Islamic World Museum of Washington DC Project Proposal (Updated July 3o, 2010) by Ali Zohery, Ph.D.

www.islamicworldmuseumofwashington.
org Ali
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
Islamic World Museum of Washington DC
Project Proposal (Updated July 30, 2010)
By Ali Zohery, Ph.D.

ali@zohery.com
www.islamicworldmuseumofwashington.org Page 1
www.islamicworldmuseumofwashington.org Ali
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
Introduction
The International Islamic Museum in Washington DC
seeks to carry out a wide variety of educational and
informative initiatives. Washington DC is the center for
national and international transactions because of its
unique location and status as the capital of the free
world. An Islamic museum to cater to the millions of
students, political pundits, cultural anthropologists and
tourists who plough its streets everyday is a unique
opportunity.
Rationale: Washington DC is home to several museums
and attractions but of an Islamic Museum. In the entire
United States, there are only two Islamic museums i.e.
Detroit, Michigan and Atlanta, Georgia. Given that
Islamic education has become the hotbed for American
citizens and visitors alike, a creation of an Islamic
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
museum will serve as the center for interreligious and
cultural knowledge bank for all people in and out of the
nation’s capital.
Problem Statement: More and more people are having
misconception about Islam and Muslims after the
tragedy of 911. An educative and informative center like
the International Islamic Museum especially in
Washington DC will help disseminate literature and
other educational facilities to the larger public.
Priority Needs: The most important priority for this
Museum is to have places where historical documents,
artifacts, Kiosks, restaurants, lecture rooms with state of
the art facilities exist to teach, educate and inform the
public at large about Islam; its traditions and culture.
Land mark paintings, drawings, photographs on and
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
about the origin of Islam religion and culture will be
exposed to the public.
Goals and Objectives
Overview:
There are hundreds of attractions in the nation’s capital
including the political landmark statues depicting the
history of the United States. One of the attractions that
draw students, researchers, journalists, political pundits,
archeologists, cultural anthropologists and religious
people to Washington DC is the presence of its
Museums. These Museums hold the key to the historical
background of top personalities that have contributed in
one way or the other in building the image of the United
States abroad and at home. Some of these Museums
have pamphlets and literature about the rise and fall of
American presidents, the depictions of causalities and
destruction of property during the war eras like the First
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
and Second World Wars, Vietnam, Spanish American
War etc. There are also Museums like the Spy Museum,
Crime and punishment museum and above all the
Newseum that seeks to educate and inform Americans
and visitors alike how and why the news media has been
able to cover all sorts of stories since the founding of this
country. Another Museum like the Indian American
museum or the African American Museum seek to show
the culture, history, politics and social aspects of the
Native American Indians and their tribulations since
Christopher Columbus. The African American Museum
on the other hand educate and inform the public about
slavery, the slave and their journey to emancipation
during the civil rights era. All these can only be possible
with a center like the Museum that operates daily for the
public. It is in similar vein that the International Islamic
Museum is being opened.
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
Primary Goal/Objective: 1) The Islamic World Museum of
Washington DC hopes to create an Islamic educational
atmosphere where people of all creed can have
meaningful and fruitful religious knowledge about Islam.
An Islamic Museum will be the center where misguided
information about Islam can be resolve. It is also a center
where the confusion that arises on the difference
between Muslim and Islam can easily be resolved. The
Muslims use the Koran and the Hadith of Prophet
Muhammad for their way of life. It is at such a museum
where Muslims and non-Muslims and can be informed
about when and why these two writings are central to
the study of Islam. It is also at this center that the
historical paintings and drawings of some of the most
important events during and after the reign of Prophet
Muhammad can be exposed to the public. There has also
been discussion about the role of women in Islam. At the
Islamic World Museum of Washington DC, Pamphlets,
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
literature and other related information on when, how
and where the place of the female Muslim in Islam can
be learned. Another primary goal of this Museum is for
the education of the kids who intend to study and learn
more about Orientalism and Islam.
2) The Islamic World Museum of Washington DC aims to
disseminate socio-cultural information and Knowledge
to Americans and non-Americans alike. The dawn of the
New York 911 bombings created a knowledge gap in the
United States and the world about what really constitute
Islam. Edward Said issue on Orientalism took center
stage as Muslims who practice Islam faith were targets of
media frenzy. Hate crimes went on the rise because
anyone who identified himself as a Muslim was
immediately linked to terrorism. This made researchers
and Universities all over the world to organize forums
and debates about who Muslims are and what is the
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
difference between Muslim and Islam. Books, Journal
articles, Pamphlets were written to explain to role of
Islam in Muslim tradition and to explain what Islam
traditions and culture is all about. Ten years after this
tragedy, millions of curious minds are still yearning for
public spheres, forums, centers and above all Museums
where they can come face-to-face with what constitute
Islamism. The teaching of religion and culture is limited
to colleges and universities and conferences that are
often organized to address such issues are known to
mostly the educated few. The Mosques are for those
who have sworn to uphold the teachings of Prophet
Muhammad and where they go every week to worship
and pray and carry out the rituals as professed by their
creator. Therefore, any other non-partisan, non-aligned,
