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The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs has issued a statement outlining a combination of guidelines for worshippers during Eid Al-Fitr to ensure their safety and good organisation.The statement indicated that the authoritative agencies urge worshippers to adhere to the guidelines, in terms of never panicking upon hearing any national alert during the prayer and remaining inside the mosque.In case worshippers are outside the mosque when an alert is issued, they should either go inside the mosque or remain in vehicles as per the recommended posture from the authoritative agencies until the threat is eliminated, the statement read, adding that upon finishing the prayer sermon they should exit immediately in calm and tranquility.The ministry called for people heading toward mosques to engage in Takbeer during Eid to avoid crowding and help ensure smooth entry and exit from the mosque, adding that should the mosque become overcrowded, it is essential to move to the nearest alternative mosque.It stressed the criticality of never praying outdoors and remaining inside the mosque only, noting that it is essential for worshippers to reduce being flanked by children and minimise women's presence as much as possible, since Eid prayer is a communal obligation, "Fard Kifayah"

The State of Qatar has announced that Wednesday (February 18) will mark the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, following the sighting of the crescent moon. In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs said its Moon Sighting Committee had confirmed the beginning of Ramadan for the year 1447 AH. The committee met at the ministry's headquarters in Doha under the chairmanship of Sheikh Dr. Yahya bin Batty Al Nuaimi to verify testimonies of moon sightings on the 29th day of Shaaban, corresponding to February 17, 2026. The committee extended its congratulations on the occasion to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani; to His Highness the Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani; to His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani; as well as to the government, the Qatari people, and Muslims worldwide. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed by Muslims around the world as a period of fasting, prayer, and reflection, and is considered one of the five pillars of Islam.

The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs honoured participants and instructors in the programmes and courses of the Da‘wah and Islamic Sciences Institute for the year 2025, during a ceremony held at Imam Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab Mosque. The award ceremony was attended by His Excellency the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem al-Ghanem, Undersecretary of the Ministry Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanem al-Thani, Assistant Undersecretary for Da‘wah and Mosques Affairs Mohammed bin Hamad al- Kuwari, and several ministry directors and professionals working in the field of da‘wah. This was part of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs’ ongoing efforts to raise the standards of imams, preachers, khateebs, muezzins, researchers, and Islamic jurists, and its commitment to qualifying them academically and professionally, enabling them to fulfil their educational and da‘wah mission on sound scholarly foundations that keep pace with the requirements of the modern era. The ceremony recognised a distinguished group of outstanding participants in scientific, skills-based, and specialised courses. The total number of beneficiaries of the Institute’s programmes during 2025 reached approximately 2,900, encompassing Shariah, knowledge-based, skills, administrative, and specialised programmes targeting various categories working in the da‘wah field. On this occasion, Director of the Da‘wah and Religious Guidance Department at the ministry Jassim al-Ali, said that the recognition represents a culmination of a journey of scholarly and da‘wah contributions. He noted that imams and preachers are the cornerstone of educational development and societal reform, and that their mission goes beyond the performance of rituals to include education, guidance, and awareness-building. He stressed the importance of continuing to seek knowledge and develop skills in line with contemporary developments, serving societal issues with a spirit of moderation and balance. For his part, participant Abdulrahman al-Bakri, one of the graduates of the New Qatari Imams Qualification Course, delivered a speech on behalf of the newly qualified Qatari imams, expressing his deep gratitude to the Ministry of Awqaf and the Da‘wah and Islamic Sciences Institute for the high-quality foundational programmes. He affirmed that the imamate was a responsibility, and a lifelong mission that requires good example and a balanced, conscious connection between society and religion. In this context, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs affirmed that the programmes of the Da‘wah and Islamic Sciences Institute are among the comprehensive, high-quality initiatives aimed at enhancing the academic and professional competence of imams and preachers. The ceremony concluded with handing out of certificates to outstanding participants and instructors.  

