Abu Dhabi: A survey of non-Arabic speaking worshippers and their understanding of the weekly Friday sermons was recently carried out in Abu Dhabi by the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD) in collaboration with the Department of Community Development and the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments.
Worshippers from 15 different mosques in Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafra were included in the survey which covered a wide range of issues. The survey aimed to search for ways to ensure the worshippers’ understanding of the messages delivered during the Friday sermon through the translations into various languages.
According to the survey, 73 per cent of non-Arabic speakers who took part said that they did not grasp the meanings in the Friday sermons, which are usually delivered in Arabic, mainly because they do not understand the Arabic language.
Respondents also said despite not understanding the message of the sermon, they liked to attend because they enjoyed the religious atmosphere and community spirit found during the Friday prayers.
The survey also found that 55 per cent of respondents preferred the Friday sermon to be translated into Urdu.
In terms of using smart devices and online applications to receive the Friday sermons, 92 per cent of respondents were in favour. In light of this finding, a new service will be launched in the next few weeks in partnership with etisalat and du that will contribute to communicating the messages of the Friday sermon to a broader section of society members.
