This will be a joint conference organized by the Southern Rhode Island Islamic Society (SRIIS) and the Islamic Council of New England (ICNE), both not-for-profit public education organizations. The SRIIS started the University of Rhode Island (URI) Muslim Cultural Heritage Program in 1995 with the objective of promoting understanding between the Muslims and other communities and working together with other communities seeking solutions to various problems our society is facing. This year’s will be the fourth such annual program. The ICNE is an umbrella organization with all the Muslim organizations of New England as its members and puts together its annual conference to deal with various issues facing the community. This year’s will be its fifteenth such conference. Since ICNE is an organization of organizations, it holds its conference every year at an educational institution in a different state—last year’s was held at MIT. Dr. Mohammed Sharif, Professor of Economics at the University of Rhode Island has been given the responsibility this year of putting the conference together as the Coordinator of the URI program and the Chair of the ICNE conference committee.

The Muslims are a new and growing community in this pluralistic society and can make positive contributions in dealing with its problems. Islam has an established history of great ethical and moral standards. The success of Islamic civilization was rooted in the strength of and uncompromising adherence to its ethical and moral codes of conduct. As Indian philosopher Sorojini Naidu writes,

Emphasizing the simplicity of these codes of conducts, on the one hand, and their effectiveness, on the other, Reverend Bosworth Smith writes about the Prophet of Islam,

Head of the State as well as the Church, he was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without the Pope’s pretensions, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar, without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a police force, without a fixed revenue. If ever a man ruled by a right divine, it was Muhammad, for he had all the powers without their supports. He cared not for the dressings of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life. (Reverend Bosworth Smith, Muhammad and Muhammadanism, London, 1874).

The strength of this unusual combination of simplicity with grandeur is very elegantly summed up by Gibbon and Oakley,

The greatest success of Mohammad’s life was effected by sheer moral force. (Edward Gibbon and Simon Oakley, History of the Saracen Empire, London, 1870).

T.W. Arnold adds,

Perhaps the most rational of Islamic code of conduct is in its prescription for a balanced view of life and rejection of extremism in living and acting one’s life—materialistic and spiritual. Thus the Qur’an declares,

Eat and drink of that which God has provided and act not corruptly, making mischief in the world. (2:66)

And the monasticism which they have innovated, We did not prescribe it for them. (57:27)

God desires ease for you and desires not hardship for you. (2:185)

The most simple but convincing ethical injunctions of Islam relate to the social responsibility of its followers. Thus, the Qur’an says,

Oh, you who believe! Be upright for God, bearers of witness with justice, and let not the hatred of others make you swerve away from justice. Be just, this is nearer to piety, and fear God, for God is Aware of what you do. (5:8)

Prophet Muhammad declared,

He is not a true Muslim who eats his fill when his next door neighbor is hungry. (Bukhari, p.52:112)

Impressed by such characteristics of Islam, George Bernard Shaw writes,

Since Islamic perspective is in focus, we have chosen and signed up speakers, with the exception of one, with Islamic backgrounds only. However, to put in contrast and to take the speakers perspective to test, all the discussants are deliberately chosen from non-Muslim backgrounds.

Dr. Ahmed Elkadi will talk on Abortion, Assisted Suicide, and Death Penalty. Dr. Elkadi is President of the Institute of Islamic Medicine for Education and Research based in Panama City, Florida and President of Immune Technology Group in Fort Lee, New Jersey. He has practiced thoracic cardiovascular and general surgery in Springfield, Missouri and Panama City, Florida, and taught courses on surgery at the University of Missouri Medical Center and affiliated hospitals. Dr. Elkadi has his M.D. from Graz University, Austria, D.S.Gen. from Vienna University, M.V.A.S. from Austria, and E.C.F.M.G. from the USA. He has published about 100 scholarly research articles in various professional medical journals and made presentations in many professional conferences.

Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy, University of Rhode Island, will make, as a discussant, a critical review of the presentation made by Dr. Elkadi and provide her own perspective. Dr. Pasquerella has published extensively in the fields of theoretical and applied ethics, public policy, medical ethics, and philosophy of law. She has her A.B. from Mount Holyoke College and Ph.D. from Brown University.

Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed will make his presentation on Organ Transplantation, Genetic Engineering, and Cloning. Dr. Syed is Professor of Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Professor of Medicine—Medical Physics, Nuclear Cardiology, Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Radionuclide Studies, at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky. He is a Fellow of the American College of Radiology, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, London, UK, a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health, London, UK. He is the President of the Islamic Research Foundation in Louisville, Kentucky. He has published on various aspects of Islamic Sciences and speaks frequently at different conferences and interfaith gatherings. He appeared on TV many times to speak on issues relating to the Muslim community. Dr. Syed has his undergraduate studies in India and graduate studies from Dalhousie University and Johns Hopkins University (Ph.D.).

Dr. Asif Razvi will moderate this session. Dr. Razvi is Clinical Professor of Surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine, Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center of Boston, and Director of Vein Center at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. He is the President of the Islamic Center of Boston and past President of the Islamic Council of New England. He talks on ethics in medicine.

Mrs. Sanaa Nadim will speak on Family Values—Treatment of Women, Children, and Elderly. Mrs. Nadim is the Muslim Chaplain at the State University of New York, Stony Brook. Her main work is to organize discussion groups and make presentations on Islamic issues to the campus and various interfaith communities. She has an extensive knowledge on the status of women, children, and elderly in Islam and made presentations at various national and international conferences including International Unity Conference in Washington, D.C., 1998, International Women’s Conference, New York, 1998, Universal Spirituality—ISC Canada, 1996, and Faith and Spiritual Worship, London, 1993. She also spoke at many university campuses. Mrs. Nadim has her BBA from CUNY Bernard Baruch College.

Dr. Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, Professor of Anthropology at Rhode Island College will present a critical review of this talk and provide her own views. Dr. Fluehr-Lobban is an award-winning scholar on Muslim societies in the Middle East and North Africa—she has published extensively on her research on various aspects of the Muslim society. Her publications include many books and journal articles on the status of women, children, and elderly in Islam and its various ethical dimensions.

Reverend Dr. G. Simon Harak, S.J. will make his presentation on Blockades and Sanctions against Countries. Reverend Harak is a dedicated Jesuit who has recently resigned his tenured full professorship at Fairfield University to work full time against the economic sanctions on Iraq. He also held the John Early Visiting Professor Chair at Loyola College in Baltimore. He has published five books as author and editor and is currently writing one and editing another. He traveled to Iraq with "Voices in the Wilderness," bringing medicine and toys to the Iraqi children in open and public violation of the US law. He is spending time touring the country and giving talks on the ethics of the sanctions and their effects. Reverend Harak has his M.Div. from the Jesuit School of Theology, M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Maureen W. Moakley, Professor of Political Science and Co-Director of the John Hazen White Center for Ethics and Public Service at the University of Rhode Island will discuss the presentation made by Reverend Harak. Dr. Moakley has published three books as author and editor and contributed many book chapters and journal articles. She has made presentations to numerous professional conferences. She is currently the President of New England Political Science Association, and Visiting Research Scholar at the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University. Dr. Moakley has her Ph.D. from Rutgers University.

Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary will moderate this session. Dr. Mattson has her undergraduate studies majoring in Philosophy from the University of Waterloo, Canada and her graduate studies in Islamic Studies from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Ishrat Z. Husain will speak on Unbridled Accumulation and Concentration of Income and Wealth—Poverty, Hunger, and Homelessness. Dr. Husain is Senior Technical Adviser at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Before joining the USAID, she worked for the World Bank for 25 years in managing human development and poverty reduction operations with special emphasis on Africa. Reducing poverty, improving nutrition, health, and education, and reducing the growth of population are the subjects of her special interest and expertise. Dr. Husain has her M.A. and Ph.D. from the Lucknow University in India.

Dr. Arthur B. Stein, Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island will act as discussant for this talk. Dr. Stein teaches and does research on the world’s religions and global change, and is a strong advocate of universal human rights and social justice. He is a co-founder of the newly-formed Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island.

Imam Muhammad Abdur Razzaq Miller will make his presentation on Business Ethics—Drug Dealings, Gambling, and Consumerism. Imam Miller is the Head Imam of the Mosque of Shaikh Muhammad Rahim Bawa Muhaiyaddeen in Philadelphia. He is a student and follower of Sufi tradition in Islam, member, Philadelphia Commission on Human Rights, Interfaith Support Group, Economic Development Commission, Commission on Human Relations/Interagency Task Force on Civic Tension, Islamic Jewish Dialogue Group, and Jewish Council of Greater Philadelphia. Imam Miller has his A.B. from Dartmouth College.

