Islamic World Museum of Washington DC by Dr. Ali Zohery

www.islamicworldmuseumofwashington.
org Ali
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
ISLAMIC WORLD MUSEUM OF

WASHINGTON
www.islamicworldmuseumofwashington.org
Project Proposal
By Ali Zohery, Ph.D.
Email: ali@zohery.com
www.islamicworldmuseumofwashington.org Page 1
www.islamicworldmuseumofwashington.org Ali
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
Introduction
The Islamic Museum of 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
museum will serve as the center for interreligious and
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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 and the ongoing fight against Muslim
religious extremists around the world. 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Museum is to have places where historical documents,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 Islamism; 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 Islam educational
atmosphere where people of all creed can have
meaningful and fruitful religious knowledge about Islam.
The aim of such an initiative is in order to bring people
who believe in Christianity, Jewish, Buddhism and other
religious beliefs to share a common knowledge without
rancor or conflict. 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 Islam religion uses the Koran and the
Hadith of Prophet Muhammad for instruction and
prayer. 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
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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, Pamphlets, 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 aims to disseminate socio-
cultural information and Knowledge to Americans and
non-Americans alike. The dawn of the New York 911
bombings by extremists 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
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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
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
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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
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 in preparation
to 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.
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
3) The Islamic World Museum 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 museum. Since this is
an Islamic World 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 including the travels and
tribulations of Prophet Muhammad and his family
decedents 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 Islamic World Museum of
Washington DC.
1) Daily Tours:
2) Occasional Lectures
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
3) Video Screenings/Slide Show
4) Expositions
5) Kiosks
6) Mini Library
7) Kids Learning Center
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
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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.
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 like Edward Said
et al will be shown in the museum and streamed on the
Museum Website for the International audience. d)
There have been some popular Islam clips on Youtube
about young Muslims being inspired by the Koran to
teach, preach and recite the entire Koran. These
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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
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
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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
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.
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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.
b)Shekh Muhammad Arafa
c) Eslam Ali, MD
d) Lotfi Greash, Ph. D.
e) Amal Azzam, Ph. D.
Detailed Budget Plan: The Islamic World 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
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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:
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
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
programs in the world. Since this is an international
museum for Islamic 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
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.
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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”.
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.
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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
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
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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
Face book, 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
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D
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.
YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLEY APPRICIATED
THROUGH DONATIONATION OR PARTICIPATION IN
ANY MEANS TO BRING THIS DREAM TO BECOME TRUE.
PLEASE CONTACT
Dr. Ali Zohery Email: ali@zohery.com Tel.: 202-437-1295
Or Shekh Muhammad Arafa Email: marafa01@gmail.com
Zohery,Ph.d
Ph.D

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www.islamicworldmuseumofwashington.

ISLAMIC WORLD MUSEUM OF

The Islamic Museum of 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

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 and the ongoing fight against Muslim

religious extremists around the world. 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

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 Islamism; 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 Islam educational

atmosphere where people of all creed can have

meaningful and fruitful religious knowledge about Islam.