• Introduction:

The circumstances and concerns of Muslim minorities globally have historically garnered considerable scholarly attention from the nation’s academics and intellectuals. This scholarly endeavor has resulted in the compilation of extensive geographical and historical encyclopedias that elucidate the conditions of these minorities, their areas of prevalence, institutions, and the historical context of Islam in the countries where these minorities exist. Furthermore, a substantial body of literature has been produced, encompassing various dimensions of the legal, political, social, and cultural aspects of these minorities’ lives. However, this comprehensive interest has been waning since the early 2000s, as if the issues of Muslim minorities have become outdated and no longer require new research or attention.

In truth, the issues facing Muslims are constantly evolving and require new perspectives for their discussion and presentation. The conditions of Muslims themselves are also changing, not just decade by decade, but year by year. These minorities, which previously had no societal acceptance, have now become recognized forces with political, union, and economic representation. Conversely, those minorities that once lived harmoniously and integrated within their societies now face different realities, presenting new challenges. The majority of the world’s Muslims, however, remain indifferent or at least unaffected by these changes.

The ongoing conflicts in the Islamic world have prompted new waves of Muslim migration to various countries, particularly in Europe. Many European countries were already imposing numerous challenges on their Muslim residents before the recent increase in refugees and migrants due to conflicts and civil wars in the Middle East. This influx coincided with the rise of far-right movements across Europe, the United States, and other Latin American countries, exacerbating the spread of Islamophobia. This phenomenon has led to increased violence and harassment against Muslims, restrictions on their religious practices, and limitations on their participation in social and political life as citizens of these countries.

  • Project Overview and Impact:

Approximately one-third of the global Muslim population resides as numerical minorities across various regions worldwide. A substantial segment of these minorities endures diverse forms of political and social marginalization, persecution, and torture. Conversely, others benefit from enhanced opportunities for peaceful coexistence and integration within their respective communities. In both contexts, several critical issues and questions emerge: How can we comprehend the circumstances and policies that have precipitated the persecution or coexistence of Muslims? In what manner have Muslims engaged with societies that differ from them culturally and religiously? What roles do they play politically, socially, and economically? What are the principal challenges confronting Muslim minorities? Furthermore, how do these minorities navigate these challenges through institutional and political mechanisms?

These questions are framed within a broader inquiry that the encyclopedia aims to address by answering these specific queries: How can the concept of the Ummah (the global Muslim community) be represented and realized through Muslim minorities in non-Muslim countries?

To address these questions, the encyclopedia encompasses five main sections:

The First Section: Foundational, This section encompasses historical, theoretical, and geographical subjects pertaining to minorities broadly, with a particular emphasis on Muslim minorities. The research within this section demonstrates that individuals who historically resided under Islamic governance were not regarded as minorities and were treated on an equal footing with Muslims. Jews and Christians, whether Arab or otherwise, coexisted and engaged in commerce within Muslim territories without facing discrimination. Additionally, these studies furnish detailed maps depicting the contemporary distribution of Muslims worldwide and project the future sustainability of their presence. Furthermore, they elucidate the legal frameworks established for the protection of Muslim minorities.

Four Applied Sections: These are distributed across different regions and continents of the world: Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Australia. In each section, the studies delve into the conditions of Muslim minorities in the respective country, region, or territory under examination. They explain their geographical, demographic, and ethnic divisions, and elucidate the roles of various Islamic organizations. Additionally, they address the primary issues and challenges faced by Muslims, both currently and potentially in the future. Each paper presented in these four applied sections includes the following:

  1. Monitoring the nature and characteristics of the minority, including economic, social, religious, sectarian, and denominational aspects.
  2. Highlighting the intellectual and social contributions of the Muslim minority elites.
  3. Mapping Islamic organizations and their level of engagement in society and politics.
  4. Clarifying the relationship between minorities and the political and economic forces in society.
  5. Addressing current issues and challenges faced by the minority.
  6. Explaining the role of external factors in empowering and sustaining the minority.

Researchers of the Muslim Minorities Project:

