Regional Seminar And Workshop On The International Islamic Calendar

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 ...