World Muslim Congress

The historical background of the World Muslim Congress is linked in reference material to early twentieth-century attempts to create forums for Muslim consultation. A congress was convened in Mecca in 1926 by Ibn Saud after his occupation of Mecca and Medina. Mohammad Amin al-Husayni, who later became associated with the World Muslim Congress, was a prominent participant in that earlier gathering. The meeting was intended to address the status and administration of the holy cities and to seek broader Islamic recognition, but it reportedly generated criticism rather than the endorsement its sponsor hoped to secure. It was not reconvened in the same form. The organization known as the World Muslim Congress was formally founded in 1949 at the World Muslim Conference in Karachi. Its establishment followed the creation of Pakistan in 1947 and reflected the political and religious environment of the new state. Mohammad Amin al-Husayni presided over the conference and was elected president of the Congress. Inamullah Khan was a co-founder and became its secretary-general, holding that position for more than four decades. His long tenure made him the central operational and public figure in the organization’s modern history. The Congress developed as an Islamic international forum rather than as a commercial brand. Its stated institutional orientation is associated with Muslim cooperation, conferences, international advocacy, and engagement with questions affecting Muslim communities. The supplied historical record does not provide a full chronology of its meetings, offices, membership, or programs, and it does not establish the dates of all later leadership changes. Consequently, many aspects of the organization’s post-founding activity cannot be dated reliably. The organization’s international recognition increased in the late twentieth century. The World Muslim Congress received the Niwano Peace Prize in 1987. Inamullah Khan received the Templeton Prize in 1988. These honors connected the Congress and its leading secretary-general with peacebuilding, religious engagement, and interfaith concerns. The Congress also holds general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, placing it among nongovernmental organizations able to engage with a major United Nations body. Reference material lists Abdullah Omar Nasseef as president, Abdullah Omer Naseer as vice-president, Senator Raja Zafar-ul-Haq as secretary-general, and Mallam AbdulRazzaq Ibrahim Salman as executive director of the Nigerian office. The available source does not state when these appointments began or whether every listed officeholder remains in post. The organization maintains a website under the Arabic transliteration Motamar al-Alam al-Islami, but publicly supplied information is insufficient to document a detailed contemporary organizational structure or program portfolio.

• 1988

  Templeton Prize awarded to Inamullah Khan

  [1]World Muslim Congressen.wikipedia.org

  Inamullah Khan, the Congress’s long-serving secretary-general and co-founder, received the Templeton Prize.

• 1987

  Niwano Peace Prize

  [1]World Muslim Congressen.wikipedia.org

  The World Muslim Congress received the Niwano Peace Prize.

• 1949

  World Muslim Congress formally founded

  [1]World Muslim Congressen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was established at the World Muslim Conference in Karachi following the creation of Pakistan. Mohammad Amin al-Husayni presided over the conference and was elected president.

• 1926

  Mecca congress provides historical background

  [1]World Muslim Congressen.wikipedia.org

  A congress was convened in Mecca by Ibn Saud after his occupation of Mecca and Medina. Mohammad Amin al-Husayni was associated with the meeting, which reportedly produced criticism and was not reconvened in the same form.

An international Islamic forum and advocacy organization focused on Muslim cooperation, religious dialogue, and representation in international affairs.

1. 1World Muslim Congressen.wikipedia.org
2. 2World Muslim Congress official websitemotarmaralalamalislami.org