World Muslim Congress (World Islamic
Congress)
The World Muslim Congress (WMC, Mutamar
al-Alam al-Islami), established for the purpose of
world peace and unity among Muslims, emerged
following its first conference in 1926 after being
founded by a group of distinguished leaders from
the World of Islam gathering in mecca and hosted
by King abd al-aziz ibn saUd of saUdi arabia.
In 1931 the WMC became further institutional-
ized when rules and regulations were created
and approved by its second International Islamic
Conference in Jerusalem, convened by amin al-
hUsayni, Grand Mufti of JerUsalem, to secure
foreign Muslim support for the arab struggle
against the British Mandate and Zionism. Follow-
ing the creation of pakistan, a majority Muslim
state, on August 14, 1947, prominent members
of the World of Islam gathered once again in
order to revive the WMC. The partitions of both
india and palestine and aims to promote solidar-
ity among Pakistanis and Arab Muslims against
india and israel provided the impetus for this
revival, which was achieved in February 1949 at
the third WMC in the capital of Pakistan at the
time, Karachi. The revitalization continued dur-
ing a larger, fourth conference, held in Karachi in
February 1951 when cooperation among Muslim
countries and citizens became a focal point of the
organization under the leadership of its president,
Amin al-Husayni. In 1962 a fifth conference was
held in baghdad in which members agreed upon
a constitution, set up committees, and established
regional branches for the WMC.
The WMC currently represents one of the
oldest international nongovernmental Muslim
organizations. Since its establishment in 1926
the organization has succeeded in founding a
World Muslim News Agency and an International
Muslim Development Bank as part of its drive
for unity. Additionally, the organization has sup-
ported Muslims worldwide, such as Filipino and
Bosnian Muslims, as well as other causes such
as kashmir and Palestine. In 1987 the organiza-
tion witnessed two milestone moments with the
completion of its headquarter complex in Karachi
and the receipt of Japan’s notable Niwano Peace
Prize. It was also awarded the Templeton Foun-
dation Award. Currently, the WMC maintains its
base in Karachi in addition to holding offices in
Geneva, Jeddah, and Vienna. The organization
possesses consultative status with the UN through
its Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and
the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
and it also maintains observer status with the
organization oF the islamic conFerence (OIC)
based in Jeddah.
See also arab-israeli conFlicts; arab leagUe;
pan-islamism; politics and islam.
Fahad A. AlhomoudiFurther reading: Anita L. P. Burdett, Islamic Movements
in the Arab World, 1913–1966. 4 vols. (Slough, England:
Archive, 1998); Martin Kramer, Islam Assembled: The
Advent of the Muslim Congresses (New York: Columbia
University Press, 1985).writing See alphabet; books and bookmaking;
calligraphy.wudu See ablution.
wuquf See arafat; hajj.
K 714 World Muslim Congress