Today's Edition
HAMAD AL KAABI (ABU DHABI)
Presenting the civilised face of Islam and cementing the values of tolerance, moderation, and supporting national unity are the main mission of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE), according to its Chairman Dr. Omar Habtoor Al Darei.
In an interview with Aletihad News Centre, the first since his appointment, Al Darei delved into the GAIAE’s vision and mission.
“Firstly, I extend the highest congratulations and blessings to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and to his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and to their brothers, Their Highnesses the rulers of the Emirates, and to His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and to the Crown Princes and Deputy Rulers, and to the people of the United Arab Emirates and the entire world, on the occasion of the approaching blessed month of Ramadan,” Al Darei said.
Weeding out ExtremismAl Darei noted that concord in the love for the nation, loyalty to its leadership, and preserving its achievements constitute the true capital of the UAE. He added that committing to these values with care and attention serves as the fundamental guarantee for protection against extremist and hateful ideas that have no place in Emirati society.
“Spreading tolerance, coexistence, and love of goodness for all people regardless of their gender, race, or religion is the fundamental guarantee that prevents saboteurs and those with narrow interests from infiltrating society and instilling their extremist and hateful ideas to disrupt the cohesion and unity of society,” Al Darei said.
Support of the UAE LeadershipAl Darei commended the great concern and utmost care shown by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the Holy Quran and its teaching.
He highlighted the printing of 100,000 copies of the Holy Quran at the expense of the UAE President and the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, to be distributed domestically and internationally.
He highlighted the tremendous support provided by His Highness the UAE President to the GAIAE and Quran memorisation centres in mosques, stressing that it is an extension of the approach of the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who laid the foundation for Quran memorisation centres, which have witnessed continuous development to become established educational institutions.
Role of Fatwa CouncilMoving on, Al Darei emphasised the importance of the Emirates Fatwa Council in regulating fatwas (religious edicts) and organising its affairs at the state
level.
He pointed out that the purpose of the Council lies in building a civilisational model of fatwa that responds to developments and enhances the state’s global reputation and humanitarian vision.
The UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, attaches great importance and special care to the issuance of religious edicts. This attention and care were initiated by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, where judges, scholars, and imams played a significant role, he added.
He noted that since its establishment, the Council has been in constant pursuit to find radical and realistic solutions to many contemporary issues that require fatwas with a particular focus on youth to provide realistic solutions to their intellectual and jurisprudential challenges, all the while standing against extremism that seeks to hijack religion.
“We studied the strengths and weaknesses of the religious jurisprudence system in the country, projected the future, and aspired to achieve the best performance results, as well as adopting smart technological solutions,” he said.
The council’s objectives focus on solidifying the status of religious jurisprudence according to the national identity of the country, locally, and internationally. This includes developing guidelines, policies, and legislation related to religious jurisprudence, organising its affairs in the country, empowering Emirati society with proactive religious rulings, Al Darei said.
The active participation of youth in these areas is a priority to harness their positive energy and creative ideas, he noted.
Moderation IndexAl Darei referred to several transformative projects that the GAIAE is currently working on, the most prominent of which is the Moderation Index that focuses on monitoring the concerns of youth.
“There is no doubt that empowering Emirati youth is one of the important axes for the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments. This is due to their active role in supporting its efforts and plans to achieve sustainable development, intellectual stability in society, and fulfilling their role in realising the UAE’s Principle of the 50,” he said.
The Principle of the 50 refers to 10 principles for the next 50 years, outlining core guidelines for all institutions in the UAE to strengthen the union, build a sustainable economy and harness all possible resources to build a more prosperous society.He also mentioned cooperation with the Media Office of the Government of the UAE to qualify and train a group of Emirati youth working in the religious field at the Authority to craft and present content to the public in a distinctive Emirati manner.
Furthermore, Al Darei discussed the integration of the Zakat Fund into the GAIAE, which he considered, taking into account both its charitable and Zakat aspects, a sustainable source for community development, capacity building, and addressing essential needs.
“I have no doubt that this will be a great source of strength, bringing together noble humanitarian meanings that contribute positively in various fields.”
He noted that the GAIAE is currently working on developing plans to enhance Zakat and endowment resources through an integrated system of investment, governance, transparency, and awareness.
Regarding the GAIAE’s initiatives for the holy month of Ramadan, Al Darei highlighted the “UAE President’s guest scholars in Ramadan’’ programme.
He emphasised the programme’s importance in enhancing the scientific and cultural scene that has been extending from the days of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan until today. “What distinguishes this year’s Guest programme is that it includes a wide array of activities, including conferences, religious lectures, seminars, lessons, TV and radio interviews, totaling more than 40 events per day. These events cater to both genders, morning and evening, in multiple languages and across all mosques in the country,” he said.
He also drew attention to the GAIAE’s “Hikma” programme, which aims to provide a series of scholarly sessions, religious lectures, and cultural events in mosques.
“This programme is a new addition to the authority’s educational and cultural platforms across various communication channels, complementing its initiatives and projects aimed at showcasing the civilisational aspect of our Islamic religion, promoting values of tolerance, coexistence, and peace.”
Elaborating on GAIAE’s social media presence, Al Darei said: “There is no doubt that we have a great ambition to develop and increase its effectiveness. We aim to have Emirati content creators, in addition to active participation in the community.”
Authentic Emirati Customs and TraditionsHe also drew attention to the UAE’s authentic Ramadan customs, including Ramadan tent, Iftar tables, gatherings, and congregational prayers.
“The blessed month has a special characteristic and a distinguished feature in the authentic Emirati customs and traditions. These customs have maintained their charm and splendor and have even increased in beauty and grandeur.”
