In a further step reaffirming its leading role in serving Islam and Muslims worldwide, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched the sixth training course for imams and preachers in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. The program, implemented by the Religious Attaché at the Kingdom's embassy in Senegal, aims to train 100 imams and preachers from across the country, under the direct supervision of His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh.
Historical background and ongoing Saudi efforts
This course is part of a series of programs and initiatives adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for decades, aimed at disseminating sound Islamic knowledge based on the Quran and Sunnah, as understood by the early generations of Muslims. These efforts are an integral part of the Kingdom's religious diplomacy, which focuses on promoting the values of moderation and tolerance, rejecting extremism and fanaticism, and combating deviant ideologies that seek to distort the image of Islam. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, through its religious attachés in dozens of countries, works to build bridges of scientific and cultural cooperation with Muslim communities and to equip preachers and imams with the necessary knowledge and methodological tools to fulfill their noble mission.
Course objectives and scientific content
The current training course in Dakar aims to enhance the academic and practical skills of participating imams and preachers, enabling them to effectively fulfill their role in guiding the community and disseminating sound religious awareness. The course's academic program is being presented by Sheikh Tariq Shehan Al-Ghuwairi, who is explaining in detail the book "The Ideal Principles Regarding the Names and Attributes of God" by the eminent scholar Sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen (may God have mercy on him). The curriculum focuses on establishing the foundations of Islamic creed and solidifying the correct methodology regarding the Names and Attributes of God, a crucial area of knowledge that safeguards a Muslim's faith. The opening ceremony was attended by the Religious Attaché at the Embassy, Sheikh Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Fuhaid, and several heads of Islamic associations and centers in Senegal.
The importance and expected impact of the program
This program is of paramount importance on several levels. Locally, it empowers religious leaders in Senegal to address contemporary intellectual challenges and meet the religious needs of their communities in a sound and scholarly manner. Regionally, the program is particularly relevant in West Africa, a region facing security and ideological challenges linked to the spread of extremist groups. Training imams helps to fortify communities against these ideologies by disseminating a moderate religious discourse that promotes tolerance and coexistence. Internationally, the program reflects the pivotal role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a global Islamic authority, its commitment to supporting intellectual and social stability in Muslim countries, and its presentation of a model of tolerant Islam that advocates wisdom and good counsel.
The religious attaché, Sheikh Salman Al-Fahd, praised the great support given by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Highness the Crown Prince – may God protect them – to spreading Islamic knowledge and supporting purposeful advocacy programs in various parts of the world, stressing that these courses contribute directly to serving Islamic societies and promoting the values of brotherhood and cooperation.
