Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	IN MALE 
Tarikh/Date	: 	11/11/84 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE GRAND FRIDAY MOSQUE AND 
			ISLAMIC CENTRE 



Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

Assalamu 'alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Your Excellency President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Madame
Gayoom; Excellencies; 

Ladies and Gentlemen.

My wife and I are very happy and privileged to be in Maldives at Your
Excellency's kind invitation. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank
Your Excellency, Madame Gayoom, the government and people of the Republic
of Maldives for the warm and brotherly welcome and the generous
hospitality extended to us and members of my delegation since our arrival
yesterday.

2. All praise to Allah Subhanahu Wataala for His blessings and salutations
to the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him. It is indeed
an honour for me to be invited to this auspicious Official Opening of the
Grand Friday Mosque and Islamic Centre of Male', and to be given this
opportunity to address this distinguished gathering.

3. Your Excellency, I have looked forward very much to be here today to
share with you and the people of Maldives the pride and joy, and together
with all who are gathered here to express our profound gratitude to Allah
Subhanahu Wataala. As we approached Male' yesterday the tall and imposing
minaret of the mosque provided a breathtaking view for my wife and I and
members of my delegation, as it would, I am sure, to other travellers to
your beautiful country. I feel particularly proud that Malaysians had
participated in the designing and construction of this beautiful place of
worship. I have no doubt that the distinguished leaders and
representatives of Islamic nations who are gathered here today feel
equally proud of their countries' own participation.

4. Indeed this Grand Mosque and Islamic Centre is not only a landmark for
Male', but it is also another significant landmark of cooperation and
solidarity among Islamic countries. It is a standing example that Islamic
countries can meaningfully assist and contribute to the progress of one
another. I hold in high regard the government and people of Maldives for
being instrumental in bringing about this latest testimony of Islamic
cooperation and solidarity.

5. Your Excellency, allow me to reiterate the importance of unity among
the Muslim Ummah and solidarity between Islamic countries in our pursuit
for the economic, social and moral well-being and upliftment of the Muslim
Ummah the world over. Let us be reminded that Islam is not purely for the
Hereafter. The glory and supremacy of Islamic values and teachings rest on
the fact that it is not just to prepare us for the next world but also to
guide and motivate the Muslim Ummah on the path of economic and social
well-being for them in the present world. It is in recognition of this,
that my government is making every effort to inject Islamic values in the
administration of our country. We have every faith and confidence that
Allah Subhanahu Wataala will bear with us and bless us with success in
this endeavour.

6. The last four centuries does us the Muslim Ummah little credit. We have
not reflected the essence of Islam that was once the pace setter of
progress and humanity. Our future must reflect a new approach. We must
have clearly crystallised ideas and well articulated goals. We need to
understand Islam within the context of the contemporary world, with the
changed and ever changing conditions of life. We cannot recreate the world
of the early years of Islam. We should therefore reorganise our political,
social and economic life to suit these changes in a way that fully
incorporates the injuctions of Islam to ensure that a socially healthy,
politically coherent and economically efficient and vigorous Muslim Ummah
would emerge and be able to face all challenges. It is my hope and prayer
that the Grand Friday Mosque and Islamic Centre of Male' will be a seat of
study and research, and in close cooperation with other Islamic centres of
learning in this world, push the frontiers of human knowledge even further
forward.

7. Your Excellency, may I say once again that it is a pleasure to be back
in the "Paradise of the Indian Ocean". This opportunity to address today's
distinguished gathering is indeed a great honour and privilege to me
personally, and also to my country.

8. In a short while we would all be offering our prayers to Allah in this
new Grand Friday Mosque. Let us all pray to Allah Subhanahu Wataala to
bless President Gayoom, Madame Gayoom and the people of Maldives with
continued good health, happiness and prosperity.

Thank you