Posted on 09/04/2005 10:28:15 AM PDT by F15Eagle
To: National and Assignment Desks, Daybook Editor
Contact: Merissa Khurma of the Embassy of Jordan, 202-265-1606 or Jordaninfo1@aol.com
CHICAGO, Aug. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- His Majesty King Abdullah II will deliver, for the first time, a taped address to the 42nd Annual Convention of The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) on Friday, Sept. 2. The Jordanian Monarch will express his gratitude to American Muslims for their work and endless efforts to correct the image of Islam in the United States and beyond, and encourage them to continue working within the American system to improve the lives of all Muslims and all Americans alike.
The address comes one week in advance of His Majesty's upcoming visit to the United States where he will deliver speeches to Jewish, Christian and Muslim audiences. En route to the U.S., King Abdullah will also meet with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to build on the strong relations that Jordan had established with Pope John Paul II, and discuss ways in which Muslims and Christians can continue to work together for peace, tolerance and coexistence.
His Majesty King Abdullah's remarks will build on the Amman Message on Islam, launched in November 2004, as well as the International Islamic Conference on "True Islam and its Role in Modern Society" hosted by King Abdullah II in Amman, Jordan July 4 - 6, 2005. In the signed final declaration of this conference, over 180 scholars representing 45 countries -- supported by fatwas garnered beforehand from 17 of the world's major Islamic scholars including the Shaykh Al-Azhar, Grand Ayatollah Sistani and Sheikh Yusef Al-Qardawi -- achieved a unanimous consensus condemning the practice known as takfir (calling others "apostates") that is used by extremists to justify violence. The declaration also recognized the legitimacy of all eight of the traditional schools of Islamic religious law (madhhabs) from the Sunni, Shi'i and Ibadi branches of Islam, and identified their common principles and beliefs. It then defined the necessary qualifications and conditions for issuing fatwas, thereby exposing the illegitimacy of the so-called fatwas justifying terrorism that is issued "outside" of the traditional schools of Islamic religious law and in clear violation of Islam's core principles.
For more information, contact Merissa Khurma at 202-265-1606 or Jordaninfo1@aol.com
http://www.usnewswire.com/
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Abdullah_ibn_al-Hussein
King Abdullah ibn al-Hussein (officially, Abdullah II of Jordan is the ruling monarch of Jordan. An acknowledged fan of Star Trek, King Abdullah (then Crown Prince of Jordan) appeared as an uncredited extra in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Investigations" (he appears in the episode's opening scene, as a medical officer who speaks with Harry Kim as the scene fades in). [edit]
And his wife's a hottie too.
This guy isn't perfect, but he's got a lot on the ball. The Muslim world would do well to listen to him.
Unfortunately the books still say the same thing. That is what makes me very skeptical. Yes he's very polished and smart, no doubt about that. But he knows the writings of the "texts".
You point is valid, but that's not what I'm talking about.
Jordan has (grudgingly, it's true) become a peaceful neighbor of Israel, not because they've suddenly come to love Jews, but because Abdullah I figured out that peace means profit. His son, Abdullah II, is no dope. Jordan has seen a substantial rise in individual wealth ever since they opted out of the "drive Israel into the sea" club, and I think Abdullah II is down with that.
He's everything the Palestinian Authority needs in a leader, for example.
"his gratitude to American Muslims for their work and endless efforts to correct the image of Islam"
American Muslims may think they've played the system with intimidation and big buck lawyers, but the image of Islam remains that of murderous, lying, back stabbing fiends.
It would seem 4 straight defeats took the will out of his father. During the final siege on Israel, the Jews will flee to Bozrah, which is Edom, which is in Jordan. And of course, this is believed to be Petra.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.