New Muslim centre to open soon
MOHAMMAD BIN RASHID CENTRE DEDICATED TO SERVE GROWING NUMBER OF NEW MUSLIMS
S h a f a at S h a h b a n da r i
Adedicated centre for the growing number of new Muslims in Dubai will open soon, offering various services to the new faithful
aunched under the orders of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the institution is named Mohammad Bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture.
“The idea for the centre was conceived following Shaikh Mohammad’s meeting with a group of New Muslims recently, who stressed the need for such an institution and Shaikh Mohammad immediately gave orders,” said Dr Omar Al Khateeb, Deputy Director General of Islamic Affairs at Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD).
Training
Impressed by the culture and spirit of Islam, a growing number of people have come to the fold of Islam over the last six years, said Al Khateeb, who is overseeing the project.
According to statistics provided by IACAD, which has a dedicated section that looks af- ter the new Muslims, more than 18,000 people has embraced Islam since 2006 and the number is growing every day.
“Last year 2,000 people accepted the religion of peace this year we already have 1,600 people. Our new Muslim section provides services like training them in Islamic practices, culture, rituals etc. but we need more space so this centre will definitely help serve people better,” added Al Khateeb.
Among the activities of the centre will be holding training classes in various languages, preparing new Muslims on coping with external pressure, publishing books and CDs as well as propagating the message of Islam. “We don’t force Islam on anyone, people accept it after realising the beauty of the religion. We help them when they come to us to initiate them into the road of peace,” said Al Khateeb.
75 nationalities
He said that people from 75 nationalities have accepted Islam in Dubai over the last decade, with different people finding different aspects of Islam appealing.
Though the location and budget for the project has not been allotted yet but the centre is likely to come up in the next couple of years.