World Islamic Call Society (W.I.C.S.)

In Brief

The world Islamic Call Society (WICS) was founded in 1972 in compliance with decisions and recommendations taken by the First General Congress of the Islamic Call held in Tripoli, the Great Jamahariyah Arab Libyan Popular Socialist during al-Kanoun, 1970. This General Congress convened in response to the call of Brother Muamar el-Gadhafi after the elapse of one year only on the victory achieved by Great al-Fateh revolution to study the state of affairs of the Islamic Ummah and to work toward utilizing its potential in the service of this Ummah and support to right, justice and peace issue in the world. Participants recommended the necessity of establish a special public body with independent entity to be responsible for programming activities concerning the Islamic Call and identification of the Islamic civilization and culture.

Accordingly Law No 50 for 1972 was issued putting this recommendation in actual execution and establishing a general body for Islamic establish the name of the World Islamic Call Society with headquarters in Tripoli, Great Jamahiriya.

Organizational structure of WICS

The organizational structure of W.I.C.S. comprises: The General Congress which convenes once every four years in which participates over 250 Islamic establishments, bodies and organizations from more than 80 countries. The mission of the General Congress which is also the General lines for the Society’s activities and work programs in the religious, cultural, social and educational fields.

The General Congress selects 36 of its members to form the Islamic Call World Council which Is the Executive Council and will lay plans incorporating the General Congress recommendation and decisions in the form of the work programs and will determine the potentialities and means for their execution. The Islamic Call World Council meets once every year to undertake achievement of this mission.

The General Secretariat, formed of specialized administrations in the Islamic Call research, publication and information, international congresses and bodies will execute aid, investment, administrative and financial activities, in conformity with the decisions taken by the world Islamic Call Council and under its control by members from among its own members.

The Executive Committee is formed of five members who act as assistants to the Secretary General. Several countries had hosted the W.I.C.S meetings including Morocco, Mali, Senegal, Yemen, Maldives, Great Jamahiriya, Malaysia and Sri-Lanka.

  W.I.C.S. relations with international and regional Islamic organizations

  In appreciation of the Society’s effort in the Islamic and humanitarian fields, it enjoys  today membership status in a number of international bodies and organizations. It is an observer member of Category “B” in U.N.E.S.C.O; an observer member in the United Nations Organization (U.N); it maintains cooperation relation with tens of regional Islamic and humanitarian bodies and institutions encompassing the world. W.I.C.S. accomplished over more than a quarter of a century achievements which cannot be detailed herein. It is sufficient to mention some indication of the axes of its activities and philosophy to understand that ramification and diversification of operating leads to an integrated unification of the Islamic Call in its wide connotation.

  The Islamic Call college

In its belief that the Call is an education, a reminding and comprehendible polemic, the society focused its attention on teaching in its widest sense. Thus it instituted in 1974 the Islamic Call College which has at present two branches, in Syria and in Lebanon. The numbers of the  College’s graduates reached by the end of the scholastic year (1365 – 1366) 2000 of 60 nationalities and the number of the students in the College and its two branches for the scholastic year 1366 – 1367 exceeds 1900, male and female, nationals of 65 countries. The society appoints some graduates as Doats and teachers in countries which they intimately know. The College is a member of the Islamic Universities Alliance and maintains academic cooperation with a number of universities and educational institutes in many countries. The College curricula includes higher studies in Islamic jurisprudence and Arabic language and literature. It holds every year symposiums, seminars and lectures to which are invited visiting lectures coming from Arab and Islamic universities. It has published over 60 books dealing with various topics concerning Islamic culture and civilization, Islamic jurisprudence and Arabic literature.

The College publisher a magazine bearing the name of “The Islamic Call College Review” and 15 issues have so far been published. WI.C.S. supervises and finances in full the culture and academic teaching programs of the Islamic University in London. He Society supervises the Arab studies section in Benin University operating as an independent center.

  Over 1200 of the society’s Doats are spread all over the globe

  More than 1200 Doats, attached to the Society’s re spread in the world’s continents. They propagate their Islamic message in a great number of mosques, Islamic schools and education center which the Society has established or cooperated with their directors. The Society takes great care in efficiencies and qualifications of these Doats and ensure their regular supply with information to help them in successfully propagating their message. The Society provided financial and in kind aids to hundreds of Islamic bodies, institution, schools and centers in all parts of the world to enable them to fulfill their religious, cultural and social missions.

