KUWAIT
CITY, July 1 (IslamOnline.net) - Twenty-two Americans have converted to
Islam over the past week in Kuwait, just as a Kuwaiti Islamic committee
launched a project aimed at helping newly Muslim converts memorize the
Glorious Qur'an.
"Twenty-two
Americans have embraced Islam through the 'Know Islam Committee ' during
the past week," the committee chairman, Sheikh Nader al-Nouri, told
IslamOnline.net Monday, June 30, noting that 2450 Europeans had embraced
Islam last year.
"Up
to 22,000 foreign workers -- out of a total workforce of 350,000 in
Kuwait -- converted to Islam since the establishment of the committee 30
years ago in 1977," he said.
Sheikh
al-Nouri said the committee offers a plethora of services to the
foreigners and U.S. troops in Kuwait through its four offices, including
the office of the cultural exchange which receives foreigners and their
families and provide them with answers to their questions on Islam.
"The
committee earmarked 60,000 Kuwaiti dinars ($200,000) to print copies of
the Glorious Qur'an in English in order to distribute them among
interested foreigners in the emirate country," he added.
Qur'an
Meanwhile,
the committee launched a new project aimed at helping the new Muslim
converts memorize the Glorious Qur'an and learn Prophet Muhammad's
Hadith (sayings) along with other Islamic rules.
The
project "caters to all age groups of newly Muslim converts starting
from six-year-old converts to above 21. It helps them learn, besides the
Glorious Qur'an and Hadith, how to preach Islam through consecutive
courses that bring them up on moderation," Sheikh Nouri said.
The
project, which is sponsored by Ahmad Bazei, the counselor of the board
chairman of the Kuwaiti funding body, also organizes outings and visits
to famous Islamic sites in addition to cultural, religious and sports
contests, he added.
On
the committee's history, Sheikh Nouri said it is the modern version of
'Friday School,' which dates back to 1970s and was organized by Kuwaiti
youths in mosques to acquaint foreigners with Islam.
"When
they wanted to turn it into an official committee, during a visit by
prominent scholar Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, they put forth the name of
'Know Islam Committee,'" he elaborated.
Sheikh
Nouri further said volunteers are working round the clock to the success
of the committee, which enjoys an ample room of freedom, noting that
there was a high turnout on its activities from foreigners, both males
and females.
