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The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs honoured the scholars and intellectuals who took part in the first Annual World Conference on the Qur’an and Human Knowledge: Towards Sound Human Understanding, and the inaugural Ummah Writers’ Forum, organised by Awqaf in collaboration with Qatar University (QU).The honorees were recognised by HE the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanem al-Thani, with a host of academics and researchers from QU and the Ibn Khaldun Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, in attendance, in appreciation of their scholarly and intellectual contributions.The purpose of this initiative is to reinstate the centrality of the Holy Qur’an in shaping human and social knowledge, and to foster the integration between the Sharia and human sciences, thereby contributing to a civilisational and intellectual renaissance for the Islamic nation, said Director of the Department of Islamic Research and Studies Sheikh Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Ghanem al-Thani.He also announced the launch of the second edition of the conference and the forum, scheduled to convene in October 2026, commending the participants and researchers who enriched the sessions with their valuable papers and interventions.Director of the Ibn Khaldun Center at Qatar University, Dr Badran bin Lahsan, stated that the two events embodied the significance of reinstating the Holy Qur’an’s pivotal role in the production of human and social knowledge.He noted that the Holy Qur’an provides a holistic vision of existence and offers a set of values and standards that help guide thought and contribute to building humans and societies.The conference helped open a balanced intellectual dialogue between the Sharia sciences and the modern human and social sciences, underscoring the importance of sustained collaboration among academic and intellectual institutions, in addition to the exchange of expertise among researchers from a variety of disciplines, to ensure institutional continuity and to enrich the research and intellectual experience within Islamic communities, he said. Representing the guests at the forum, Dr Abdel Majid al-Najjar emphasised that the Ummah Writers series, which spanned four decades in publication, served as a pioneering reformist school that has contributed to consolidating the civilisational identity of the Islamic nation and safeguarding the Islamic personality in its doctrinal, intellectual, and behavioural dimensions.He further underscored the importance of constant renewal within the series to keep pace with contemporary developments and challenges, enabling the formation of a modern Muslim personality capable of addressing intellectual and social issues and benefiting from civilisational advancements without compromising deep-rooted Islamic values.

Qatar University (QU)’s Ibn Khaldon for Humanities and Social Studies Centre, in co-operation with the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, has inaugurated the ‘1st Annual Conference on the Qur’an and Human Knowledge’, along with the ‘1st Forum of Ummah Writers’.The opening was attended by HE the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem; Dr Omar al-Ansari, president of QU; several vice-presidents; and senior officials from various ministries; as well as academic and governmental sectors.Dr al-Ansari highlighted that the conference aligns with QU’s strategic plan and research priorities, which include emphasising research in the humanities and social sciences to foster scholarly focus on cognitive, human, social, and cultural issues, thereby promoting ethical, value-based development and sustainable growth in our societies. He also highlighted the conference’s role in cultivating human knowledge awareness in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Qur’an.Sheikh Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Ghanem al-Thani, director of the Department of Islamic Research and Studies at the Ministry of Endowments, also delivered a speech welcoming the attendees.He emphasised the significance of the occasion, which combines the conference and the forum, stating that the conference is part of broader efforts to restore the important role that Qur’anic knowledge has historically contributed to guide human sciences and methodologies, as well as in connecting researchers to it in both approach and objective.Sheikh Dr Ahmed also emphasised the significance of the ‘1st Forum of Ummah Writers’, which highlights the Kitab Al-Ummah series, a rich Qatari cultural and intellectual legacy that has been published for more than four decades since its inception.During this time, it has strived to achieve its intended goals, including rebuilding the Muslim character, reviving the concept of ‘Fardh Kifayah’ (communal obligations) and the importance of specialisation, contributing to the development of a righteous elite, and promoting awareness of the significance of the approach that address’s the cosmos’ signs and laws using the knowledge of divine revelation as its primary reference and source.Dr Badrane Benlahcene, director of the Ibn Khaldon Centre at QU, stated that the conference aligns with the centre’s dual objectives of bridging and localisation. Bridging aims to intellectually connect various disciplines to address human and social issues in an integrated and precise manner. Localisation, meanwhile, involves re-evaluating contemporary sciences, knowledge systems, and theories to ensure they align with religious and cultural identities and resonate with societal contexts, as well as methodological and practical requirements, thereby ensuring community benefit.The conference aims to reaffirm the central role of the Holy Qur’an in shaping contemporary discourse on human and social knowledge. It seeks to bridge the gap between Islamic sciences and the humanities and social sciences by connecting researchers from diverse disciplines with the Qur’an, enabling them to utilise it as a framework for understanding and guiding various human and social phenomena.Additionally, the conference encourages scholars in Islamic disciplines to engage systematically with the humanities and social sciences and to contextualise these fields while considering Qur’anic guidance.

