing awareness of the futility of cardinaldirectional
conflicts and the “clash of civilizations” between the West and
the East, or between the North and the South. Ever more Muslim and other
intellectuals realize that the real confrontation is between powerful global
forces of greed and exploitative profiteering on the one hand, and people of
candor, conscience, and moral orientation on the other. Among the individuals
and organizations in the latter camp, there is growing realization of the
need for societal reform toward pluralism, learning from each other, collective
and consultative decision making, basic freedoms for all, peace with
justice, and institution building that is compatible with the speed, complexity,
and magnitude of the emerging globalized world ...