What Was The Meeting All About?
PHOTO: Sheik Abubakar Sumaworo, Grand Motif , Supreme Fatwa Council
Sheik Sumaworo made it unequivocally clear that the delegates cautioned Islamic scholars against using Islam as a means of engaging in terrorism, fear as a yard stick or spring-board for subversive activities in any member countries.
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Grand Motif of Supreme Council of Fatwa of Liberia has returned home after participating in a two-day conference organized by the Africa Union of Islamic Scholars held in Dakar, Senegal.
Sheik Abubakar Sumaworo, said the conference, which was the third in series, was graced by 47 African countries South Sahara, Islamic organizations from Muslim world in Europe, Asia and the America,
Speaking in an interview shortly after his arrival at the Roberts International Airport during the weekend, Sheik Sumaworo disclosed the delegates discussed the current events unfolding in many trouble spots in the world and high rate of poverty on the African Continent.
According to the Grand Motif, the delegates also deliberated on how Islamist scholars, teachers, preachers, schools and universities can cooperate with one another so as to reduce the financial challenges
“One of the issues is that how Islamic scholars can use the environment as a means of supporting the various institutions in our respective countries,” he said: adding: “fertile land should be cultivated, vast land in cities should be used for the construction of huge buildings and be used as a source of income.”
“During the conference,” he went on,” it was discovered that the number of abandon children was on the increase and the high number of victims of drug abuse in several countries on the African Continent.”
Sheik Sumaworo explained that the conferees also stressed the need to subsidize Islamic schools, colleges, and universities because most of them are facing financial difficulties and rick closure if financial solutions are not found.
Based on this, the Grand Motif maintained, the delegates agreed that each member-state should develop a mechanism by investing in the soil and growing food and cash crops as short and long solutions.
According to the Grand Motif, it was confirmed that two and half percent of well-established Muslims to given to poor people and institutions as ‘Zakard.’ (offerings)
He indicated that the delegates also proposed the establishment of an endowment fund so as to cater to needy and struggling institutions so provide the necessary services to the ordinary people
The Grand Motif named the endowment as farms, building, schools lands valuable property, that will generate huge funding to assist these institutions earlier mentioned.
He maintained that the delegates also encouraged preachers and teachers to be moderate in their utterances and avoid issues that will creates national crisis or religious confusion.
Sheik Sumaworo made it unequivocally clear that the delegates cautioned Islamic scholars against using Islam as a means of engaging in terrorism, fear as a yard stick or springboard for subversive activities in any member countries.