Training Islamic missionaries in using the media

Qatar University’s College of Shariah and Islamic Studies has started offering a new four-year programme on Da’wa (spreading the message of Islam) and media from this autumn, it was announced yesterday. Interesting is that this college not only teaches the traditional Islamic sciences, but also media and journalism. Clever of course: if you want your message to be heard, go for the media!

“The goal is to produce graduates committed to and well-versed in interaction and dialogue across the major religions and in far-reaching communities throughout the world to present Islam, its culture and its values,” said Zakaryya Abdel-Hady, head of the Department of Da’wa and Islamic Culture as well as the programme. More HERE in the Gulf Times.

Mubarak proves to be a dictator

Interesting news from our brothers in Egypt... Mubarak, its president, has pardoned an outspoken newspaper editor sentenced to jail earlier this month for publishing false information about Mr. Mubarak's health. An Egyptian appeals court last month ruled that Ibrahim Eissa should spend two months in prison, prompting sharp criticism from press freedom groups and pro-democracy activists.

Eissa is editor-in-chief of the independent "Al-Dustour" daily newspaper. He was prosecuted for publishing stories last year saying President Mubarak, now 80 years old, was in poor health. A lower court originally sentenced him to six months with labor. Eissa has been facing a number of other court cases over the past year stemming from his reports critical of Egyptian leaders.

By overturning the ridiculous decision of the court, Mubarak shows the almighty power that he has. He is above the law, like all Arab rulers we live under. Thereby proving the point of Mr Eissa. Thanks to VOA for this story.

Missions Magazine

Redcliffe College in the UK published a quarterly missions magazine, Encounters, on its website. Allways useful, and sometimes focussed on mission in the Muslim world. Good reading.

Are the Arabs really Arabs?

Saudi researchers have mapped the first Arab genome in a project to put the Arab world on the global genetic map and improve healthcare. Geneticists from Saudi Biosciences say unlocking the genetic profile of 100 people from Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries will help tackle medical problems in Saudi Arabia and encourage sorely-needed scientific research.

“The advantage of the project is that it studies the differences between peoples, and that will explain the spread of specific illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, etc.,” said Saeed al-Turki, Arab Human Genome Project Coordinator.“Twenty-five percent of the Saudi population has, or is liable to have diabetes and that will form a big burden on health services,” he said.

Almost one in four Saudis over 30 has diabetes, according to the World Health Organization. The project will help establish if the high incidence is due to a shift to urban living and rich diets among rural and Bedouin populations, as often claimed.

The project, with the backing of Prince Ahmed bin Sultan, a son of the crown prince, could also help establish a clearer picture of the historic migration of the Semitic peoples, who include Arab tribes, ancient Jews and others, from Africa into the Arabian peninsula.

There is likely to be some sensitivity in the historically and culturally diverse Middle East around the mapping, given the importance many people place on being of Arab descent. Some Muslims are keen to claim Arab ancestry because the Prophet Mohammad was an Arab, and Islam and Arabic spread hand-in-hand.

“Tribes of the Arabian peninsula will account for 50 genomes and 50 will be from other Arab nationalities such as Egypt, Syria, Libya, etc.,” said geneticist Ibrahim al-Abdelkarim. “It's a sensitive subject. People who speak Arabic call themselves Arabs but 'the Arabs' involve different groups.”

Tribes of the Arabian peninsula pride themselves on having “pure” Arab origins and there are groups throughout the Arab world that embrace and reject Arab identity.

Water and Living Water?

Water is what the Arab World needs desparately. The Economist had an article about the lack of water, and this week the IHT has an article that focuses on Cairo. Can you believe it, 40% of Cairo does not have clean water in the home. The whole Arab World suffers and the combination of drought, population growth and industrialization is a drama.

How should we as expats in the Arab World live, work and testify to Christ with this water-issue in mind?

Can Muslims marry 9 year old girls? Fatwa Fights

Morocco’s top body of Islamic scholars has condemned a Muslim theologian for issuing a religious decree that girls as young as nine years old can marry. The high council of Ulemas “denounces the utilisation of religion to legitimise the marriage of nine-year-old girls”, it said in a statement on Sunday. Sheikh Mohamed Ben Abderrahman Al-Maghraoui earlier this month said the marriage of nine-year-old girls was allowed by Islam as the Prophet Mohammed consummated the marriage to one of his wives when she was that age.

Eh brothers, why is this 'utilization of religion'? If the prophet's example and words are not acceptable, how should Muslims then decide about rights and wrong?

Why bother about contextualization....

If we see that our beloved Saudi Muslims sisters just loooove Oprah Winfrey, why would we worry about contextualizing our Christian message ;-)

When "The Oprah Winfrey Show" was first broadcast in Saudi Arabia in November 2004 on a Dubai-based satellite channel, it became an immediate sensation among young Saudi women. Within months, it had become the highest-rated English-language program among women 25 and younger, an age group that makes up about a third of Saudi Arabia's population. ... More HERE in the New York Times