Dr Naik to speak at Ramadan Forum

Dr Naik to speak at Ramadan Forum Muaz Shabandri (muaz@khaleejtimes.com) / 3 July 2013 Celebrated Islamic preacher, Dr Zakir Naik, will speak at this year’s Ramadan forum to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on Thursday, July 18. Organisers of the forum are hosting the event at a bigger venue this year, expecting more than 6,000 people to attend his talk on ‘Quran and Modern Science’. Previous editions of his talks in Dubai have influenced several people to embrace Islam as his eloquent style of presentation and knowledge on comparative religion have earned him praise. The talk will be organised as part of the Al Multaqa Ramadan Forum which will run from July 12 to July 23. A series of educational activities, road shows, training workshops and lectures will be hosted as part of the forum organised by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). Speaking with Khaleej Times, Hamad bin Mejren, Executive Director of Business Tourism at DTCM said: “Ramadan is the perfect month to enrich the soul and it is indeed a special month for Muslims. People want to learn more about religion and it is an excellent opportunity for them to hear world renowned experts.” He added that the new venue at Zabeel Hall in DWTC was selected keeping in mind the convenience for people coming from other emirates to attend the lectures. “The forum aims at reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading tourist destination that continues to retain and respect its Islamic values and heritage, strengthening its responsibility towards spreading cultural and social awareness among different cultures,” said Hamad.  The schedule of the 12-day forum includes inspiring multilingual lectures with eight lectures in Arabic, presented by a number of scholars and preachers, including Shaikh Dr. Saeed bin Mesfer, Shaikh Dr Abdullah Al Musleh, Shaikh Dr Omar Abdul Kafi, Shaikh Khalid Ismail, Shaikh Dr Khalid Al Musleh, Shaikh Ibrahim Al Zayyat, Shaikh Suleiman Al Jbeilan and the scholar Sultan Al Dugheili. In addition, there will also be four lectures in foreign languages, namely in English presented by Dr Zakir Naik; in Tagalog by the scholar Rashid Indaan; in Malayalam by Shaikh Hussain Salafi and in Urdu presented by Shaikh Tauseef Ar-Rahman. The 12 th edition of the Ramadan Forum is being hosted under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation. Scholars and preachers will also visit local hospitals and there will be a daily Iftar organised in labour accommodations in Muhaisnah 2, the capacity of which has been increased to feed 4,000 fasting individuals this year instead of 2,500, bringing the total of free meals during Ramadan to 120,000. The activity agenda also includes a mobile Charity Caravan that will tour the city to help raise awareness about the event and to distribute informational leaflets and brochures within public and private organisations, malls, public transport and other public places. Last year, the forum attracted 99,829 adult visitors in addition to 2,400 children, and witnessed 35 people converting to Islam. The forum included 12 hospital visits by the scholars, eight visits to private and public organisations and 39,100 health checks. For more information on the venue and timings, visit www.almultaqa.ae . Taylor Scott International