World Muslim Congress
Encyclopedia
The World Muslim Congress (Motamar al-Alam al-Islami) (Arabic: مؤتمر العالم الإسلامي) is an Islamic organization based in Karachi
. Its co-founder and Secretary-General for over four decades was Inamullah Khan
. It was the recipient of the 1987 Niwano Peace Prize
, and Khan was the recipient of the 1988 Templeton Prize
.
The Congress was founded at the 1949 World Muslim Conference in Karachi, following the creation of Pakistan
in 1947. Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
, who presided over the Conference, was elected President of the Congress. Its co-founder and Secretary-General for over four decades was Inamullah Khan
.
Although formally founded in 1949, the Congress traces its roots to a Congress hosted in Mecca
in 1926 hosted by Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
shortly after his occupation of Mecca and Medina
; he "hoped [it] would confer Islamic sanction upon his administration of the holy cities, instead [it] leveled many criticisms, and he did not reconvene it." Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
had also been a leading figure at this Congress.
According to one scholar, the Congress "has ... played a crucial role in building up the feeling of Muslim victimization that has subsequently fed the global Islamist movement."
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. Its co-founder and Secretary-General for over four decades was Inamullah Khan
Inamullah Khan
Inamullah Khan was a Muslim activist who symbolised the World Muslim Congress, Al-Motamar al-Alam al-Islami, for almost four and half decades. He was awarded the Templeton Prize in 1988.- Early years :...
. It was the recipient of the 1987 Niwano Peace Prize
Niwano Peace Prize
Niwano Peace Prize is given to honor and encourage those who are devoting themselves to interreligious cooperation in the cause of peace,and to make their achievements known...
, and Khan was the recipient of the 1988 Templeton Prize
Templeton Prize
The Templeton Prize is an annual award presented by the Templeton Foundation. Established in 1972, it is awarded to a living person who, in the estimation of the judges, "has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life's spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery, or practical...
.
The Congress was founded at the 1949 World Muslim Conference in Karachi, following the creation of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in 1947. Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
Haj Mohammed Effendi Amin el-Husseini was a Palestinian Arab nationalist and Muslim leader in the British Mandate of Palestine. From as early as 1920, in order to secure the independence of Palestine as an Arab state he actively opposed Zionism, and was implicated as a leader of a violent riot...
, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem is the Sunni Muslim cleric in charge of Jerusalem's Islamic holy places, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque.-Ottoman era:...
, who presided over the Conference, was elected President of the Congress. Its co-founder and Secretary-General for over four decades was Inamullah Khan
Inamullah Khan
Inamullah Khan was a Muslim activist who symbolised the World Muslim Congress, Al-Motamar al-Alam al-Islami, for almost four and half decades. He was awarded the Templeton Prize in 1988.- Early years :...
.
Although formally founded in 1949, the Congress traces its roots to a Congress hosted in Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
in 1926 hosted by Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia was the first monarch of the Third Saudi State known as Saudi Arabia. He was commonly referred to as Ibn Saud....
shortly after his occupation of Mecca and Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
; he "hoped [it] would confer Islamic sanction upon his administration of the holy cities, instead [it] leveled many criticisms, and he did not reconvene it." Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
Haj Mohammed Effendi Amin el-Husseini was a Palestinian Arab nationalist and Muslim leader in the British Mandate of Palestine. From as early as 1920, in order to secure the independence of Palestine as an Arab state he actively opposed Zionism, and was implicated as a leader of a violent riot...
had also been a leading figure at this Congress.
According to one scholar, the Congress "has ... played a crucial role in building up the feeling of Muslim victimization that has subsequently fed the global Islamist movement."