Methodologies of Change in the Contemporary Islamic World 12-14 Sha'ban 1414/24-26 January 1994 Kuwait City, Kuwait

Abstract

llris seminar was the second in a series of seminars held jointly by
the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) in cooperation with
the Kuwaiti Department of Awqaf. The inaugural session of the seminar
was addressed by the Minister for Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Jam'an al
'Azimi, who stated that the topic of the seminar sufficed to indicate its
importance. The following speaker, the Secretary of the Ministry, Khalid
al Zir, underlined the fact that while everyone agreed on the need to return
to the pristine teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, it was not an
easy matter to determine how, in practical tenns, this might be achieved.
This is why, the Secretary said, this seminar was convened.
Taha Jabir al 'Alwani, President of the International Institute of
Islamic Thought, after making his opening remarks, delivered a paper
entitled The Horizons of Change and Its Approaches, in which he stated
that the Arab world had very recently reached a critical stage. Many
analytical studies of various aspects of the Arab situation, he added, had
been conducted from several different perspectives. Undoubtedly, on the
basis of these studies, the outlines of an alternative civilizational project
may emerge. It is for this reason that the topic of the seminar, "Methodologies
of Change in the Contemporary Islamic World," is of such overwhelming
importance.
Muhammad al Ghazali, the noted Muslim 'alim and author, then
spoke on behalf of the seminar participants. Prefacing his remarks by
noting the importance of Kuwait in the Arab and Muslim worlds, al
Ghazali explained that it is the duty of Muslims everywhere to work together
to further the cause of Islam. This is why, he added, the cooperation
of the Kuwaiti Ministry with the International Institute of Islamic
Thought was such a commendable undertaking.
The seminar was comprised of four distinctive themes. The first one
dealt with defining the concept of change within the Islamic paradigm,
beginning with the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the historical experience of
Islam. This concept may be studied in light of the theories and opinions
of the classical scholars of Islam. In addition, it may prove beneficial to
study it in conjunction with such similar concepts within the Islamic paradigm
as tajdid, reform, revival, awakening, revolution, modernization,
development, and progress. Topics for discussion included the following: ...