MADINAH: Interior Minister Prince Naif attributed the backwardness, moral decay and extremism among Muslims to their nonadherence to true Islamic principles.
Addressing a prize-distribution function held to honor the winners of Prince Naif International Prize for Sunnah and Contemporary Islamic Studies, here on Saturday night, Prince Naif, said: “The aim of honoring the best researchers in Sunnah and contemporary Islamic studies is to encourage research in the studies of Sunnah, the second source of Islamic law, and highlight its values such as tolerance and humanitarian character.”
In a statement issued after the function, Prince Naif, who is also chairman of the Higher Commission for Prince Naif International Prize for Sunnah and Contemporary Islamic Studies, warned scholars against making incorrect interpretations of the verses of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah, which are the sources of Islamic law.
The Muslims of the early years could lead the world because they were sincere in their faith and keen to follow the true religion, the prince said. He congratulated the winners of the prizes and urged them to work unwaveringly for the service of Islam.
The prince also announced the establishment of an endowment involving a hotel and commercial complexes at the central zone surrounding the Prophet’s Mosque. Its proceeds would be utilized for financing another annual prize for those who work for the revival of the Sunnah.
Moroccan writer Abdul Razaq Harmas and Egyptian scholar Yasser Noor jointly received the first prize in Sunnah studies. Muhammad Hasanain of Egypt won the first prize for his work entitled “The Revival of Religion in the area of Contemporary Islamic studies.” Saudi scholar Abdul Rahman Al-Dukhayyel and Egyptian writer Muhammad Yusri Ibrahim shared prizes for their papers on the role of religious edicts in Islam.
Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed, Turkish Minister of Islamic Affairs Ali Bardaq Oglu and Saudi Ambassador to Spain Prince Saud bin Naif, Saed Al-Harithy, secretary-general of the prize and Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Prince Muhammad bin Naif, also attended the function.
Speaking on the occasion, Prince Saud urged the Muslim world to adhere to the great message advocated by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
“The entire humanity needs to be saved from evil and rampant corruption,” said Turkish Islamic affairs minister while congratulating the award winners. A panel consisting of 12 national and international experts on various Islamic disciplines selected the five winners from 413 research studies.