  1. Dr. Maher Hamid
  2. Dr. Mona El-Shafie
  3. Dr. Aisha Abdel Hamid (Algeria)
  4. Islam Ibrahim Harb (Palestine)
  5. Tamer Nady Abdel Azim (Egypt)
  6. Dr. Doubali Khadija (Algeria)
  7. Dr. Sahar El-Sayed Ibrahim El-Sayed
  8. Ahmed Mohamed Bassiouni
  9. Paulios Bergaudas (Abdul Hakim)
  10. Mohamed Khalifa Siddiq (Sudan)
  11. Dr. Ismail Hamid (Egypt)
  12. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmed Hadiya (Egypt)
  13. Dr. Samir Mohamed Ali Hassan El-Radisi
  14. Dr. Ahmed Abdel Dayem
  15. Dr. Doaa Oweida
  16. Dr. Ilham Jabr Shamali (Palestine)
  17. Dr. Nouman Atef Amro
  18. Dr. Hanaa Abdel Karim Fadl
  19. Fatima Hammouda
  20. Dr. Mohamed Meziane (Morocco)
  21. Dr. Fouad Al-Ruba
  22. Ahmed Amin
  23. Dr. Samir El-Radisi
  24. Dr. Mostafa Wagih (Egypt)
  25. Dr. Ajkou Ali (Algeria)
  26. Dr. Ahmed Saleh Ali Mohamed
  27. Dr. Ben Hammouda Fathia
  28. Dr. Heba Mohamed Tolba
  29. Dr. Wafaa Dridi
  30. Abdel Rahman Fahim
  31. Najah Suleiman
  32. Dr. Ibrahim Barma (Chad)
  33. Dr. Sidi Moussa Hanana (Mauritania)
  34. Abdel Rahman Atef
  35. Hadeer Nabil
  36. Mohamed Abdel Ghani
  37. Dr. Zakaria Ibrahim Al-Sinwar
  38. Shaimaa Saad Ismail Al-Naggar
  39. Dr. Imad Abdel Aziz Youssef
  40. Dr. Amin Ghanem Mohamed Al-Hafu (Iraq)
  41. Amina Hussein (Egypt)
  42. Dina Helmy
  43. Dr. Walid Al-Areed
  44. Miraj Ahmad Al-Nadwi
  45. Dr. Buras Mohamed
  46. Israa Hashem
  47. Israa Magdy
  48. Sara Mahfouz
  49. Al Zahraa Nadi
  50. Hanan Sobhi
  51. Eman Alaa El Din
  52. Ahmed Khamis
  53. Mohamed Othman
  54. Hagar Waheed
  55. Rokia Mostafa
  56. Yara Abdel Jawad
  57. Ibrahim Al-Banna
  58. Manar Abdel Ghani
  59. Issam Al-Badri
  60. Shorouq Al-Khatib

Project Coordinator: Ahmed Abdel Rahman Khalifa

It is noteworthy that the project idea was proposed in December 2019 by a group of researchers and academic professors interested in the affairs of the Islamic world. They include Dr. Waleed Sobhi Al-Arid (Jordan), Dr. Nafisa Douida (Algeria), Dr. Hind Fakhri Saeed Al-Mulla (Iraq), Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman Areef (Egypt), and Dr. Saleh Mahrous Mohamed (Egypt). These individuals began inviting researchers to submit summaries for the project. Subsequently, the Arkan Center for Studies, Research, and Publishing adopted the idea as a supervisor and sponsor of the project. The center invited researchers to submit their studies, forming a specialized team to review and comment on all submitted papers. It also tasked other researchers with preparing studies on regions and countries not covered by the proposed works. The project is ongoing.

This project aims to achieve several objectives aligned with the center’s mission, primarily providing an accurate, updated portrayal of Muslim minorities around the world, who are an integral part of the Muslim Ummah. Additionally, it seeks to raise public awareness about the conditions of these minorities, increase empathy for their pressing issues, and, most importantly, offer rich research material to encourage further studies on the conditions of these minorities. This will enhance their effectiveness within their communities and strengthen their connection with the global Muslim Ummah.

The concept of the Muslim Ummah is not an abstract idea, a promotional discourse, or a social fantasy for some Muslims or Islamists. It is a tangible reality with various levels and manifestations. This encyclopedia aims to examine some of these levels and representations by increasing awareness of the issues facing Muslims in different parts of the world and enhancing their connection with the rest of the Islamic world.

This project represents the foundational step in forming an interdisciplinary field of study under the title “Muslim Minorities“. It aims to produce true specialists in the affairs and issues of the Muslim Ummah. Furthermore, it serves as an invitation for all Islamic universities to incorporate this field of study into their curricula and allocate independent courses for it. The goal is to develop legal theories, political systems, economic models, historical perspectives, and sociological frameworks that will deepen the understanding of Muslim minorities worldwide and enhance their effectiveness.

  • Foreseen Results of the Project:

The project’s outputs are anticipated to be published in 2023 and will include several categories:

  • Printed Publication: Volumes of the Encyclopedia of Muslim Minorities Worldwide

One of the project’s expected outputs will be in the form of a printed publication, a book comprising multiple volumes that cover the entire scope of the encyclopedia. According to the planned work schedule, the encyclopedia is expected to consist of seven volumes, each approximately 500 pages in length.

  • Visual and Electronic Publishing:

Electronic publishing is currently one of the most important mediums, encompassing not just written texts or studies, but a range of multimedia such as images, videos, and infographics. The center will strive to form a comprehensive team to handle the various formats of electronic publishing for the project. This will broaden the dissemination of the encyclopedic work and increase awareness of the conditions of Muslim minorities.

  • Interactive Map:

The idea is to have a platform or website for the encyclopedia that provides focused information about Muslim minorities, including their areas of distribution, ethnic and sectarian divisions, Islamic institutions, and other relevant details. This platform will facilitate understanding the conditions of Muslims worldwide and assist researchers in accessing primary sources on the Muslim minority/minorities of interest. This interactive map will be continuously updated according to the latest developments affecting each minority.

  • Conferences and Scientific Seminars:

A potential outcome that would significantly enhance the encyclopedia’s visibility and deepen the understanding of Muslim minority conditions is the organization of an international scientific conference. This conference could be convened in one of the major Islamic cities, bringing together researchers who have contributed exceptional papers to the encyclopedia, as well as a cohort of professors and specialists in the field of Muslim minority studies to chair sessions and provide critical commentary on the presented research. Furthermore, a series of webinars could be arranged to delve into specific aspects of the studies featured in the encyclopedia.

Post Views: 938