National Day/ Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs to QNA: National Day is Station for Consolidating Values, Renewing Loyalty

Doha, December 11 (QNA) - HE Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem affirmed that Qatar National Day is an occasion that is renewed every year, to recognize what the ancestors planned for the sake of achieving the horizons of glory, and a station for the coexistence of the values of loyalty and belonging to the homeland among all citizens, and to consolidate the foundations of the values and principles established by the founder, and the efforts made by the ancestors to raise the flag of Qatar high, as it is an occasion to renew loyalty to the leader of the nation’s march, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of the National Day, His Excellency said that the State of Qatar celebrates its National Day this year under the slogan "Our Unity Source of Our Strength", to be proud of the glories of the past and the achievements of the present, filled with hope for a bright future and a future full of success, achievement and peace. His Excellency added that the State of Qatar is proceeding on the path of development and construction, and is proceeding at a firm pace for the sake of the nation's elevation, and preparing the Qataris to be able in the future to give and achieve, to build and protect the dear country, and to preserve its entity, interests, rights and capabilities, by acquiring knowledge and arming ourselves with religion and values, and dedication and sincerity in its endeavors. His Excellency explained that the Ministry of Endowments works in complete harmony with state institutions, according to the government system and its comprehensive vision, and its efforts focus on achieving spiritual stability in the country and consolidating the moderate approach, and it continued its efforts to qualify its staff, improve its services, and upgrade its departments to perform its tasks according to the framework assigned to it. His Excellency pointed out that the Ministry continued its efforts to achieve the second national development strategy 2018-2022 within the framework of its mandated competencies, and opened horizons for cooperation with many parties in the country in the educational, social, health and cultural fields to achieve community partnership. The Ministry was keen to manage religious affairs according to a comprehensive cultural perspective that preserves spiritual stability in society. The Ministry worked to motivate its scientific staff to perform its mission to the fullest extent in modernizing the methods of advocacy and religious guidance within the framework of a rational approach. His Excellency stated that the Ministry of Endowments adopted a clear strategy, based on supporting various fields of development, foremost of which are the areas of social protection, population, workforce and sustainable development, Islamic culture, strengthening relations with the Islamic world and Muslim minorities in the world, and contributing to the field of social protection through a disciplined investment of endowment banking resources and management of zakat affairs according to its legitimate banks. In this context, His Excellency said, the spread of the endowment culture and social solidarity has expanded in Qatar, by launching the slogan "Waqf is a community partnership" and expanding the partnership sector with government and private agencies, in addition to developing endowments. Many new endowments were opened, the number of participants increased, resources for waqf studies diversified, and a number of major endowment projects and a specialized center for waqf studies were opened. In the field of zakat, HE said that the zakat revenues of the people of Qatar increased and found their way through the Department of Zakat Affairs to the legal controls and banks, to be reflected in their lives in a scene of solidarity, as well as permanent cooperation and continuous coordination with national companies and institutions, as the department receives the budgets of companies operating in the country and calculates the amount of obligatory zakat on it, and urging the zakat to be paid. HE Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem noted that in the field of advocacy and religious guidance, the ministry's programs have expanded and diversified, as the ministry's mission is concerned with sponsoring and directing the Islamic religious affairs in society, and enhancing the role of the message of Islam in consolidating human values, lofty moral principles and ideals and these efforts have effectively resulted in the protection of youth in our society from the ideas of extremism and fanaticism. His Excellency pointed out that the Department of Islamic Affairs at the Ministry continued to print several heritage books, and distributed thousands of copies to researchers, science students and authorities, and distributed the Qatar Qur’an book to individuals and institutions inside and outside Qatar. The administration has implemented many advocacy, educational and cultural projects abroad in a number of Arab, Islamic and European countries as well as in Americas, where mosques, schools, service complexes, houses for the Holy Qur'an and Islamic and cultural centers have been established, and these projects contribute to strengthening the integration of Muslims into those societies and contribute to introducing the bright face of Islam in coexistence and civilized integration. His Excellency pointed out that Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center continues its mission as an authentic cultural window to highlight the eternal tolerance of Islam and the customs and traditions of the honorable Qatari people, the Arabic language for non-native speakers and the mosque tourism program, where the vision of the center stems from a civilized concept that presents Islam as a way of life for all people, and by addressing individuals and societies, according to their needs and aspirations, relying in communication on the basis of broadcasting common human values, good morals and respect for the other with conviction and deep faith in the message of Islam. His Excellency also stressed the distinction of Qatar's National Day this year, coinciding with the ending ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, praising the continuous achievements made by Qatar in all fields, which are among the examples that are always followed, and there is no doubt that Qatar's succussed in hosting the most important sporting event in the world , which is the FIFA World Cup 2022, and was the admiration and pride of the entire world, not just the Arab world. His Excellency explained that Qatar, from the first moment of Qatar's winning the bid for hosting the tournament, preceded time to implement the necessary infrastructure projects to host an impressive historical version of the tournament, to develop plans and carry out operational operations, to contribute to accelerating the wheel of development and achieving the development goals of the state, and leaving a lasting legacy for Qatar, the Middle East, Asia and the world. His Excellency explained that the presence of fans from all over the world of different races and beliefs during the tournament period is an important opportunity to spread the culture of the country, which is derived from the Islamic religion within the framework of a correct moderate approach which preserves the constants of our true religion, and its tolerant and clear message and highlighting the truth of this religion, which calls for peace and coexistence among all human beings. His Excellency added that the ministry has many activities associated with the World Cup, as it opened last Nov. 13 the interactive Islamic exhibition that it is holding at Imam Muhammad ibn Abd Al-Wahhab Mosque; With the aim of introducing the mosque and the message of Islam and conveying its true and tolerant image to non-Arabic speakers who visit the State of Qatar during the World Cup, as well as to speakers of English, French and Spanish. In an initiative of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, which is the first of its kind in the Arab region, Doha hotels placed a barcode bearing the logo of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center to introduce Islam in all languages, during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where the barcode refers to a page belonging to the Ministry of Endowments, and in the first interface there are options, which include different languages, and when choosing the language, an introductory guide to Islam appears translated in several languages to deliver the message of Islam and its grace to every visitor of Qatar. (QNA)