neutral person interested to learn basic information
about Islam nowhere to go except visit a Museum. A
Museum is where the past the present and the future of
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
great issues like Islamism meet. It is non-discriminatory. It
opens its doors to curious minds regardless of race,
religion, class, political linings, and cultural background.
A Museum dedicated to expanding the knowledge
about the history of Islam is a welcome gesture. A
Museum that seeks to gather materials on the landmark
events that characterize the Islam culture and tradition
like the yearly visits to Mecca, the fasting during the
month of Ramadan, the whole meaning of Ramadan, the
knowledge about the creation of the Mosques in and
around the world, the 100 years war, the Holy war and
the controversy surrounding the issue of Jihad and many
others is unprecedented in the nation’s capital.
3) The Islamic World Museum of Washington DC will
document all the Old Islamic nations on earth. There are
several old Islamic nations on earth like Malaysia, Mali,
Indonesia and others that will be present in this
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
museum. Since this is an International Museum, The
focus will be to display it as the most attractive Islamic
Museum on earth. It will not be the size of the building
that will matter, but its content. The old Islamic nations
like Malaysia and Mali in Africa have unique features that
will be lectured upon and shown in this Museum.
Description of Activities: These are some of the activities
that will become part of the International Islamic
Museum of Washington DC.
1) Daily Tours:
2) Occasional Lectures
3) Video Screenings/Slide Show
4) Expositions
5) Kiosks
6) Mini Library
7) Kids Learning Center
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
Daily Tours: There will be daily tours at the Museum with
pickup trucks and vans that will be transporting guests
and visitors to the Museum. The tours will be given by
knowledgeable staff verse in national and International
Islam. They will also be verse in both English and Arabic.
Occasional Lectures: Since this is going to involve
international display of artifacts, paintings, drawings,
photographs, statues, Kids Learning center and many
other attractions related to Islam, experts will be invited
to give talks to visitors. These experts will come from
Islamic research Institutes in the United States and
around the world. They will also come from Muslim
populated regions like Indonesia, United Emirates, Egypt
and China. Information about their lectures will be
posted on the Museum website, on the radio, television,
podcasts, Blogs and on the daily newspapers around the
capital city.
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
Video Screening and Slide Shows: These are some of the
videos and slide shows that will be shown at the
museum: a) The history and life of the Islam religion; b)
The preachings of renowned Imams in Malaysia, China,
Dubai, Egypt, Mali, Indonesia, Pakistan etc. c) The
lectures of experts in the field of Islam will be shown in
the museum and streamed on the Museum Website for
the International audience. d) There have been some
popular Islamic clips on You tube about young Muslims
being inspired by the Koran to teach, preach and recite
the entire Koran. These youngsters will be screened on
specially designated rooms at the Museum center.
Expositions: There will be display of paintings,
photographs, dairies etc of antiquity reflecting the lives
and accomplishments of great Imams and other
personalities that have contributed immensely to the
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
growth and development of Islam religion and culture
on the universe. These paintings, drawings,
photographs, dairies and other valuable assets will be
displayed in and outside the Museum.
Kiosk: There are thousands of newspaper articles,
clippings and citations that are produced around the
Muslim world. Many people do not have access to it
because most of them have limited circulation only in the
Muslim countries. But with a Museum, this will be an
opportunity to get close to these writings that will be
placed in the Museum kiosk and sold to the public.
Mini Library: There will be a section in the museum that
will cater to the needs of some scholars eager to learn
more about the writings and writers of Islamism. Their
books will be placed in the museum for quick review by
visitors. There will also be time that some of the great
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
authors of Islam present in most universities in the world
will be invited to give talks at the museum. They will also
have the chance to sign and autograph copies of their
books to visitors and guests.
Kids Learning Center: Islam culture has a place for kids.
The great Prophet Muhammad was a great respecter of
children. There have also been great events involving
children of Islam like the study of the Koran from a clay
in ancient Egypt that will be highlighted at the Museum.
Other great kids have been known to memorize and
recite the entire Koran. This will be a great opportunity
for the other kids of the entire world who will visit the
museum to meet face-to-face with materials that show
the active role of kids in Islam.
Project Personnel:
a) Ali Zohery, Ph. D.
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
b)Shekh Muhammad Arafa
c) Eslam Ali, MD
d) Lotfi Greash, Ph. D.
e) Amal Azzam, Ph. D.
Detailed Budget Plan: The International Islamic Museum
will raise funds from national as well as international
donors. There will also be an aggressive campaign by the
personnel in charge of the project to send proposals to
funding agencies soliciting funds for the project. The
financial activities of the Museum will be reviewed after
every six months with the owner of the property. All the
Islamic embassies represented in the United States and
from rich and powerful Muslims in the United States and
around the Gulf and also ordinary folks who volunteer
to support this initiative will also be approached for
funding for such an initiative. Additionally the following
Non-Profit Organizations will be contacted:
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
a) National Endowment for Arts( NEA): This organization
has been at the forefront of supporting Art and
cultural initiatives nationally and internationally. Since
their aim is to support cultural expressions that seek to
improve education and information in the world, we
strongly think that our project will be highly
welcomed.
b) UNESCO: The United Nation Education Scientific and
