Doha, Qatar: The Department of Religious Call and Guidance at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has announced to launch an Islamic encyclopedia in sign language for hard-of-hearing people in the holy month of Ramadan.
The encyclopedia, the first of its kind in the Arab region and the Islamic world, will have the largest Islamic educational contents,” said Director of the Department of Religious Call and Guidance, Malallah Abdul Rahman Al Jaber.
Speaking at an event recently, he said the encyclopedia it will provide Sharia reference and a safe haven to hard of hearing people on the Internet.
“Following Qatar National Vision 2030, the initiative aims to translate the Sharia materials that a hard-of-hearing Muslim needs in the Sharia aspect in unified and international Arabic sign languages,” said Al Jaber.
He said the website also witnesses a new addition annually amounting to 700 guidance and awareness films in sign language for hard of hearing people on legal and jurisprudential topics of particular interest to this group.
This is part of a massive efforts of government and social organisations of Qatar to provide all support to hard of hearing people to lead a happy life.
Within the framework of Qatar’s initiative to digitise the Unified Arabic Sign Dictionary, the Sokoon application was developed and represented by the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MoSDF) in cooperation with the League of Arab States, which aims to enhance inclusiveness and digital access for hard of hearing people in the Arab world.
MoSDF launched the Sokoon application to digitise sign language in cooperation with the Mada Center last month.
Al Jaber said the department will organise religious programmes and lectures throughout the holy month of Ramadan for men and women separately.
“The Department will host a group of famous Islamic scholars to discuss the issues of Islamic nation and Muslim community under its 10th ‘Amin Hum Min Khowf’ programme,” said Al Jaber.
He said 30 religious lectures will held at Imam Muhammad bin AbdulWahhab Mosque throughout the month. “The department will also organise programmes for revisions and recitation of the holy Quran in 20 mosques,” said Al Jaber.
He said a number of advocacy events and programmes will be organised through Microsoft Teams for young girls, women, and female teachers.
“Electronic cultural events and competitions will also be organised for children by asking daily questions from the spelling lessons book that aims to introduce children to the correct spelling method, and an electronic cultural competition through the website of IslamWeb and on the social media channels of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs,” said Al Jaber.