Doha, July 02 (QNA) - The Islamic Research and Studies Department at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs concluded the third cultural season of the Ummah Seminar, with its fourth and final scholarly session on pathways to reforming in Islamic preaching.

The event was attended by HE Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem along with a group of scholars, preachers, and academic specialists in religious and intellectual affairs.

The seminar was held at Imam Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab Mosque and focused on how collective religious duties (furood kifayah) can be utilized to renew Islamic discourse and enhance its role in social reform. Participants included Dr. Ali Al-Ajmi Al-Ashi, who serves as Chair of Curriculum and Academic Programs in the Department of Creed and Dawah at Qatar University's College of Sharia and Islamic Studies, Professor of Hadith Sciences at Qatar University's College of Sharia and Islamic Studies Dr. Adel Amin Al-Harazi, and imam and preacher at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Dr. Yahya Batti Al Nuaimi.

In his opening speech, Director of the Islamic Research and Studies Department Sheikh Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Ghanem Al-Thani, emphasized that calling to God is one of the highest forms of devotion and the path of the prophets and righteous. He explained that the aim of the seminar was to revive and activate the concept of collective duties in religious outreach, as a means to address imbalances in the dawah field. He added that this initiative is a response to rapid intellectual and cultural changes requiring a thoughtful reformist vision.

Dr. Al Harazi discussed the prospects for reform in Islamic preaching and the promotion of the culture of furood kifayah. He stressed the importance of reviving the duty of calling to God in the contemporary Muslim context and presented several proposals aimed at energizing Islamic discourse, spreading knowledge of dawah, and fostering a collective sense of responsibility in conveying the message of Islam.

Dr. Al Ashi emphasized that furood kifayah serve as a key element in building the collective awareness of the Muslim ummah. He argued that mainstreaming this concept within society is a fundamental route to reforming Islamic preaching. His recommendations included integrating furood kifayah into educational and dawah curricula, training qualified preachers, and supporting collective projects that embody these duties within a holistic framework.

Dr. Al Nuaimi focused on the future of Islamic preaching and its effectiveness in contemporary societies. He argued that overcoming the challenges of Islamic discourse requires institutional organization and the application of fiqh Al awlawiyyat (jurisprudence of priorities), while also emphasizing the importance of realism and collective participation. He noted that dawah institutions are practical embodiments of furood kifayah and are tasked with functions such as development, education, and social reform.

Dr. Al Nuaimi also outlined the characteristics of successful dawah institutions, stating that revitalizing the reform aspect of religious outreach requires focusing on the human being, strengthening faith, and respecting human dignity. He called for training preachers who combine strong religious grounding with technical competence and leveraging social media to counter extremist rhetoric and promote a balanced, moderate Islamic message.

He concluded by affirming that institutional religious work helps organize efforts, unify energies, and meet societal needs, bringing to life the unity of the Muslim ummah in a tangible way. (QNA)