Al-Maktoum Institute For Arabic and Islamic Studies, Research Culture, Conferences, 2003 Islamicjerusalem Conference

2003 Islamicjerusalem Conference

The 2003 International Academic Conference on Islamic Jerusalem was held on Monday 21 April 2003. The theme for this year's conference was "Prophetic Temples and Al-Aqsa Mosque - Demystifying Realities and Exploring Identities". This was the fifth time that a conference on Islamic Jerusalem was held by the Islamic Research Academy and the first time it is organised jointly with the Institute. The uniqueness of this conference is that it presented new and innovative theories in Islamic Jerusalem Studies.

This highly successful conference was attended by participants mainly from Scotland but also from as far as the USA, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Israel and Palestine. The conference was introduced by The Lord Elder of Kirkcaldy, Chancellor of Al-Maktoum Institute. Mr Ernie Ross MP, member of the Institute Council, read the Opening Speech on behalf of His Excellency Mr Mirza Al-Sayegh, Chairman of the Institute Board. The Lord Provost John Letford also attended the Opening Session of the conference.

Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi presented an innovative paper entitled "Exploring the Identity of Islamic Jerusalem". As the pioneer of this noble field of enquiry, Professor El-Awaisi explained what he means by the term "Islamic Jerusalem". He admitted that it took him three years to come to this definition and that it may take several years before the actual definition is accepted by the wider public. He concluded that from his own research, Islamic Jerusalem is a region that spans 40 miles by 40 miles with Al-Aqsa Mosque as the centre point. Professor El-Awaisi also pointed out that Islamic Jerusalem was built on the vision of inclusivity and plurality. Both led to the development of a peaceful and harmonious multicultural society in Islamic Jerusalem.

Professor El-Awaisi indicated that Islamic Jerusalem can be used as the model for the advancement of a multicultural, multireligious society anywhere in the world. Professor El-Awaisi also explained the "Circle Theory", which is a new theory he developed based on new interpretations of the primary Islamic sources and history.

The other main speakers were Professor George Wesley Buchanan, New Testament Emeritus Scholar (USA), and Mr David Sielaff from Associates for Scriptural Knowledge (USA). Professor Buchanan presented a paper on "The Temple near the Spring of Siloan: Its Biblical Confirmation and Insights" while Mr Sielaff's paper was entitled "The Jewish Temple Above the Gihon Spring: 1700 Years of Eyewitness Evidence." Both speakers presented overwhelming evidence on the actual location of the Jewish Temple and they both confirmed that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is not the location of the Jewish Temple, as claimed by some. Both speakers expressed disappointment by the claims that Al-Aqsa Mosque was built on the ruins of the Jewish Temple as these claims were not based on solid evidence.

A paper by Professor Adel Hassan Ghoneim of Egypt entitled "Al-Buraq Wall (the Western Wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque): Historical Realities" was presented in the afternoon sessions by Dr Mohammad Nasser of Dundee University. Another paper by Dr Haithem Al-Ratrout of An-Najah National University (Palestine) entitled "Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Quranic Archaeology" was also presented by Mrs Aisha Al-Ahlas of Al-Maktoum Institute.

Dr Othman Al-Tel, a post-doctoral student at Al-Maktoum Institute, presented another paper entitled "The Interest of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab in the Location of David's Temple in Jerusalem: Myth or Reality." Dr Al-Tel was also announced as the winner of the prestigious Islamic Jerusalem Prize for Young Scholars 2002.

The award was issued by the Islamic Research Academy to young scholars who submit outstanding published or unpublished academic research related to Islamic Jerusalem Studies. Additionally, Shaikh Raid Salah was announced as winner of the Al-Maqdissi Award for his outstanding work in Al-Aqsa Mosque.