  Printing and publications of millions 

of copies the Holy Qur’an and Sacred Scriptures

  W.I.C.S. has printed and distributed millions of copies of the Holy Qur’an in full or in part, audio or video plus translations of its meanings in several languages which include English, French, Italian, Albanian, Housa, German, Spanish, Dutch, etc. Beside, it printed and distributed millions of copies of books dealing with topics of interest to Islam and treating with Islam’s precepts and principles in an unbiased and open manner.

  W.I.C.S. also publisher in Arabic, English and French the Islamic Call weekly Newspaper of which 676 issues have been published up to end of al-Kanoun, 1366 D.P.

  In addition the Society published several collections of educational material about the Arabic language and its literature as well as on Islamic topics for various educational stages and provided them to Islamic societies, schools and institutes particularly in African, South East Asian and Caribbean countriesTens of caravans of aid, food and medical supplies were dispatched

In line with the generous humanitarian ordinances of Islam, and in fulfillment of the Society’s objectives, W.I.C.S dispatched medical aid caravans to many countries in Africa and South East Asian carrying aid to displaced persons due to wars and natural disasters. Recipient countries include Zimbabwe, Burundi, Madagascar, Ghana, Mali, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Botswana, Guinea (Conakry), Guinea (Bissau), Senegal, Sudan, Djibouti, Zambia, Niger, Maldives, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh, Albania, Czeczna, Bosnia, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Chad, and Somalia. Tons of medicines, food supplies and clothes were distributed to distressed inhabitants of these countries. The Society is continuing its aid programs which produced positive reactions from all concerned parties as well as from the World Heath Organization (W.H.O) and U.N.I.C.E.F and other international institutions.

Building of hospitals and health clinics

W.I.C.S worked toward building hospitals and health clinics in Benin, Philippines, Bangladesh, Uganda and Ghana. It contributed with other Islamic bodies in the establishment of health clinics; it financed holding medical and scientific seminars and offered scholarships for the study of medicine in Great Jamahiriya. Universities to sons of Muslims.

Organization of seminars, study groups, meeting

 and symposiums in addition to publication of encyclopedic works.

  With the aim of studying problems which affect the lives of Muslims, W.I.C.S. organizes yearly symposiums and specialized seminars, meetings and colloquiums in which participate tens of professors, intellectuals, scientist and authors from all countries of the world. Up till present, more than forty specialized seminars, fifteen regional meetings and ten general conferences were held under W.I.C.S sponsorship. The Society also maintains wide and close cooperation with U.N.E.S.C.O in the publication of the of encyclopedic work including “Rewriting Mankind’s History” project, in which W.I.C.S fully finances the preparation and publishing of sections concerning finances also, under the supervision of U.N.E.S.C.O. the “Encyclopedia of Various Aspects of the Islamic Culture” with will appear in six volumes in English, Arabic and French languages.

  In another field, W.I.C.S has participated with U.N.E.S.C.O in financing a field scientific study of water resources in the Saharian belt. Result of this study were provided to institutions, and ministries involved in the region’s States. About $ 3,420,000 were disbursed in realizing this study.

  Consolidation of cooperation with specialized

 Islamic organizations and bodies having similar objectives

  W.I.C.S gave particular interest to cooperating venues with the Islamic Congress Organization and with the scientific and culture bodies and institution branching from it. It financially supported holding several colloquiums and seminars which the Islamic Congress Organization organized like for example:

The Conference of Islamic Minorities in Australia held during al-Fateh month, 1984; the First Conference of Islamic Societies in Australia and countries in the Pacific Ocean held during al-Harath month in 1995, the Second Meeting of Islamic Societies in Canada held during Attoumour month 1996; the symposium about the role of Islamic Call and Culture in federated Russia during Nasser month, 1994.

  W.I.C.S attends as an observer the meetings held within the frame of the Islamic Congress including the Islamic Summit meetings, and the periodical meetings of Foreign Affairs Ministers.

The Society expresses its keen interest in coordinating operations with Islamic bodies and organizations in the filed of the Islamic Call. In this respect, it has hosted the Eleventh Assembly of the Coordinating Committee attached to the Islamic Congress during al-Fateh, 1996 in Tripoli. It fully financed the meeting of the Experts Committee which drew a work strategy for the Coordinating Committee held in Cairo during al-Mai month, 1996. W.I.C.S financed as well as the meeting of the group of experts held in Cairo in Annouar month, 1998 who met to study ways and means of overcoming challenges which will confront the Islamic Ummah in the coming century.