Mr. Robert B. Whitcomb, Editorial Page Editor of The Providence Journal Bulletin will provide a critical review of the presentation on business ethics. Mr. Whitcomb writes columns which appear nationally through Journal-Bulletin’s joint venture with Knight-Ridder Tribune and Journal-Bulletin-managed wire services. He is the consulting editor of Manisses Communications Group’s newsletters: Primary Care Weekly, Mental Health Weekly, The Psychology Letter, The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory and Application, The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, The Brown University Long-Term Care Quality Letter, and Behavioral Health Outcomes. He is also a co-host of The Truman Taylor Show on ABC in Southern New England, and Journal-Bulletin’s Chief content coordinator for the annual Providence Journal/Brown University Public Affairs Conference. Mr. Whitcomb has his A.B. from Dartmouth College and M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Dr. Omar E. M. Khalil, Professor of Business Information Systems and Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs and Activities at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth will moderate this session. Dr. Khalil specializes in Business Ethics and has published substantially on the subject. He is also the advisor to the Islamic Society of UMass-Dartmouth and the coordinator of the UMass-Dartmouth Muslim Cultural Heritage Program.

Dr. Muneer W. Fareed, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at the Wayne State University will deliver our keynote speech on Character of the Ruler, Racism, and Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Dr. Fareed has his undergraduate education at King Abdul Aziz University in Makkah, Islamic education at Deoband, India, and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He has published two books and made presentations to many Islamic and professional conferences.

Mr. Richard C. Dujardin, religion newswriter of Providence Journal Bulletin will act as the discussant for the lecture on Character of the Ruler. Mr. Dujardin has won Religion Newswriters Association’s Templeton Reporter of the Year Award, Supple Award for Excellence, and three Wilbur Awards from the Religious Public Relations Council. He has his education from Fordham University and Brown University.

Dr. M. Saleem Bajwa, Executive Director of the Islamic Council of New England will moderate this session. Dr. Bajwa specializes in internal and pulmonary medicine. He is a trustee and the treasurer of the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts and a past president and Chairman of the Board of Regents of the Islamic Medical Association of North America. Dr. Bajwa has his graduate education from King Edward Medical College in Pakistan.

There will be a concluding session for interfaith commentary from the representatives of different faiths. This will include commentaries by Mr. Anthony Maione of National Conference, Reverend James Miller of RI Council of Churches, Mrs. Claire Sartore-Stein of South County Interfaith Council, Dr. Jane Smith of Hartford Seminary, Dr. Kimat Khattak of American Muslim Alliance, and Dr. Saleem Bajwa of the Islamic Council of New England.

The opening session of the conference scheduled for 9:30 in the morning will be addressed, among others, by Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund, President of the Hartford Seminary, Mr. Naim Assil, President of the Islamic Council of New England, and Dr. Robert L. Carothers, President of the University of Rhode Island.

There will be a youth program with two sessions—one will be devoted to the presentations made by the youth and the other will deal with the questions posed by the youth to a panel of scholars and adults drawn from the community. This will run concurrently with the adult program.

Baby sitting services for specific hours of the conference sessions will be provided to the participating parents.

We have already gained sponsorship for the conference from important offices within the campus of the University of Rhode Island and an organization outside the University. The Office of the President, the Department of Philosophy, and John Hazen White, Sr. Center for Ethics and Public Service, of the University of Rhode Island and the Hartford Seminary have committed to support this event.

The primary target of the conference is the faculty, staff, and students at the University of Rhode Island, the community in the State of Rhode Island and other States around New England. The ICNE conference usually draws about 600/700 people and the URI Muslim Cultural Heritage Program about 300/400 people. Thus, we can expect at least 700 participants which might even go up to 1,000. We plan to publicize the conference by circulating a flyer (copy enclosed), using the campus newspapers—the 5Cent Cigar and the University Pacer and WRIU, the local newspaper Narragansett Times, and the State newspaper the Providence Journal Bulletin. For mailing the conference flyer, we will use the directory already compiled using our earlier conference participants. We also have a web page on the internet: http://www.uri.edu/muslim/1999 and we will put the information there with links to URI events.

The performance of the conference will be evaluated by tracking attendance at the conference and its specific sessions, and the participants’ evaluation of the sessions using a written questionnaire.