MAKKAH, 11 December 2007 — The chairman of the Islamic Education Foundation (IEF), a nationwide Dawa body, said that nearly 2,000 people have converted to Islam in the last four years at just one of its Dawa branches in Taneem, located outside the holy precincts of Makkah.
Dr. Suliman Al-Saloumi, chairman of the Islamic Education Foundation’s board of directors, told Arab News that the foundation, together with the Secretariat of Islamic Awareness for Haj and Umrah Pilgrims, is also running programs to help new Muslims perform their Haj correctly.
Further to this, the foundation has also set up guidance booths specifically for the Haj. “Six booths have been set up around the Grand Mosque and one has been established at the Taneem Mosque to distribute booklets, tapes and leaflets. There will be scholars and religious students at hand to guide people,” said Al-Saloumi.
The IEF chief also provided details of the foundation’s Tawasul Program, which aims to link pilgrims with scholars, preachers and mosque imams.
He added that the body’s most important goal is to call non-Muslims to Islam, guide them once they accept the faith and train them to call others. “The foundation’s branch in Taneem, which was established through the vision of Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin-Baz in 1424 H, has converted around 2,000 people to Islam since its establishment,” said Al-Saloumi.
“The branch offers lessons, lectures and courses in foreign languages, and has over 70 preachers, who teach and lecture on Islam. We also conduct Arabic language programs and welcome foreign students who come to study at the Um Al-Qura University,” he added.
