First Ramadan lecture of 2022 Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed highlights need for building values in society

Abu Dhabi: The first Ramadan lecture of the 2022 Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed season, titled ‘Values and Their Impact on Human Development and Societies', was held here on Tuesday.

The session shed light on the importance of building values for the society as well as points of convergence between Islamic and human values. It also discussed ways to enhance these values, which help build prosperous communities and their wider benefits for societies and countries when promoted at all levels.

Dr Omar Habtoor Al-Derei, Executive Director of the UAE Fatwa Council, and Dr Ahmed Al Haddad, Director of the Fatwa Department at the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai and member of the UAE Fatwa Council, spoke at the lecture. It was moderated by Nouf Al-Shehhi from the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments.

Lecture on TV channels

During the lecture, experts addressed the session through video conferencing.

The lecture will be aired on the Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed YouTube channel and also on Al Emarat TV and other local TV channels tomorrow, April 7, at 5.50pm.

The speakers addressed the importance of instilling values as a human necessity for building civilisations and attaining a good life. They also discussed how Islam has consolidated these values, like other religions whose teachings were focused on for the revival and promotion of values.

Commenting on human values, Al-Derei said they are necessary for individual self-discipline and building collective communities. He added that despite the differences among philosophers about the nature and root source of values, they all universally agreed on their importance for a prosperous life.

Perseverance and patience

Al-Derei also spoke about transforming values into social behaviours. He stressed the importance of making a habit of these through perseverance, patience and a desire to inculcate them in families.

Al Haddad addressed the types of values and their impact on societies. He made a distinction between spiritual and subjective values, which include honesty, bearing of responsibility, exuding positivity, alongside appropriate talk, spreading peace and family values as seen in virtues such as mercy, giving, love and loyalty.

Al Haddad also referred to social values, including patience, courage, altruism, and forgiveness, in addition to national values, which include loyalty to one’s homeland and commitment to safeguarding harmony among its citizens. There are also universal values that help in cross-border interaction, cooperation and exchange of experiences, which in turn advance mutually beneficial relations.

Al Haddad also shed light on economic values, including work in all its forms, because it is the backbone of the economy, which contribute to economic stability, resource management and self-sufficiency. He also addressed the importance of cultural values and cited instances that reinforce these meanings.

Gaining a deeper understanding

Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed was launched during Ramadan in 2006, following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, to establish a platform that provides science and knowledge during the holy month. Rooted in His Highness’ belief in the importance of dialogue, the platform aims to help attendees and viewers gain a deeper understanding of issues that affect the future of societies through learning from esteemed scientists, experts and specialists across disciplines and geographies.