Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs H E Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanem affirmed that the ministry has adopted a moderate approach according to a perspective that serves comprehensive cultural security and maintains spiritual stability, as these efforts have effectively resulted in guarding young people in the Qatari society from the ideas of extremism.
This was said in an exclusive interview with Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs with Qatar News Agency (QNA), in which he said that the ministry also adopts a clear reference strategy that focuses on supporting various areas of development.
Foremost of them are the areas of social protection, population, workforce, sustainable development, renewing religious discourse in accordance with conditions that respond to contemporary issues, supporting family cohesion, modernising Islamic culture programmes, and strengthening relations with the Islamic world and Muslim minorities around the world.
He added that this strategy also contributes to the field of social protection with a disciplined investment of the resources of endowment disbursement channels and zakat according to their legitimate channels, and to work diligently to activate cooperation and strategic partnership with community institutions.
The Minister said that the ministry’s message is concerned with the Islamic religious issue in the society, and enhancing the role of the message of Islam in consolidating human values, lofty moral principles and ideals, and confirming its lasting impact in promoting the life of the entire community. This is done through spreading Islamic culture according to a moderate approach to a civilised project that is based on holy Quran and the sunnah, as well as the strengthening of the role and message of the mosque in society.
Regarding the ministry’s plan to deal with Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, he said that the ministry works in accordance with the policy of Qatar in promoting peace and understanding by consolidating the concept of constructive dialogue among civilisations, promoting the values and principles of the Islamic religion for tolerance and cooperation between religions and cultures.
On the most prominent developments on Islam Web during the past years as a global Islamic window serving millions of Muslims around the world, the Minister said that the Islamic Network website affiliated to the Department of Da’wah and Religious Guidance and was established under the umbrella of the Endowment Fund for Scientific and Cultural Development was able to embody the true meaning of keeping pace with the requirements and needs of the modern era, to be a link between Muslims around the world.
Regarding the most prominent achievements of Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Centre, the Minister said that the centre is an endowment project, whose mission is to convey the message of Islam to non-Muslims, by all available modern means and to spread Islamic culture as belief, behaviour and civilisation, as well as to raise awareness of the customs, traditions and culture of Qatari society.
The centre's vision stems from a civilised concept that presents Islam as a way of life for all people and addresses individuals and societies according to their needs and aspirations, relying in its communication on the basis of spreading common human values and on noble morals and respect for the other with conviction and deep belief in the message of Islam, to be closer and more cooperative with everyone who seeks good, he added.