The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs honoured on Tuesday the winners of the top five places for males in the three categories (citizens, elite memorisers, general memorisers) in the full Holy Qur'an catergory of the 30th Sheikh Jassim bin Muhammad bin Thani Noble Qur'an Competition, at a ceremony held at the Sheraton Doha Hotel.The ceremony was attended by His Excellency the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem, a group of scholars, preachers and reciters, a number of officials from state institutions and its scientific and educational sectors, and a group of state guests, including: His Excellency Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Moscow International Holy Qur'an Competition Shaikh Dr. Rushan Abbyasov, Grand Mufti of Slovenia Shaikh Nevzet Poric, Grand Mufti of Croatia Shaikh Aziz Hasanovic.On this occasion, chairperson of the competition's organising committee, Malallah Abdulrahman al-Jaber, said that the competition represents one of the most prominent Qur'anic platforms in the Islamic world, thanks to the continuous support and care of the wise leadership, and the great interest of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. He noted that the competition, which was launched for the first time in 1993, has established its presence during the past three decades as one of the oldest Qur'anic competitions, the most diverse in branches, and the highest in terms of the value of the prizes.HE the Minister of Endowments honoured members of the Supreme Judging Committee, the winners, and the media organisations that covered the event.The top five winners in the citizens' category for full Quran memorisation were Abdulaziz Abdullah Ali al-Hamri securing first place and a prize of QR100,000. Ibrahim Mohammed Hashem al-Mashhadani came in second with an QR85,000 prize, followed by Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Abdulrahim al-Haram in third place with QR70,000.Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed Buleidah received the fourth-place award of QR60,000, while Hamad Abdullah Tayis al-Jumaili came fifth with QR50,000.In the elite memorisers' category for full Quran memorisation, the United States' Hamza al-Habashi claimed first place with a prize of QR100,000.Yemen's Mohammed Abdu Ahmed Qasim took second place with QR85,000, and Tunisia's Rasheed Abdulrahman al-Alani finished third with a QR70,000 award.The fourth-place prize of QR60,000 went to Mahmoud Suleiman al-Mabruk Idris from Libya, while Egyptian contestant Magdy Abdullah Salem Ahmed earned the fifth-place prize of QR50,000.In the general memorizers' category, Nasser Nahed Deeb from the US achieved first place with a QR100,000 award.Khalid Hafiz Mohammed Fakhrul Huda from Bangladesh followed in second with QR85,000, and his compatriot Saad Abdul-Sattar Abu Saeed secured third place with QR70,000.Abdulaziz Fahad Mohammed al-Hawsali from Yemen placed fourth with QR60,000, while Bangladesh's Ismail Hafiz Mohammed Elias finished fifth with a QR50,000 prize.Al Jaber indicated that the launch of the competition came in commemoration of the approach of the founder of the state, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani and his keenness to spread knowledge and enhance the status of the Holy Quran among members of society. He explained that the closing ceremony comes as a culmination of the efforts of hundreds of participants from citizens and residents in various branches, from memorizing the entire Holy Quran, to the branches of partial memorization, which witnessed this year a wide participation of male and female students.He noted that the number of applicants in the current edition exceeded 2,450 male and female contestants, including about 800 participants from citizens. He pointed out that the competition witnessed this year a number of administrative and organizational amendments, including the complete separation of the male and female judging committees, in addition to allocating five independent centers for the winning female contestants in the three categories with the same value of the prizes allocated to men, in addition to increasing the value of the rewards allocated to the skilled male and female contestants who did not obtain one of the five winning positions in the competition.He added that the 29th edition also witnessed the launch of the "Rattel Branch" dedicated to male and female high school students in public and private schools, which was held in October with the aim of promoting love for the Holy Quran and consolidating moral and religious values ​​in the hearts of students.Al Jaber emphasized that the competition is witnessing increasing global expansion, as the organizing committee contributed during the current year to supporting a number of Quranic competitions outside the country, including the Russian Federation's Holy Quran Competition, the European International Competition in Croatia, and the Holy Quran Competition in Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the framework of the State of Qatar's role in serving the Holy Quran and promoting cultural and religious communication between peoples.The chairperson of the organizing committee noted the great support given by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs to this competition, which contributed to enhancing the quality of the competition and developing its mechanisms and outputs.Al Jaber praised the efforts of all parties, members of the judging committees, organizing committees, and media institutions supporting the competition, stressing that the continuation of this effort contributes to preparing a generation that memorizes Quran and is capable of serving society in accordance with the tolerant values ​​of Islam.The ceremony featured a visual presentation, which traced the evolution of the Sheikh Jassim Holy Quran Competition, regarded today as one of the largest and most diversified Quranic contests worldwide.Over three decades rich with achievements, the competition has steadily expanded its branches to include a wide array of national and international categories, accompanied by continuous enhancements to its technical and administrative systems.This long journey has transformed the competition into a significant platform for nurturing Qatari youth in the memorization of the Holy Quran and has produced distinguished examples of proficient memorizers, preachers, and imams who now lead prayers and sermons across the country's mosques.The competition has embraced participants from all age groups and backgrounds, males and females, beginners and advanced memorizers, specialists and the general public, those who have memorized the entire Quran or portions of it, Arabic speakers and non-Arabic speakers, and even new converts to Islam. It has also welcomed participation from schools, institutions, public bodies, and the private sector.The presentation further highlighted the launch of the encyclopedia of Quranic readings and sciences by Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Aissa El Masarawi, former Grand Sheikh of the Egyptian Qira'at and Chairman of the Supreme Judging Committee.The encyclopedia was released electronically through IslamWeb and the competition's website, in recognition of Dr. El Masarawi's longstanding role in judging the competition since its early years and his efforts in establishing precise and rigorous standards that elevated the competition into a model of excellence.The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs has given remarkable attention to the spread of Quranic learning circles across the country.These circles have continued to bear fruit, with thousands of students of various ages and nationalities joining them, helping shape a Quranic generation that the State hopes will serve as a source of strength for Qatar and the wider Muslim community.The presentation also detailed the organizing committee's careful selection of the judging panels, choosing distinguished imams with proven expertise in Quranic evaluation.These judges assessed contestants thoroughly through the first and second stages in terms of memorization, performance, and tajwid. Winners received substantial financial rewards, while those who passed the second stage without advancing to the final round were granted encouragement prizes. Additional financial awards were dedicated to participants known for their beautiful recitation voices. 

