Millions of Muslims from around the world have gathered in the Saudi city of Mecca in anticipation of the start of Hajj - the annual Muslim pilgrimage. 　　Taking part in the pilgrimage at least once in one's lifetime is a major obligation for all able-bodied Muslims of financial means, and... More

　　The hope, the fear, the disappointment in the United Nations in the run-up to the 61st General Assembly could be summed up in one word - Darfur. 　　The hope was represented by a huge rally for Darfur in New York's Central Park on Sunday, as leaders and diplomats assembled for... More

　　There is a bottleneck of people at the small entrance to Endless Checkpoints, a recently opened photography exhibition in Tel Aviv. 　　To get into the main exhibition hall, where pictures of daily strife at a series of West Bank checkpoints are exhibited, visitors must first pass a TV screen showing... More

　　As the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip draws to a close, hopes for economic prospects in this impoverished, strife-torn land have been renewed. 　　Already, the EU has pledged investments in Gaza, with 700-800 million euros of mainly infrastructure projects by June, according to Antoine Eric de Haulleville, head of... More

　　Morocco wants to lure back its citizens living abroad to reverse a brain drain and reduce poverty, but many say they have worked hard to carve out a life in Europe and to return would be a leap into the unknown. 　　The three million Moroccans living abroad represent around 10... More

　　The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) is an association of central banks and monetary authorities, and other institutions launched by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on 3 November 2002, for the regulation and supervision of the Islamic financial services institutions. 　　It is the foundation... More

　　The heritage of Islam in science and arts is clear evidence that Islamic concepts are compatible with the present and future aspirations of the Muslims. The success of Malaysia in building a vibrant economy and a cohesive national identity from a patchwork of cultures has shown that Islam guides its... More

　　Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s religious life and her beliefs have become a topic of intense interest and scrutiny here — due to her recent meteoric rise from relative obscurity to Sen. John McCain’s vice presidential running mate. 　　Press interviews with the two pastors she is most closely associated with in... More

　　Defining Turkey as not only a geographical but also a cultural, social and political bridge, Erdogan said that Turkey was therefore an important country for the Alliance of Civilizations Initiative. 　　The Turkish prime minister said on Monday that countries should express their peace and justice demand. 　　Turkey's Prime Minister Recep... More

　　Israel has cut purchases of U.S.-made cluster bombs, defense officials said on Tuesday, stocking up on supplies from a state-owned Israeli company rather than heeding calls for an outright ban. 　　More than 100 countries have banned the bombs because they can kill indiscriminately. 　　Cluster bombs have a relatively high failure... More

　　Hundreds of tunnels under the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt are keeping many of the Palestinian territory's 1.5 million impoverished residents supplied with food and fuel. 　　On Saturday, Egyptian authorities found the entrances of three tunnels and confiscated a large amount of fuel about to be smuggled into... More

　　Board members of the Al Quds (Jerusalem) International Institution including Attallah (second from left), Mishal (fourth from left) and Qaradawi (third from right 　　Doha-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi has urged Muslim countries to take advantage of the global financial crisis and build a new fiscal system which is compatible... More

　　Almost two-thirds of people - 60% - in 26 countries say higher food and energy prices this year have affected them "a great deal", a BBC report has found. 　　The BBC World Service global study said that while all nations had felt the burden of the higher costs, the problem... More