In a major development coming from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who are the custodians of Islam’s two holiest mosques, no one can issue any “Dawa” (the act of inviting or calling people to embrace Islam) activity without permission.
As per media reports published in gulfnews, the ruling entity will review the content of mosque libraries and remove books that call for extremism and partisanship.
According to five circulars issued by Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Abdullatif Al Sheikh, no dawa activity will be held without obtaining a permit from the ministry and those who violate the directive will be held accountable.
Al Sheikh instructed the ministry’s branches should follow up on its implementation and submit periodic reports to the ministry and the circulars addressed mosque employees, including imams, preachers, muezzins, official preachers and part-time preachers in various regions of the Kingdom.
The second circular deals with combating extremism and partisanship and mosque libraries have been deemed as places of intellectual storehouses for those seeking knowledge, such as researchers and students.
The minister directed the departments concerned to review these libraries and feed them with what is useful and beneficial, and to remove books that call for extremism and partisanship.
Al Sheikh called on mosque employees in all regions of the Kingdom to participate in intellectual security courses held by the ministry or other state agencies and should also participate by presenting research and scientific papers in seminars and conferences organised by the ministry or other state agencies.
The guidelines instruct mosque preachers to explain to the faithful the correct belief and Shariah rulings, underline the need to observe good manners and morals, as well as to adhere to good citizenship, obey the rulers, and stay away from talking about jurisprudential issues in which there is a divergence of views among scholars.
Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Mohammad Bin Salman has taken several steps to reform Islam and are working on rejecting some of the Hadis which have no historical relevance.
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