Agenda of the Conference

The participants of the Conference will cover the following topics during the three days.

First Topic: The principles of Doctrine in the light of Moderation.

1. The method (way) of moderation in affirming doctrine and its exhibition.
    - The way of the Quraan and Sunnah in concluding doctrine.
    - The way of the Quraan and Sunnah in presenting doctrine.

2. Temperance and moderation in dealing with issues of variance in doctrine.
    - The necessity of gathering a broad collection of the agreed upon (hadith) in the field of doctrine.
    - Knowing the points of variance in doctrine and check whether they are due to mistaken notions
    - What is the moderate stance with regard to the doctrinal differences between Islamic sects in today’s climate?
    - What is the most successful way to overcome doctrinal differences and gather the whole Islamic nation on to the original creed?
 

3. What is the best way to present the Islamic doctrine today in general, and more specifically in America.

Second Topic: The Origin of Minority Jurisprudence (Fiqh) in the West.

1. Introduction of the term ‘Minority Jurisprudence’ and its emergence.
2. The need for Minority Jurisprudence among it proponents and opponents.
3. Minority Jurisprudence and consolidating vision.
4. The reality of Minority Jurisprudence: Case and Curriculum
5. The works of Jurisprudence specific to the ‘Minority Jurisprudence’. (The works of jurists and Juristic societies).


Third Topic: Human relations in the light of moderation.

1. Islamic moderation in dealing with the reality of Islamic differences and variance, and the necessity of cooperation and affinity.
    - The right of difference of opinion in belief and dialogue with followers of other religions.
    - What is the way to consolidate causes of peace and existence with other nations and civilizations in our present time? What is the duty of Muslims and what is required from others to achieve this?
    - The moderate understanding of Jihad between the necessity of ridding injustice, and forbidding aggression: It’s conditions and stipulations.
    - The curriculum of morals and ethnics in Islam and its effect on strengthening human relations: (the ethics of day to day dealings, the etiquette of dialogue, helping of the needy, visiting the sick etc…

Fourth Topic: Moderation between the duties of a U.S citizen and preserving Islamic identity. The status quo and the desired hope.

1. The requirements of citizenship in non-Islamic societies in the light of Islamic ruling.
2. Preserving Islamic identity without ostracism from society, How to achieve this balance successfully?
3. The obstacles and difficulties faced in achieving a balanced citizenship.
4. American policies in dealing with minorities in general and more specifically the Islamic minority.
    - Do Muslim people and governments in the Islamic world play a role in interacting with the principles of American citizenship?

Fifth Topic: Women and their role in the family and society. In the light of Moderation.

1. General Islamic advancements with regard to the status and role of women in the family and society. (Spousal theory, The principle of equality between man and woman, the concept of differentiation and co mutuality between man and woman.
2. Islamic Moderation and achieving a balance between a woman’s role in her family and her role in society.
    - Woman’s rights between the extremists and radicals.
    - Woman’s employment as judged by Islamic Moderation.
    - The societal and political role of Muslim women in American society.
3. Islamic Moderation relating to the matter of women. Between the permissibility of licentiousness and the extremism of incorrect traditions.
4. The Female Rights movement in The United States Of America and a moderate appraisal of its mission and ways.

Sixth Topic: Media… The Moderation Hot Line.

The media constitutes the strongest and most effective logistical medium to spread and promote any social or religious values through its various means (written, audio, visual and visual). The more the clarity of the Islamic material and the effectiveness of its institutions, the more the success of the media message reaching the right places in the American public opinion. It is not possible to form an accurate Islamic media model in accordance to the principles of moderation without investigating the following topics:

1. What are the most prominent ways and tools of media impact that are needed to plant the concept and values of moderation.
2. The values of tolerance, cordiality, and affection clear imprints in Islamic literature and behaviour. What share of the Islamic media address contains these values? And has it been employed to serve the Moderate Islamic Understanding?
3. To what extent does the Islamic media address harmonize with the requirements of ‘modern media’ which display day to day issues in an open and developed way dealing with (human rights-freedom-family and children)
4. How can we embrace the Islamic media (fatwa) directed towards the Arabic and Islamic communities? And how can we trigger an improvement in the quality of Islamic transmissions to the American society through a specialized in media institutes which can fill the empty media gap by employing the use of varied and developing media channels.
5. Does the Islamic media in America possess a detailed work agenda to counter political exaggeration practised by American media to arouse public opinion?
6. What is the required stance outlaid by “Islamic Moderation” to the Islamic media address concerning issues of political parties-rights of women in politics-plurality of thought-integration of religion and politics.
7. Does the Islamic media address collide with its American counterpart? How can we consolidate the differences between the two addresses so as to boost the view of Islamic moderation?
8. What role is required of Islamic institutes in America in educating and enlightening the Arab and Islamic communities about Islamic moderation?
9. What are the ways and tools to narrow the differences found in individual reasoning and varied sources worldwide of rulings and the inconsistencies of the language used in the Islamic media address.
10. What is the required role that should be played by Islamic and Arabic channels such as (embassies and consulates) in supporting and guiding the moderate Islamic media address?
11. What is the role of Pan Arab-American committees to reconcile the Islamic Media address with Their American counterparts in promoting the concepts of moderation?
12. To what extent is it possible to formulate a media address that is capable of creating positive public opinion to correct the radical western view of Islam?