[Arab News] Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, laid the foundation stone for the Students' Islamic Center in New Delhi Sunday and urged the student community to work together to change the social order and bring about progress and prosperity.
| The Saudis, generous souls that they are, have been working for change via their educational charities for quite some time. |
The imam commended the Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO), which is building the center, for its efforts in spreading the message and culture of Islam among the student community. The SIO has branches in most Indian states as well as in GCC countries.
| We don't need the Saudi-sponsored SIO in America -- we've got the Muslim Brotherhood's Muslim Student Association instead. |
"I am very happy to learn that the SIO is playing an important role in the Indian society," the imam said. "The student community is a vital source of development and progress for any country," he said.
| So true. Unfortunately, India's Muslims are so fervently educating their children in madrassahs to be Muslim that their educational attainment is fighting that of the Untouchables for bottom of the Indian barrel. |
He wished every success for the student center project.
Earlier, SIO President Muhammad Azharuddin welcomed the imam and introduced his organization. "We are greatly honored to have Your Excellency to launch this Islamic center project," he said.
The SIO works for preparing students and youth for the reconstruction of society in the light of divine guidance, Azharuddin said. "The SIO believes that the real function of education should be to impart genuine knowledge about life, existence and future," he added.
| As opposed to preparing the students to be productive citizens when they graduate. |
The ceremony at the SIO headquarters was attended by President of Indian Jamaat-e-Islami Syed Jalaluddin Umari, the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs' Abdul Aziz Swaleh, Jamaat vice presidents Siddique Hassan and Muhammad Jaafar, SIO's secretary-general P.M. Saleh and other dignitaries.
Al-Sudais, who is on a five-day tour of India, also attended an Islamic conference organized by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind where he called for setting up a television channel to spread the teachings of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
| They've already got a couple of those in India. Do try to keep up, Shaikh Al-Sudais. |
The imam emphasized the importance of inculcating the values professed by the sahaba (the Prophet's companions) in the daily lives of Mohammedans. He urged parents to bring up their children on these values. "A special TV channel should be set up to ensure that people get to know about the noble lives of the sahaba and their values and messages," the imam said. |