Cultural Organization is an important branch of the
UN that has actively funded cultural and educational
programs in the world. Since this is an international
museum for Islam culture, we think that this reputable
organizational will be willing to support the project.
c) Dorothea Haus Ross Foundation: This is another non-
profit organization whose aim is to support initiatives
geared towards empowerment of children. The
International Islamic Museum of Washington DC will
have a Kids Learning Center. We think this is an
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
opportunity for such an organization to support
children activities in this museum in the form of
reading, writing, lectures, tours and proving gifts that
teach them about Islamic culture and tradition.
d) International Theos Foundation: This organization
provide resources to local organizations whose aims
are to help the poor and the needy. Since this museum
will cater to the needs of everyone in the society, we
think we will also solicit funding from them.
e) Open Society Institute: This is a great Non-profit
organization that promotes cultural knowledge and
exchanges in the world. A quote from their website
(www.soros.org) illustrates this point: “ The Arts and
culture program draws on the power of culture, in
particular artistic expressive culture, to help build and
maintain open societies. ACNP carries out its mission
principally by working to strengthen the autonomous
cultural sector as an essential element of civil society”.
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
f) Others: The US Department of State funds cultural
programs that seek to educate and inform the
American public. This will be an opportunity for the
personnel involve in this project to explore that area.
Other areas of interest include The Trust for Mutual
Understanding and the US regional Arts Organization.
Media outreach
There will be aggressive fund raising activities that
target Islamic radio stations and satellite television
stations that can be seen in the United States and
around the world. Spots for advertisement, Public Service
Announcement (PSA) to spread the word on the
forthcoming World Islamic Museum in Washington will
be created. Additionally, all the personnel whose names
have already been mentioned and others interested will
make rounds in these radio and television stations to
raise fund for the museum. People will be called upon to
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
donate as much as they can as well as some rich Islamic
individuals who will be call upon to donate a certain
amount in the United States and around the world.
Another avenue where more money will be raised will be
the construction of the website:
www.Islamicworldmuseumofwashington.org where
people will be able to use the new forms of media
communications to send in contributions. If President
Obama can be able to carry out a campaign with people
donating as much as $5 dollars there is no reason not to
believe that this project will not raise a substantial
amount to promote this initiative. The new forms of
communication to reach the greatest amount of people
in the world though this website are: 1) Face book.
Facebook has now become the online public sphere
where people meet in the virtual space to chat, discuss,
rally and familiarize themselves about happenings in the
world. Since there are over 500 million subscribers to
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
Facebook, we will be able to stream video feeds of the
project to interested parties who will be able to donate
their money to the project. The power of communication
lies in style and personality. We will have team of expert
fundraisers working hand in hand with the personnel of
the project to articulate the vision of the museum to
millions of people out there in the world. 2) Twitter and
Youtube. Twitter and Youtube seem to be the fastest
media of communication to reach local and international
communities. Our website will have sections for people
to register to receive tweets from the project
coordinators. They will also have links to video on the
groundwork and developments that are being done to
see the smooth realization of the museum. This Youtube
video will consists of short clips of interviews,
documentaries and discussions with national and
international personalities actively engaged in the
smooth functioning of the project.
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
Equipment and Supplies: The Islamic world museum will
lease and purchase some of its equipment during the
first few months of operation. As a new museum and
with funds trickling in slowly from the above-mentioned
sources, there is every reason to suppose that we cannot
buy all the equipment necessary for operation in full.
These are some of the equipment that will be leased,
rented or bought from the first few months of operation:
Furnitures: These are equipment that will be leased on
regular bases for the lecture series as need be, video
screening that will occasionally be shown at the
museum. The kids learning center will have some chairs
and tables that are directly bought from the donations
and gifts. There are going to moveable and unmovable
furniture that will be at the disposal of Islamic World
Museum of Washington DC. There are centers in
Maryland Washington DC and Virginia that lease large
number of chairs and tables for big events. We will use
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
services like that for a couple of months during the
inauguration and special events at the museum before
we permanently purchase the ones that belong to the
museum in the near future.
Paintings and photographs: These are many more
artifacts to be displayed at the museum will be bought
from overseas. Some of them will come from charity and
since entrance to the museum will be paid, more of the
revenue generated will go into more purchases of these
materials from abroad and at home.
Staff/Employees: Some of the initial staff for the museum
will be volunteers. But as time goes on they will be put
on wages and the terms will depend on the income that
will be coming in.
Property Owner: The property owner of our
establishment will be paid monthly lease until we
purchase the property. This agreement will be reviewed
every six months.
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
We need to raise funds to purchase the property. Help is
needed through donations or any other means to bring
this dream to become true. Please spread the word.
Contact:
Dr. Ali Zohery Email: ali@zohery.com Tel: 202-437-1295
Shekh Muhammad Arafa Email: marafa01@gmail.com

