'Localisation of Imams' programme launched to train, qualify Emirati imams and preachers

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, in cooperation with the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, launched the "Localisation of Imams" programme to train and qualify Emirati imams and preachers, as part of their joint efforts to develop citizens in various Sharia fields.

The programme, which lasts for four months and includes the participation of 25 citizens, covers a number of topics, including: imam jurisprudence, linguistic and applied skills, Tajweed skills and phonetics, major values and ethics of the imam, Sheikh Zayed's legacy, intellectual security, skills in psychology and sociology, elocution and the arts of rhetoric, religious institutions in the UAE, in addition to practical training for the participants.

In his speech at the programme’s launch, Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, stressed that this initiative is a commitment to the state's policy in this regard, and in line with the directives of the wise leadership and the UAE government’s strategy.

He said, "Our mosques are not like other mosques around us. They are extremely committed, disciplined and responsible and have reached a great extent in their keenness on the national interest, serving this blessed country, its security, culture and people. The UAE’s mosques are exemplary models of civilization and free from extremism, chaos, and the misuse of religious discourse. Therefore, we want an imam who is moderate, educated, aware, and deeply rooted in his national identity; an imam who is a protective shield for his country, leadership and society, equipped with human values and in harmony with scientific and global developments. This is the type of imam that we want to develop and these are the standards that regulate their work in the mosques.”

Al Darei continued, "We have enough programmes, studies and strategies, and there is no alternative from localising mosque positions. Localisation is a national policy. As President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, ‘Empowering national cadres is at the forefront of our priorities’. We must be self-sufficient and look forward to a sustainable future for our national religious human resources.”

He added, “This huge project is a shared national responsibility, and we start here from the university and memorisation centres. It requires patience, perseverance, diligence, honesty, sincerity and planning. Every citizen who joins this job is a gain, an achievement and a source of pride for us and the nation. This reinforces the concept of sustainability by ensuring the continuity of distinguished religious competencies that will benefit the country and its people.”

For his part, Dr Mohamed Rashed Al Hameli, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, said that the "Localisation of Imams" programme embodies the vision of the wise leadership in training and developing our religious cadres and enhancing their scientific and intellectual capabilities to serve the nation.

The programme is considered the result of ongoing collaboration between the university and the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat.

He pointed out that the programme aims to produce a distinguished batch of imams who have intellectual competence and high scientific ability, enabling them to take on the responsibility of imamate and preaching with wisdom, moderation, tolerance, knowledge and logic.

He added, “The programme offered by the university contains a comprehensive scientific curriculum that includes rich and diverse materials in intonation, interpretation and Quranic positions, Maliki jurisprudence, intellectual security, recitation, preaching and public speaking, the ethics of the imam and the importance of major values, and learning about the state's religious institutions and other sciences that enhance the skills of the imam and raise his efficiency.”

At the end of his speech, Al Hameli expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat for its continuous support to the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities and for its consistent commitment to supporting such ambitious initiatives that contribute to building a promising future for our national religious cadres.