Regional Seminar And Workshop On The International Islamic Calendar Shawwal 21-24, 1408/June 7-10, 1988

Abstract

The Pulau Penang Resolution On The International
Islamic Calendar
Praise be to Allah (SWT), Lord of the worlds. Peace and benediction
be on His Prophet Muhammad, his family, Companions and followers.
Heading the Commandments of Allah (SWT) in the Qur’an is: “Verily
in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the
night and the day are signs for those who use their intellect; those who reflect
upon God while standing, sitting and reclining and ponder on the creation
of the heavens and the earth saying: ‘0 my Lord You have not created all
these in vain. Glory be to You, save us from the fire”’.
From Shawwal 21-24, 1408/June 7-10, 1988, the Universiti Sains Malaysia
hosted a Regional Seminar and Workshop on the International Islamic Calendar
attended by 100 Muslim scientists, religious scholars ( UZumii’), community
leaders and government officials concerned with Islamic Affairs from 25
different countries and international Islamic organizations. The seminar and
workshop was held with the cooperation of the International Institute of Islamic
Thought, the Islamic Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department
of Malaysia, the Council of Islamic Affairs of Penang, the Malaysian Airlines
System, the Islamic Council of Europe, the International Centre for Theoretical
Physics, the Third World Academy of Sciences and the Islamic Economic
Development Foundation of Malaysia.
The Seminar was declared opened by Y.B. Datuk Dr. Mohammad Yusuf
Noor, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, whose speech was
unanimously adopted as a conference document. The Seminar received country
reports from Thailand, Philippines, Fiji, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Australia,
Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Maldives and Singapore. The country reports
discussed the calendrical practices in various countries in the region and
problems faced in determining important Islamic dates. Subregional discussions
were held regarding future planning in respect of the Islamic Lunar Calendar.
Special workshops were held for Muslim scholars (‘Ulama') and community
leaders regarding the implementation of a scientific lunar calendar for the
Muslims in the region and the problems and difficulties in the implementation ...