Hi-tech Daawa programme 'a great success'

Riyadh: A Saudi charity, the Daawa foundation, established by the sons of the late King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, has embarked on an ambitious high-tech programme to spread the message of Islam in the Western world.

The experiment, which started a year ago uses highly advanced technology to broadcast live transmission of Daawa classes and sermons. It has proved to be a resounding success, say its organisers.

"We are telecasting live the lectures and religious classes of several senior Islamic scholars including the Grand Mufti Shaikh Abdul Aziz Alu Al Shaikh. A large number of people worldwide, especially those in the West are taking advantage of them," said the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Charity Daawa Foundation, Prince Saud Bin Fahd, who was former deputy head of the Saudi General Intelligence.

Real revolution

Addressing a function to mark the first anniversary of the foundation Prince Saud Bin Fahd outlined the major features of the high-tech Daawa campaign.

Many prominent figures who attended the function expressed the view that the foundation could lead a real revolution in the field of Islamic propagation if it had enough funding.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the anniversary, Prince Saud Bin Fahd, said the foundation had ambitious plans to spread the true message of Islam.

"We are striving to present the true picture of Islam and try to clear up misunderstandings about it in a simple and scientific way. We have also special plans for taking care of new Muslims," he said.

Prince Saud Bin Fahd said the foundation's philosophy was to make use of the latest information technology for the propagation of Islam.

The transmitted lectures, which are received in mosques, got immense response from various parts of the kingdom and Kuwait as well as from America, Britain and other Western countries, he said.

Shaikh Abdul Salam Al Suleiman, director-general of the foundation, said the foundation also carries out various other Daawa activities these include giving religious edicts (fatwa) via telephone. The foundation has several sections, including a transmission centre and the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Information Centre.