Ministry plans Friday sermons in English

The UAE is planning to deliver Friday sermons for Muslims in English and other languages and replace old wooden mosques with larger worship places as part of a major drive to ensure better religious services to them.

The drive complements a recent week-long nationwide mosque campaign spearheaded by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Wife of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Chairperson of the UAE General Women's Union (GWU).

Officials said 60 new mosques will be constructed in Abu Dhabi while some the existing ones will be maintained and expanded, and the old wooden mosques, known as caravans, will be demolished.

The drive also targets the essence of such worship places as Friday open-air prayer sermons to be delivered in English and Urdu along with Arabic on a trial basis before the plan is extended to all mosques.

To ensure the success of such a campaign, preachers, Imams and other mosque workers have just been notified of better job terms, including accommodation, im-proved benefits and unification of job grades for all mosque staff.

As the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Awqaf pushed ahead with the current drive, officials also spoke of plans to equip the mosques with new clocks that will ensure timely prayers in all mosques. The ministry has also decided to grant Dh600 to all preachers per sermon.

"The ministry is in the process of designating two mosques in each emirate to deliver brief sermons in English or Urdu. In case such an experience succeeds, it will be extended to all mosques in the country," said Mohammed Nakhira Al Dhaheri, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Awqaf.

"The translation will cover only the text and the meaning of the original sermon. It is in line with the ministry's interest to deliver the message of Islam in all languages so a larger part of the community gets acquainted with Islam."

Other ministry officials said development plans will also involve recruiting more qualified preachers, imams and the Holy Qur'an reciters.

"Such plans are aimed at encouraging Muslims to go to mosques and convey the real identity and character of Islam to all communities," said Ahmed bin Mubarak Al Ghandi, the ministry's Assistant Undersecretary for Mosques.

He said there are plans to add 60 new mosques to the ministry's nearly 4,000 in the UAE and to demolish and remove all 'caravan mosques'.

"We are pressing ahead with such development plans which cover all aspects of mosques. It complements last week's mosque drive which has attracted the attention of many countries. We have received letters from numerous Arab and Islamic countries enquiring about that campaign so they can benefit from it in launching their own mosque campaigns in future."

Last week's event included sermons, lectures, launching of new Holy Quran memorisation courses and centres, distribution of Holy Quran copies and explaining the real tolerant side of Islam.

Entitled 'Construction of God's Houses, Faith and Civilisation', the drive attracted scores of Muslim scholars and preachers from the UAE and other countries to deliver sermons and lectures on Islam.

"The campaign is part of numerous initiatives taken by the UAE under the wise leadership of Sheikh Zayed inside and outside the UAE. They cover all fields, including religion, culture, education and health."

Dr Mohammed bin Jumma Salim, the ministry's Undersecre-tary for Islamic and Awqaf Affairs said the campaign is a unique event in the region. "We hope it will achieve its goals of highlighting the real aspects of Islam including mercy, tolerance and love."

A total of 127 mosques will be renovated, redecorated and furnished in collaboration with municipalities and ministries. But officials said ancient mosques will be carefully rehabilitated so that they maintain their historical features.

The oldest mosque in the UAE is located in Fujairah and is more than 500-year-old, according to officials.

Excavations at Al Bidya village in Abu Dhabi reveal that the site has been inhabited for 4,000 years. A group of Australian excavators say this Ottoman Mosque dates to the 16th century AD.

"Relics and other finds unearthed reveal that the mosque was built in 1500. The team is working to determine the date when the two watch towers overlooking the mosque and the village were built," said Ahmed Khalifa Al Shamsi, Director of the Fujairah Museum.