Afghan imams learn from UAE counterparts

ABU DHABI // Thirty-two Afghan imams are taking home the lessons they learned on women, moderate Islam and social harmony after completing a two-week Islamic course in the capital.

As part of a UAE project to rebuild Afghanistan, religious officials in the emirate have been providing courses for their Afghan counterparts.

The courses have been ongoing and to date about 17,000 Afghan imams have been trained by UAE experts. “The plan is to train 20,000,” said Faiz Osmani, the Afghan minister of Haj and religious affairs.

As a follow-up to the training courses conducted in Afghanistan, trainees take a two-week course run by Zayed House for Islamic Culture. It is taught by the Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments (Awqaf) preachers in the UAE and the first batch graduated on Thursday.

While the training focuses on such areas as scientific research, accepting others, dialogue, the peaceful message and manners of Islam, the trainees were mostly surprised by the active role women should play, said Awqaf head Dr Mohammed Al Kaabi.

“Our view of women as Muslims should be as Allah ordered, so they were educated on the role of women in building societies,” he explained, “[A woman] created heroes, men and civilisations, so she should not be marginalised. She has to participate in society and has rights and obligations alike.

“We focused on this notion the most,” said Dr Al Kaabi, because in Afghan society women lacked prominent roles outside their homes.

The correct definition and analysis of other notions were also provided, such as takfir, jihad, caliphate, the importance of the ruler and stability.

Similar courses have been held for imams from the US and in Britain.

“The imams received excellent training on the moderate approach in preaching,” said Mr Osmani. “This project has great influence in organising fatwa and Friday sermons, spreading knowledge and forgiveness in Afghanistan.

“We were in urgent need for a programme like this. In the UAE, there are 120 different nationalities living in harmony and this is what we need in Afghanistan right now with the current circumstances.”

Graduate Abu-Huthaifa Abdulraheem was surprised to see men and women working together and different nationalities living in harmony.

“We got to know the UAE culture and how the people live in a mixed environment between men and women,” he said. “We learnt that Islam is not a religion of war or extremism.”

Hafiz Salam, a 37-year-old private tutor in Islamic studies and an employee at the Awqaf ministry in Afghanistan, said the main meaning of the issues did not change for him.

“What we saw during the two weeks is new and advanced. It was for public preaching and the importance of the sermon in society to establish stability and security,” he said.

“We took valuable lessons from the scholars on Friday sermons and Islamic principles that we will take with us to our country.”

The lessons included ethics and manners of the preacher, his influence in bringing the people together, and development of the country.

hdajani@thenational.ae

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

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Recipes to try

Zatar chicken from the kitchen star Dalia Dogmoch Soubra

Oatcakes with lemon and zatar

The biog

Place of birth: Kalba

Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren

Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken

Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah

Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”

What is Reform?

Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.

It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.

Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.

After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.

Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.

The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.

The specs: Fenyr SuperSport

Price, base: Dh5.1 million

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm

Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km

While you're here

Con Coughlin: Nato must renew its sense of common purpose

Sholto Byrnes: In today's times, what is Nato really good for?

C Uday Bhaskar: Could the 'Quad' become Asia's new Nato?

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.

US tops drug cost charts

The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.

Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.

In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.

Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.

The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.

High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.

Countries offering golden visas

UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.

Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.

Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.

Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.

Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.

Haircare resolutions 2021

From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.

1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'

You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.

2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'

Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.

3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’

Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.

WHEN TO GO:

September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.

WHERE TO STAY:

Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.