The Qatar Social and Cultural Center for the Blind (QSCCB) announced a program focused on the Holy Quran, in collaboration with the department of persons with disabilities programs at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs. QSCCB explained that the program, presented by Sheikh Amro Al Maliki, will be held weekly (every Wednesday) at the Center after Maghrib prayer. The program comes as part of the Center's efforts in instilling the love for the Holy Quran in the hearts of its members and giving them the opportunity to benefit from the gatherings as well as recitation. Chairman of the QSCCB, Faisal Al Kooheji, stated that the program was organized as part of the Center's belief in the importance of the Holy Quran in shaping young people positively. The center aims to provide a religious space that helps establish a generation deeply connected to the Holy Quran, Al Kooheji added. The QSCCB, established in 2004, is one of the centers affiliated with the Ministry of Culture that culturally serves the blind and people with low vision of both genders.

The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, represented by Mosques Department, inaugurated the historic mosque in Al Rafiq area of Al Jumailiya following the completion of comprehensive maintenance work. This initiative is part of the ministry's plan to expand and develop mosques across all areas of the country, in line with urban growth, population increase, and Qatar National Vision 2030.The historic mosque features a main prayer hall accommodating 36 worshippers, as well as the mosque's liwan that can also accommodate the same number, where Friday prayers are held. The mosque also includes 120-square-meter courtyard, with its southeastern corner housing a minaret reflecting a traditional architectural style, while the ablution area is located in the northeastern section.The ministry explained that maintenance work was carried out on both the mosque's exterior and interior walls to preserve its heritage character, including construction of a new roof in keeping with traditional architectural spirit of historic mosques.Emphasizing the importance of preserving the mosque's heritage essence, the ministry added that the facility has been equipped with a new electrical network, air conditioning, lighting and sound systems, as well as security and safety devices.

The Department of Islamic Research and Studies at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs will launch the first event of the second cultural season of the 'Knowledge Integration' seminar series on Tuesday.The first seminar will discuss the possible implications of the process of knowledge integration, within the framework of examining and reflecting on selected models from the long history of Islamic civilization and the cultural, intellectual, and scientific achievements that have continued to shape the present and build the future.The seminar will be held at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, immediately after Isha prayer. Held in cooperation with the Ibn Khaldon Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences at Qatar University, the seminar will feature the participation of a select group of scholars, researchers, and academics.Director of the Department of Research and Islamic Studies Sheikh Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Ghanem Al-Thani said that the seminar is a semi-annual, scientific, and intellectual cultural event held twice a year. It focuses on the causes, tools, and methods for achieving interaction and integration between various sciences, and it examines cultural issues and social problems from an Islamic perspective, he added.The Director of the Department of Research and Islamic Studies said that the seminar's primary goal is to promote a culture of cognitive integration, which tops the list of objectives the Department of Research aims to achieve through its seminars, lectures, and various publications.As for the second seminar of this season, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Ghanem Al-Thani explained that it will take place in February 2026 and explore possible ways to advance 'cultural interaction' as a foundation for cognitive integration. This will be achieved through two main, interconnected axes, each with its own intellectual and practical implications.

The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) took part in the 10th meeting of Their Excellencies undersecretaries and senior officials responsible for Islamic affairs and endowments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanem al-Thani chaired Qatar's delegation to the meeting, which was held Wednesday in the State of Kuwait with the participation of official delegations from across the GCC.In his remarks, HE Dr Sheikh Khalid stressed that such meetings serve as a strategic platform for discussing aspirations, challenges, and exchanging expertise and best practices. He emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts among GCC countries to develop a unified vision that enhances the religious and social roles of ministries of Islamic affairs and endowments, supports developmental goals, and empowers the sector to fulfill its civilizational and humanitarian mission for Gulf societies and beyond.He also commended the significant efforts made by the ministers and undersecretaries of Islamic affairs and endowments across the GCC, which he said reflect the region’s commitment to meeting the aspirations of its peoples and advancing sustainable development. He extended his gratitude to Kuwait for its warm hospitality and excellent organization, and praised the efforts of the GCC General Secretariat and the Standing Committee of Islamic Affairs Specialists for their productive work during the current session.The agenda included proposals to share scientific research and experiences in the field of endowments through interactive virtual seminars; showcase best practices in Islamic affairs and set criteria for the successful social role of mosque imams. Also discussed were artificial intelligence in Islamic affairs; intellectual security codes for mosque imams, energy conservation in mosques and technical requirements for building and upgrading mosques.The meeting also presented a proposal to hold a Gulf Week for the Protection of Religious and Moral Values of the Family. Participants presented several recommendations aimed at enhancing co-operation among GCC states in the field of Islamic affairs and endowments. These recommendations will be submitted to the upcoming meeting of GCC Ministers of Islamic Affairs and Endowments for approval and adoption.