  W.I.C.S. worked toward increasing its cooperation with the Islamic Scientific, Social and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). It cooperated with it in organizing a number of training courses for teachers of Arabic language and the Holy Qur’an in Senegal, Mauritania, Djibouti, Malaysia, Niger, Holland, Malta, Bangladesh, Maldives, Britain and the Comorros. The Society cofinanced with ISESCO specialized seminars in Egypt, Qatar, Jamahiriya, Sudan, Nigeria and Morocco.

The Society maintains close cooperation with ISESCO in the publication, translation and writing of Islamic books and reference books on ISESCO member states as well as commissioning educators to work in the research sections of various universities in Africa and South East Asia and in the research sections of various universities in Africa and South East Asia and in providing these sections with equipment and supplies to preserve Arab and Islamic manuscripts. The volume of the Society’s cooperation with ISESCO reached $ 2510000 up to the end of 1997, an agreement was reached with ISESCO concerning implementation of a cooperation program for teaching the Arabic language and propagation of the Islamic culture in the Great Saharian belt countries during the coming three years at as cost of $ 4 million.

  W.I.C.S maintains cooperation links with Academy of Islamic Jurisprudence. It support publication of the Academy’s review and cofinance with it holding of seminars and study programs concerning the Academy’s specialization.

  W.I.C.S also collaborates with the Center for Islamic History, Arts and Culture in Istanbul and with the Arab education, Sciences and Culture Organization (AESCO) as well as with bodies involved in holding study seminars, printing of Islamic books and exchange of  information.

  Holding dialogue meetings with 

Christian Organizations and bodies.

Basing itself on Allah’s words:“And argue not with the people of the scripture unless it be a way that is better”. (The Spider-9) and in its belief that meetings and dialogues are the beast means to understand others in order to buttress peace, affirm human fraternity and contribute and contribute in building a civilization that shuns hate, aversion and war, W.I.C.S. held several dialogue meetings in Tripoli, Rome, Malta and Vienna with the Papal Council for Dialogue between Religious in the Vatican during which took place discussions of the basics Islam and Christianity and their mutual relations and debates concerning cooperation venues in humanitarian fields which strengthen peace, right and equality principles. The Society Christian bodies including the World Council of Churches and the Catholic Commission for Refugees Affairs as well as a colloquium in Malta to discuss cooperation refugees dilemmas through providing humanitarian services to them.

  W.I.C.S attitudes toward political issues in the Islamic World

  W.I.C.S attitudes were firm,, constant, clear and fundamental toward many political issues in the Islamic in the Islamic World the foremost of which is Palestine and Al-Quds (Jerusalem) issues. The Society stressed in its assemblies and meetings on the necessity to liberate all Palestine, the return of its people and the support of the Palestinian people in the acquisition of all its rights. It drew Zionist attempts to Judas sacred places in Palestine and in particular Al-Aqsa Mosque, the First Qibla and the Third Mosque in Islam. It called upon Islamic states, bodies and societies to amalgamate their efforts and to amass resources in order to be able to confront Zionist threats enjoying full support from United States of America. The Society’s attitudes reflected a particular interest in Muslims’ issues in Afghanistan, Czecznia, Bosnia, Albania and Khasmir. It the Philippines, Thailand, China, and Bulgaria and to enable them assert their Islamic identity and acquire their full right. The Society called to rejection their Islamic identity and aggression methods in order to let the world live in peace with justice, right, equality and freedom.

  W.I.C.S. expressed in all meetings and through its various literary  works its grave concern and apprehension toward the policies of siege and starvation followed by certain big powers in order to impose their hegemony on Islamic peoples under false allegation and pretexts. The Society pointed to the danger encircling world peace and stability through the policy of biased treatment followed by certain big powers which created grave frustration among small nations thus prompting terror and radicalism phenomena. The Society called always for the settlement of international and regional disputes within frame dialogue and compromise according to international was and conventions.

  The above is just a brief summary of the World Islamic call Society’s propagation,  cultural, social and humanitarian activity in its broad lines, to expound the efforts exerted by the Society in the aim of advancement of Islamic communities, supporting peace, security, justice and equality, affirming strongly Islam’s honor and realizing Muslims advance and development.

W.I.C.S. Malaysia Office, Mohamed N.