Thirty-four guest scholars from 15 countries are expected to spread anti-radicalism lessons and promote reading as a method to achieve tolerance, happiness and building civilisations this Ramadan.
The tradition of hosting Islamic scholars at Ramadan began in the days of Founding Father Sheikh Zayed.
This year, a number of renowned and emerging scholars new to the UAE have been chosen to take in this holy month’s lectures. They come from the US, UK, India, Mauritania, Guinea, Yemen, Algeria, Tunis, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Jordan, Morocco and Egypt.
“Those scholars represent renowned scientific and religious resources in the Muslim world and in the international sphere,” said Dr Mohammed Al Kaabi, head of the Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments (Awqaf).
As the UAE has a vision to resolve issues that have been troubling the world “this year’s program revolves around the year of reading and the culture of tolerance and happiness”, Awqaf said.
Reading is not only “the daily nutrition of scholars, muftis and students” but its results are clear when it come to standards of services and employees, Dr Al Kaabi said.
The scholars will also study how the questions and challenges posed by radical and extremist groups productively, and seminars will be held with muftis to look into modern fiqh (Islamic law and science) issues, and modern religious speech.
The authority has also built up its efforts in providing mosques for worshippers across the emirates, as 85more mosques will be inaugurated during the holy month of the 185 expected to open this year.
Dr Al Kaabi also assured worshippers that in overcrowded mosque areas where lines extended to the exterior of the mosque during prayers, some donors provided buses to transfer worshippers to neighbouring mosques.
In addition, 1,869 mosques have undergone complete renovation, 520 were refurnished, and new air conditioning installed in 545 mosques, and a total of 4,542 have been re-carpeted.
Dr Al Kaabi said that 25 more Emirati Islamic scholars were expected in the next five years, while there are 180 men and women studying Islamic science and law.
“We are proud of them, and as you know forming these scholars requires a long breath.”
hdajani@thenational.ae