Role of masjids

There are about 94,300 masjids in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with the statistics of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments. It means there are about 100,000 prayer leaders. We can also see an equal number of scholars engaged in Islamic propagation. If half of these masjids hold Juma prayers, then there would be at least 50,000 khateebs to give Juma sermons. In addition, some scholars give lectures at masjids after evening prayers.

I am sure most of these khateebs and dawa workers are licensed by the ministry. Dr. Tawfik Al-Sudairy, deputy minister of Islamic Affairs, has instructed all these scholars and prayer leaders to respond positively to the call made by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah that they should stand up against extremism and terrorism, discarding their silence and sluggishness.

Al-Sudairy has said that his ministry would not show any leniency toward those imams, khateebs and dawa workers who fail to shoulder their responsibility in speaking out against extremists and proponents of violence. Masjids can play a vital role in challenging terrorist thoughts and ideologies. I don’t know whether the ministry is following up the sermons and lectures being delivered at masjids after the king’s directive.

There is no doubt that the masjid is one of most influential means to mobilize the public and give them proper guidelines. It is the ministry’s duty to make sure the masjids play their duty in the desired manner. Sermons and lectures at masjids must be directed to combat extremism in order to translate the king’s directives into reality.

— Qenan Al-Ghamdi

Knowledge is power

Life does not prevent us from what we actually deserve. At the same time, it may postpone things to make sure whether we deserve them or not. There are many skilled people but they often do not exert enough efforts to develop their skills.

We like to lead an easy life without producing anything great. We use many things in our life without thinking who produced them. We travel in a German-made car, read newspaper on a US-made iPad and reply to an email using a Korean cellphone.

We are not giving enough thought to this reality as also how to change it. We depend on various imported goods, but we don’t work hard to achieve excellence in our life. We should encourage those who make innovation and promote creativity because they are the people who can build our civilization and they represent the pillars of present and future.

People should be encouraged to do jobs that suite their knowledge and creativity. We should correct our past mistakes and work hard to have a brighter future. We need an education system that creates awareness, expands our knowledge and develop our skills and creativity.

— Zainab Ibrahim Al-Khodairy

Heart and brain

Our heart is not just a machine to pump blood to different parts of our body. It plays a central role in our thinking, feelings and behaviors. Scientists have found that heart is the most complicated organ in our body. It has a greater control on brain than vice versa. The heart sends more information to the brain than the latter sends to the heart.

A study conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr. Gary Schwartz has pointed out that when a heart is transplanted onto another person, it carries its memories, skills and feelings. For example, the heart of an 18-year-old youth, who loved music and used to write poems, was given to a young lady of the same age. After transplantation, the lady also loved the same music liked by the young man.

In another case, a 47-year-old white man received the heart of a 17-year-old man of African origin. The white man later realized that he has become the lover of classical music because the African American had liked it. Claire Sylvia has written a book after a heart transplant operation and she said it changed her behavior, tastes and desires. She liked fried chicken but after operation she hated it.

Researches are continuing to explore the wonders of heart. All these research works prove that heart is not just a machine to pump blood and God has given it powers to control the brain. It is the heart, not the brain, that is the center of a man’s intelligence.

— Walid Fitaihi

Who will save humanity?

There is no doubt that Islam has been hijacked and some people distorted its image to give the wrong impression that it is a threat to humanity. The hijacked Islam does not represent the faith of mercy. How much pain we suffer when we see crimes being committed in the name of Islam and under the banner of Lailaha Illallah (there no god but Allah.)

The war against Islam and Muslims is linked with the Palestinian issue and the massacres being committed by Israel over the past years. The destruction of Palestinian homes, displacement of millions, children’s bodies buried under the debris and the cries of mothers who have lost their children and husbands reflect the continuing Israeli atrocities.

We have seen several television footages of Israeli crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories that highlight the truthfulness of the Qur’anic verse: “You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah; and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.” (5:82) We see a war being launched by the so-called followers of Islam against Islam. Christians have been living in Iraq and Syria for centuries and now there are calls by a group of Muslim extremists who follow the takfiri ideology.

The move to drive out Christians and Yazidis from Iraq is a kind of war on Islam. Many people may find it difficult to understand the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They should know that the best way to spread this message of mercy is through showing an exemplary life to others and establishing peace and justice. This will help impress non-Muslims and embrace Islam.

— Raja Bouali

Zionist protocols

The Zionist protocols prepared by its leaders show the largest international conspiracy, which has passed 110 years. Its main objective was to establish its control all over the world. What is happening in the Arab world today including the chaos and the sectarian violence, is the result of the first Zionist protocol. The second protocol aims to establish control over government, education and the media while the third protocol targets destruction of democracy by encouraging parties to catch power showing their muscle power.

The fourth protocol calls for the destruction of religion and control of trade and it is done by creating conflicts between various schools of thought in Islam. The Islamic State (IS), a terrorist organization is a product of this protocol.

The fifth protocol aims at promoting administrative corruption in Muslim countries while the sixth to gain control over industry and agriculture. The seventh aims at triggering wars and conflicts between Arab and Muslim countries.

— Mohammed Salim Al-Ghamdi

Surplus foreign workers

The fleeing away of workers from their sponsors proves that they receive better job opportunities outside. It also shows that they can work illegally in the country and that the campaign to drive out illegals did not have any major impact on such workers. We are watching the same problem we had seen before the campaign. Illegal workers are still seen standing near traffic points looking for jobs.

According to a Labor Ministry report, 395,000 workers including 65,000 domestic workers, ran away from their employers in 2013. It said 63 percent of them overstayed their exit and re-entry visas and did not come back from their countries. Citizens are responsible for encouraging foreign workers to run away from their sponsors and work for them at higher salaries.

They know that these foreigners are illegals and have violated the country’s regulations. This emphasizes the need for continuing the campaign to drive out illegals and force all foreigners to follow the country’s rules.

— Sattam Al-Thaqeel