Foreword

Indeed, Allah Almighty sent His Messenger, Mohammed bin Abdullah, Peace be upon him, heralding Islam, the religion of monotheism and divine guidance, a message of brotherhood, mutual acquaintance and coexistence among the human beings to build up civilization, make peace pervade the earth and let justice, equality, concord and charity take triumph over injustice, discrimination, animosity and wicked alliances.

The principle of human brotherhood, the unity of origin and the equality of rights in the pursuit of decent life in dignity and freedom are the mainstay of the relationship established by Islam with the rest of non- Muslim communities, with the aim of achieving mutual benefits and rearing common interests, to make of the world a better place to live in. Over its history, the Islamic civilization has been actively engaged in a cross- fertilisation process, interacting with the world civilizations and opening up onto peoples and nations indiscriminately. It capitalised on the expertise gained by other nations in as wide a variety as science, arts, literature, industries, administration and lifestyles. Even when it reached its peak, the Islamic civilization used to be a universal civilization offering a sublime model of coexistence, dialogue and cooperation for the general well- being of humanity.

Islam is in essence a call for coexistence, mutual understanding and dialogue. It recognises no difference on a racial ground. All people are descents from Adam and Adam is from mud. The Quran urges on rapprochement among peoples and nations: “O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other.”- Al- Hujourat, 13. This Quranic verse is the linchpin for the Islamic perception of human coexistence built on genuine and true equality.

Being faithful to this spirit, Muslims had, over history, to open onto nations of the Orient and the West alike. They acquainted themselves with the rest of world civilizations and cultures and showed hardly emulated examples of integration and coexistence, all operated evenly and smoothly in a unique sense of brotherhood.

This sense of tolerance brought Muslims closer to all cultures of the Orient and the West. Most specifically, Muslims managed to develop extraordinary relationships with the West, despite the fact that the Muslim world has been lagging behind, as a result of the Crusades and the Western colonisation and invasion of Muslim lands in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, as well as the occupation  of Palestine and establishment of the State of Israel on Palestinian territories with the full support of the West. Once again, Muslims proved tolerant and embarked on fruitful exchange with the West, learning from it and integrating its cultural, civilizational and economic pattern, reflecting, one more time, the genuine image of Islam and giving crystal- clear embodiment of its teachings that urge on coexistence with all peoples and nations.

In the present book which the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is proud to offer to the readership, the author, Mr Hassan Saeed Al-Karmi, an eminent intellectual and journalist, reviews most extensively and thoroughly the relationship between the West and Islam.

Let success be bestowed upon us by Allah in Whom we put our trust.