The Department of Islamic Research and Studies at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs announced Tuesday the winners of the Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani Endowment Prize.Moroccan researcher Ismail bin Abdullah Al Hajj won the 15th edition of this global prize, which focused on social solidarity and its role in achieving community security.The first local edition of the prize on family cohesion and its role in childcare was shared by Dr. Omar Othman Al Khatib, Dr. Khalifa Ahmed Bu Hashim, and Layla Fadl Hamad Sada.During a press conference, Awqaf evinced that the decision to share this local edition came based on the findings of the prize's panel which affirmed that each researcher complements the other and constitutes a critical addition.Director of the Department of Islamic Research and Studies, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Ghanem Al-Thani, highlighted that the prize drew a major contest among 57 researchers hailing from Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia.He further added that the prize's panel lauded the submitted research which were literally in a high degree of scientific excellence in terms of approach and objectivity, prompting the panel to significantly recommend verification from some research and further submission to the Book of the Nation Series to weigh the possibility of publishing them once the consent of research leads.Even if the prize has essentially opted for one winning dissertation for each level, it has incredibly succeeded in supplying the Arab Islamic Library with 57 outstanding research and books by approaching this bulk of research, as long as the leads who were not lucky to win will strive to publish and distribute them, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed said.He stated that the research department has selected "Artificial Intelligence and Technology Ethics in Islamic Thought: A Study of the Challenges of the Digital Revolution from an Islamic Perspective" as the theme for the 18th International Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani Endowment Prize, while the theme for the upcoming session of the local prize will be on "Financial Education for Children According to Islamic Methodology and Its Impact on Family Economy- Islam's Role in Building a Sound Financial Culture" for the 4th local prize, noting that Jan.1, 2028, ought to be the deadline for submitting research for both prizes.He pointed out that Jan.1, 2026, ought to be the deadline for receiving the research submitted to the 16th International prize on the Islamic jurisprudence of social relations in light of Qur'anic stories, along with the second edition of the local prize on social media and its impact on the cultural identity of the Qatari community.It has been determined that Jan.1, 2027, would be the deadline for receiving the researches submitted to the 17th edition of the international prize on the Islamic ummah and the post-globalization era: A foresight study, as well as the third edition of the local prize on the Friday Sermon and its role in reform: the Qatari society as a model, highlighted Sheikh Dr. Ahmed.Qatar News Agency (QNA) reached the Assistant Director of the Research and Studies Center at the Police Academy in Qatar, Capt. Dr. Khalifa Ahmed Bo Hashim Al Sayed, who evinced that his participation in the local prize came after he delved into the topic of family cohesion and its role in childcare: The Qatari society as a model.Al Sayed pointed out that his participation, which ranked first, has diligently revealed how tight-knit families can take care of children in the Qatari community through identifying the reality of family cohesion and care for children in terms of Sharia perspectives.Identifying the contemporary issues, modern methods, and a wide range of societal challenges, along with their impact on tight-knit families and taking care of children, was imperative, alongside the role of the whole-of-government approach, social centers, and scholars at home in preserving this cohesion, he underlined.Al Sayed noted that his study also discussed clarifying the impact of the tight-knit family in caring for children in many respects that include psychology, emotion, morality, education, and science.A field study was conducted using a descriptive-analytical approach, along with the preparation and distribution of a questionnaire to a random sample of 747 individuals from various segments of Qatari society, he said.He further elucidated that the findings were literally consequential, pointing out that the impact of diverse issues on family cohesion and caring for children in Qatar is almost high, based on social dispensation, as well as education and culture, emphasizing that this cohesion has an apparent and profound impact and comes based on the scientific, moral, and educational levels, as well as psychology and emotion.With respect to the recommendations of this study, Capt. Al Sayed evinced that they advocate for reconsidering the policies and measures in connection with job patterns in the Qatari community to preemptively avert the detrimental consequences arising from the long hours of work that could potentially affect familial relationships.The recommendations laser-focus on social collaboration with the nation's competent authorities, namely the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), in urging families to dedicate a limited time to their sons and daughters to use social media, Al Sayed outlined, noting that the recommendations stressed the importance of crafting a strategy that strengthens family cohesion and contributes to caring for children.In essence, the prize is the first and largest endowment-based prize in culture, advocacy, and Islamic thought in Qatar, supported by Awqaf to encourage research and develop a new generation of scholars, with a value of QR200,000 for both the international and local categories.Over nearly three decades, the prize has advanced pivotal contributions across diverse knowledge fields, addressing issues such as societal endowments, Islamic perspectives on the environment, family and education, heritage and nation-building, governance, dialogue, human rights, divine laws, communal obligations, transformative jurisprudence, citizenship, and development.