The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) has called on all Muslims in Qatar to perform a rain-prayer (Salat al-Istisqa), on Thursday as the nation faces a spell of dry weather. The prayer, a practice deeply rooted in Islamic tradition, will take place at 6:04am in 124 mosques and prayer grounds across the country. It dates back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who led such prayers to seek divine relief during dry seasons. The ritual is a spiritual means of invoking rain and is often performed collectively when rainfall is delayed, reflecting a broader cultural and religious approach to coping with environmental hardship. An Awqaf statement Wednesday urged Muslims to approach the prayer with humility and reminded them of several acts believed to bring about divine acceptance of prayer including sincere repentance, restitution of rights, fasting and giving charity. The statement cited Qur'anic verses and a hadith that emphasise the virtue of fasting and charity, advising participants to avoid adornment, wear simple clothing, and demonstrate modesty and spiritual need before God.

Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, participated in the 11th meeting of GCC Islamic affairs ministers held in Kuwait Monday.The Qatari delegation participating in the meeting was headed by HE the Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem al-Ghanem.The delegation included HE the Undersecretary of the ministry Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanem al-Thani; Assistant Undersecretary for Islamic Affairs Khalid bin Shaheen al-Ghanem; Director General of the General Administration of Endowments (Awqaf) engineer Hassan bin Abdullah al-Marzouqi, and Director of the Islamic Affairs Department Mohammed bin Jabr al-Mannai.Kuwait’s Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim al-Wasmi, said that these blessed fraternal meetings embody the visions and directives of the leaders of the GCC states, towards strengthening unity, integration, and rapprochement among member states in various fields.During the sessions, the ministers adopted a number of issues and topics of common interest, most notably: the exchange of scientific research and experiences in the field of endowments (Awqaf) among member states through interactive seminars via videoconferencing technology, in addition to presenting distinguished experiences in the field of Islamic affairs, and the organisation of the GCC Endowment Week and the GCC Week for the Protection of Religious and Moral Values ​​of the Family.The ministers also decided to establish standards and controls for the success of imams in their social role, prepare an intellectual security charter for mosque imams and regulatory indicators, and adopt technical guidelines for the construction and development of mosques, as well as a GCC vision for rationalising electricity consumption in mosques.The ministers emphasised the importance of employing artificial intelligence in the fields of Islamic affairs, advocacy, and guidance.They discussed a working paper on the risks of energy attraction, established a GCC scientific observatory to highlight the true image of Islam’s tolerance, and explored a shared vision for historic mosques.It was also decided to develop a national index to measure the impact of endowments on society and to hold a GCC competition to raise awareness of endowments, charitable work, and volunteering.The ministers also discussed mechanisms for developing joint action and integrating advocacy and guidance efforts, and exchanging best practices in consolidating the values ​​of moderation, tolerance and strengthening community partnerships in serving Islamic and humanitarian causes.On the sidelines of the meeting, Dr al-Wasmi honoured the members of the Permanent Committee working to study the proposals.He also honoured Qatar’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs HE Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanem al-Thani, and Director of the Islamic Affairs Department Mohammed bin Jabr al-Mannai.