Religious leaders invited to UAE for Ramadan lectures

ABU DHABI // Scholars and religious leaders from around the world will be coming to the UAE during Ramadan to share their knowledge and wisdom.

Awqaf, the General Authority of Islamic and Affairs, has invited 35 experts to give about 800 lectures in mosques, social centres and majlises across the UAE.

Topics of discussion include the importance of national service, social media and women’s rights.

The guests, who include religious counsellors, professors and heads of Islamic studies from 14 different countries, will be arriving on Thursday.

There will be four general muftis from Egypt, Pakistan, Mauritania and Malaysia. The list also includes 10 deans and professors from Al Azhar University in Egypt, who were picked by the grand imam of Al Azhar mosque.

“We look for the scholars and wise men who direct society using wisdom and good advice and warn them against extremism and extremists,” said Dr Mohammed Al Kaabi, director general of the Awqaf, on Monday.

He cited a verse from the Quran which says: “O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority; and if ye have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the messenger if ye are [in truth] believers in Allah and the Last Day.”

“So the logical question here is: how do we refer it to Allah and His Prophet? Aren’t scholars and wise men the resort?” Dr Al Kaabi said.

The scholars are experts in a variety of fields, including Islamic finance, law, theology and contemporary thoughts.

“For many years this programme has started choosing the best quality scholars to enrich the days and nights of Ramadan,” he said.

Dr Al Kaabi said the authority was open to ideas and those who wished to change the subject or tackle a different area should contact them first.