Islamic World Museum of Washington DC Project Proposal (Updated July 3o, 2010) by Ali Zohery, Ph.D.

Transféré par

Informations du document

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Islamic World Museum of Washington DC Project Proposal (Updated July 3o, 2010) by Ali Zohery, Ph.D.

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

www.islamicworldmuseumofwashington.

Islamic World Museum of Washington DC

Project Proposal (Updated July 30, 2010)

By Ali Zohery, Ph.D.

The International Islamic Museum in Washington DC

seeks to carry out a wide variety of educational and

informative initiatives. Washington DC is the center for

national and international transactions because of its

unique location and status as the capital of the free

world. An Islamic museum to cater to the millions of

students, political pundits, cultural anthropologists and

tourists who plough its streets everyday is a unique

Rationale: Washington DC is home to several museums

and attractions but of an Islamic Museum. In the entire

United States, there are only two Islamic museums i.e.

Detroit, Michigan and Atlanta, Georgia. Given that

Islamic education has become the hotbed for American

citizens and visitors alike, a creation of an Islamic

museum will serve as the center for interreligious and

cultural knowledge bank for all people in and out of the

Problem Statement: More and more people are having

misconception about Islam and Muslims after the

tragedy of 911. An educative and informative center like

the International Islamic Museum especially in

Washington DC will help disseminate literature and

other educational facilities to the larger public.

Priority Needs: The most important priority for this

Museum is to have places where historical documents,

artifacts, Kiosks, restaurants, lecture rooms with state of

the art facilities exist to teach, educate and inform the

public at large about Islam; its traditions and culture.

Land mark paintings, drawings, photographs on and

about the origin of Islam religion and culture will be

exposed to the public.

Goals and Objectives

There are hundreds of attractions in the nation’s capital

including the political landmark statues depicting the

history of the United States. One of the attractions that

draw students, researchers, journalists, political pundits,

archeologists, cultural anthropologists and religious

people to Washington DC is the presence of its

Museums. These Museums hold the key to the historical

background of top personalities that have contributed in

one way or the other in building the image of the United

States abroad and at home. Some of these Museums

have pamphlets and literature about the rise and fall of

American presidents, the depictions of causalities and

destruction of property during the war eras like the First

and Second World Wars, Vietnam, Spanish American

Crime and punishment museum and above all the

Newseum that seeks to educate and inform Americans

able to cover all sorts of stories since the founding of this

country. Another Museum like the Indian American

museum or the African American Museum seek to show

the culture, history, politics and social aspects of the

Native American Indians and their tribulations since

Christopher Columbus. The African American Museum

on the other hand educate and inform the public about

slavery, the slave and their journey to emancipation

public. It is in similar vein that the International Islamic

Museum is being opened.

Primary Goal/Objective: 1) The Islamic World Museum of

Washington DC hopes to create an Islamic educational

atmosphere where people of all creed can have