RIYADH: The Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and the King Saud University in Riyadh signed on Sunday an agreement to start a chair for studies about Hisbah - the system of promotion of virtue and prevention of vice in the Kingdom.
The SR5 million chair will be called King Abdullah Chair for Contemporary Studies on Hisbah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
"The chair is the first scientific attempt to study and improve the Islamic system of promoting virtue and preventing vice," chairman of the commission Abdul Aziz Al-Humain said after signing the agreement with Abdullah Al-Othman, president of the university.
Thanking the king for supporting the chair, Al-Humain said the chair would strive to improve the efficiency of commission members in a manner that suits the needs of the changing times.
"The primary objective of the chair is to conduct studies on topics related to the system of promotion of virtue and prevention of vice and thus enable it to tackle the issues surrounding religious dogmas and moral and social values. The studies will also enable Saudi Arabia to continue at the lead position in implementing the system in a practical manner," the commission chief said.
Speaking on the occasion, Al-Othman said the launching of the chair is another achievement of the university in fulfilling its commitment to serve the society.
"The chair will try its best to develop the style of functioning of the commission in countering today's challenges," he said.
Commending on the move made by the king to promote studies about the commission, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh said the research studies on the commission are significant because they will enable the commission to fortify the society against the corrupting influences.
