(MENAFN- QNA) The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs continues its dawa and awareness efforts to spread Islamic values and deepen the principles of moderation, intensifying its role in building the housed of Allah and to enhance its mission within the society. It also materializes the values of social solidarity, supervise Hajj affairs and also supervises Awqaf (endowments) and care for them.
Many achievements have been accomplished in 2013-2014. They materialized the mission of the Ministry and its objectives which matches Qatar National Vision 2030 and integrates with the roles played by all ministries and organizations of the state.
In the field of mosque building, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs was handed over 31 mosques in various areas of the state during fiscal year 2013-2014, in addition to 24 private mosques, 12 prefabricated mosques, 3 Quran memorization centres, 4 Eid prayer courts, 53 plots of land and 84 Imam houses.
During the same fiscal year, 45 projects for mosque maintenance have been carried out tat the cost of QAR 171 Million in addition to other mosque-related projects.
During the same period, Sheikh Mohamed Ibn Abdul Wahab Mosque continued its Dawa and education role under the supervision of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. Hundreds of lectures and lessons were delivered by renowed Holy Quran reciters, sheikhs and preachers at this mosques during the holy month of Ramadan. According to the Ministries statistics of last year, the total number of mosques in the country reached 1848.
As regards the efforts of the Islamic Affairs Department, beneficiaries of books distributed within Qatar totaled 294 bodies which received 8051 books while books distributed abroad totaled 12810 given to 714 parties.
The Islamic Affairs Department continued the distribution of the Holy Book within Qatar and abroad. 267 bodies in Qatar received more than 280,000 copies of the Holy Quran. Copies of the Holy Quran, distributed abroad to 292 bodies, totaled 32089, in addition to copies distributed to individuals within Qatar and abroad.
In the field of Awqaf (endowments), the Ministry continued its efforts to develop and increase the number of people who allocate Awqaf. Last year they totaled 99 persons, while the number of Awqaf reached 67. Moreover cash Awqaf and donations totaled QAR 5.5 Million in addition to 91,786 endowment shares.
Regarding the Zakat Fund, the revenues during the same period reached over QAR 178,896 gathered from the 35 collection outlets distributed in various parts of the country. The amount includes Zakat and different sadaqas (Islamic donations) but do not include the amounts of donations that are directly deposited at banks. In the meantime expenses were estimated at QAR 132 Million.
The student sponsorship project comes at the head of the Zakat Fund projects. The actual expenses of this project totaled last year more than QAR 32 Million. Islamic education projects enjoy a considerable part of the Ministry’s efforts as it gives special emphasis at home and abroad on the dissemination of the principles and values that mirror the spirit of Islam and its lofty values calling for co-existence and moderation.
For this purpose, the Ministry organized last year a number of conferences, seminars and events localy and aroad. They had had a positive response for they addressed the most issues of concern to Muslims worldwide which included: Islamic awqaf, national unity and co-existence, cultural society and others.
For its part, the Islamic Researches and Studies Department issued during the previous fiscal year ending on 13 March 2013 six titles of the Ummah (Nation) Book series addressing contemporary issues of interest to the nation and calling for renaissance, development and construction. They included books addressing injustice and its repercussions on humanity, the history and future of Muslims in Thailand and Islamic studies curricula and global changes.
In another effort, the committee of Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani’s international award on awqaf (endowments) issued al furoudh al kifa’iyah: means of sustainable development which won the award’s tenth edition. Meanwhile the arbitration panel is examining researches presented for the award’s eleventh edition entitled: Jurisprudence of Change and Building of the Ummah (Nation) of Moderation.
The Sheikh Abdullah bin Thani Awqaf Public Library was provided with 7047 copies of books. The Library’s new programme for the automated entry of books and data has also been accomplished.
With regard to Sheikh Abdullah bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Centre a book on immigrant labours to Qatar, issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, has been translated into Hindi, Nepalese, Urdu, Malibari, Senhalese and Tamil languages, in addition to three brochures and four books on women exhibitions, 17 booklets on human right, advices to Arabic learners, a suicide flier, the eternal questions and four postal cards in English.
The number of people who visited the distribution library totaled 2143, while visitors of Ibn Rushd Library totaled 372.
The number of new coverts to Islam from different nationalities totaled 514. Meanwhile, the Department of Hajj and Umrah continued its distinguished performance during the 2014 Hajj season as it started from an early date preparation for Hajj and thus ensured a successful season on all levels.
For its part, the Da’wa and Religious Affairs Department continued its efforts to carry out Da’wa mission through lectures and training courses delivered at sport clubs, armed and security forces, ministries and others. These lectures and courses totaled 3736. Add to this the series of lectures and breaching lessons given at mosques throughout the year.
With regard to Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed Al-Thani Holy Qur’an Contest, the number of contesters who participated in the 20th session totaled 2515 (both males and females). Abroad, contests were held at Rieka Islamic Centre in Bosnia-Herzegovina in January this year with the participations of 100 students (boys and girls).
The Ministry opened the Reika Islamic Centre in November 2013. It consists of a mosque, educational facilities, a clinic, residential flats for Imams and employees and others. It was followed by the inauguration of Khsrobec Library, the historic library which contains rare manuscripts and books.
Meanwhile the construction of the Oriental and African Research Centre in the Republic of Kenya has been completed and will start its da’wa and educational activities. It will provide courses on Arabic language and Islamic culture. Most of the beneficiaries of the centre will be women particularly new converts to Islam.
In December 2013, the foundation stone of the Ljublijana Islamic Centre which will be the largest mosque and Islamic centre in the Slovenian capital of Lublijana .
Islamweb, the site of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has promoted its global presence through the development of affiliate sites and launch of new sites and online religious contests.
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