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Reports
Written By: Abdul-Aziz Oudah
Article Date: Mar 13, 2010 - 5:26:19 AM
Cleric and Officials commenced awareness campaign in Marib.
The Social Guidance Foundation organized a symposium focusing on Islam and development last week in Marib. The symposium was attended by a large number of religious scholars, Sheiks and executive councils’ members.
Sheikh Yahia al-Najar, the establishment Chairman, took the opportunity of the symposium to reaffirm that Islam is a religion of development and happiness for mankind, on account of its calls for earthly reconstruction and human prosperity. This, al-Najar emphasized, is realized in its instructions to its followers and humanity at large to adopt scientific methods and research while working for the development of humanity.
Al-Najar added that Islam is a full and comprehensive religion in all aspects. The functions of Islam are not only limited to conducting religious obligations; it goes beyond these paradigms, stretching for the activation of development and economy.
He claimed that the state needs the support of the religious leaders to activate development. He also stipulated that the religious leaders must help the state, the civil societies organizations and the donor organizations in this development process.
Al-Najar reiterated that security and safety is the keystone, particularly in Marib, in all efforts to create an environment of development in the governorate. He addressed the participants, saying that one cannot perform their duties toward Islam under a state of fear.
Al-Najar expressed his passion that there should be no gap between the scholars, the officials and the people.
Marib Governor Naji al-Zaidi praised the social guidance offered for the promotion of the development process in Marib, and for performing research and studies in different areas of Yemen.
The social guides and religious scholars have a greater role still to play in social development and awareness promotion. There is no security without stability; yet stability and security will not arrive without awareness, the governor said
Religious manipulation creates incendiary situations, hinders development and plays a reverse role in educating citizens, the governor reiterated.
The governor called on all religious scholars in Marib to help change the situations in Marib by spreading a sense of national allegiance and illuminating the minds of all Yemeni citizens through highlighting the individual’s commitment towards his fellow citizens and nation. He urged all to use social events for constructive criticism and good conduct.
He also called upon mosque preachers to avoid partisan disputes while utilizing mosques for serving the nation’s development.
Dr. Adel al-Sharjabi, Chairman of the research team of the Social Guidance Corporation, recently completed his research into development within Marib, which found that the main hindrances to development in Marib can be attributed to unemployment, lack of potable water, the ‘revenge phenomenon’ and weak educational systems.
The severity of problems differs from one area to another inside Marib. However, there is an advantageous reach for the state, local authorities, civil societies and donors, when well-laid plans are implemented.
Al-Sharjabi added that citizens are considered to be the main authority in the determination of specific area’s development requirements. This is a modern technique for development that calls for the avoidance of central planning, which has proven time and again to be a failure.
The head of the research team disclosed the appearance of new hindrances that were not known in Marib before, such as child labor, the strong existence of which surprised the research team.
Sheikh Abo al-Hassan al-Solimani, the General Director of Marib al-Hadis House, said that the growing unemployment rate and the decline of income has contributed to the creation of extremism in the area, as well as an increase in racist tendencies in the general populace.
Solimani pointed out that the traditional national security concept, limited to defense, security, police and intelligence, has proved to be impracticable. He added that national security should be linked to a comprehensive international security system.
He went on, saying that Islamic teachings call for the establishing security first, but this cannot be achieved without dialogue and stability. Without these factors, the development of humanity, which Islam calls for, is impractical.
Several Qu’ranic verses strongly link security to development and relate them to the ideal worship to God, Solimani added.
He said, “Poor security and disbelief inevitably leads to imbalances and development constraints.” He called on religious scholars to strengthen people’s faith and to cooperate with the State in order to strengthen the security of people, thus promoting development and achieving state goals.
In his paper delivered to the Symposium, Sheikh Yahia Mohsen Mubarak pointed to the relation between tribal traditions and customs in Marib and the Islamic religious concepts on one hand, with the role of these traditions and concepts in the development process on the other.
He said that all preachers and scholars must urge people to develop the traditions and customs that assist development and reject all those that hinder it.
Sheikh Khidir Sulli pointed in his paper to the scholars and religious figures’ role in local community development, stressing that they could implement and facilitate intellectual, social, economic and health developments.
The paper ensured that Islam is not incompatible with all forms of contemporary development concepts.
