Thursday, January 27 2005 13:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Putrajaya (Malaysia): Asking the Muslim world to seriously address the issue of jihad, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today (Jan 27, 2005) told a gathering of scholars and academics from 16 Islamic countries to combat extremism and catch up with the advanced world.

"It is most unfortunate that some have narrowed down the concept of jihad to qatal (killing), which concerns physical fighting," he said inaugurating a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Commission of Eminent Persons in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

The Chairman of the 57-member OIC said it was even more unfortunate that this was the only meaning commonly understood by the general public.

"If Muslims themselves can make this mistake, what more can we expect from others," he asked and added that Muslims therefore were as much to blame for this distortion of the meaning of jihad.

Referring to suicide attacks by Muslim militants in the name of jihad, he said, "Any kind of action violent in nature causing the killings of innocent people cannot be accepted."

Badawi said that the Muslim world must do more to disabuse others of their mistaken impressions of Islam and Muslims." "Islam does not enjoin upon its adherents to mount attacks on others," he said, adding, "It was unfortunate that some people mistakenly see links between the teachings of Islam on the one hand and the extremism, militancy and terrorism engaged by some Muslim groups on the other."

Calling upon the Muslims to try and correct the world's "ignorant and extremely damaging perception" that their countries support terrorism and militancy," the Malaysian Premier said the inability of the Muslims to break free from this profiling has done grave injustice to a "noble religion whose very name means peace."

Badawi said that the OIC needed to gain the trust and confidence of non-Muslims.

The OIC was the best place to correct misconceptions about Islam in the non-Muslim world, he said adding that inter-civilisational dialogues should underscore the importance of justice and human dignity.

Later, the Premier said at a press meet that it was vital for Muslims to do well in education, science and technology and economically.

"Then they will be respected," he said observing that long ago when the "western world was still living in dark ages, the Muslim world that time was already enlightened. Everything that is developed in today's standard already existed in the Muslim world then," he said.

It was imperative for Muslims to educate themselves, he emphasised adding, "Without knowledge there could be no success. If Muslims are weak economically and in education, they will be subjected to all kinds of pressure."

Urging the Muslim world to take the international media seriously, he said, "For it is through the media that others form their impressions of us."

He also stressed upon the need to close the divide between the Muslim world and the west.