SANAA,
April 3, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Coming in droves, more than
100,000 Yemenis listened attentively to lectures and sermons delivered
by prominent Muslim preacher Amr Khaled, currently on a week-long
visit to the country.
“Kahled's
visit and lectures have left positive influence on the Yemeni
people,” Marwan Al-Mekhlafi, the director of the Seif foundation for
innovation, a Yemeni NGO organizing the visit, told IslamOnline.net on
Sunday, April 3.
He
stressed that the heavy turnout for the lectures of the young Muslim
preacher, whose TV religious programs have attracted millions from
over the world, has exceeded all expectations.
Khaled
arrived in the Yemeni capital on Monday, March 28, to deliver
sermons in a number of the cities and is due to leave the country on
Tuesday, April 5.
In
Sanaa alone, at least 60,000 Yemenis assembled to listen to four
lectures delivered by the young preacher, include one in Sanaa
University.
On
Saturday, April 2, as many as 15,000 people attended Khaled’s
religious lessons in Aden University and in the Hadhramaut
governorate.
The
young preacher also gave to lectures to thousands of Yemeni police and
army officers.
On
Thursday, the organizers had to cancel a lecture in the city of Ta'izz
after more than 15,000 people amassed in Saed Mosque, which only
accommodates 5,000 worshipers, to listen to the prominent preacher.
IOL’s
correspondent said women made at least 40 percent of the audience in
all sermons.
Serving
the Needy
Sheikh
Yehia Nagar, the secretary of the Awkaf (religious endowments) and
Guidance Ministry, said the attendance fees would be entirely
channeled to cancer centers in the country.
During
his lectures, the prominent Muslim preacher tackled the role of
Muslims in serving their societies.
He
also highlighting efforts exerted by scholars and preachers to promote
the true image of Islam and steer Muslims away from extremism.
During
the visit, Khaled attended the inauguration of an orphanage and was
given red-carpet welcome by the country’s leading figures
including parliament speaker Abdullah Hussein Al-Ahmar and Awkaf and
Guidance Minister Hamoud Abbad.
The
World Health Organization (WHO) honored Khaled with a prestigious
award in recognition of his anti-smoking televised campaign.
