Based on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, to launch the “Imam Al-Farij” initiative, aimed at preparing sons to lead prayers, following the significant societal success achieved by the “Muezzin al-Freij” initiative in its first season.
In a step reflecting the scale of efforts aimed at enhancing Islamic and cultural values in society, the Department launched the “Imam Al-Farij” initiative in 70 mosques across the Emirate of Dubai. Targeting children and youth from the Dubai Farij community aged 16 and above, the initiative spans a duration of 4 months.
H.E. Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, the Director-General of the Department, affirmed that the initiative has been launched in alignment with “Dubai’s Social Agenda 33,” with the aim of fostering stable families and nurturing generations confident in their abilities, steadfast in their identity, and prepared for the future.
Following the significant success of the “Muezzin al-Freij” initiative, we decided to continue the journey by launching the “Imam Al-Farij” initiative in response to the community’s aspirations. The initiative aims to prepare the sons of the Farij community to lead prayers in Dubai mosques, fostering a close relationship between families and mosques and contributing to the awareness and education process in Dubai’s society. It aims to enhance the culture of religious awareness, especially within families. The initiative targets young people from the Farij areas of Dubai, enabling them to become imams of the Farij, H.E. Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi stated.
His Excellency emphasized the keenness of the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department in Dubai to participate in community initiatives that mirror the teachings, principles, and values of our noble religion and our tolerant Islamic Sharia. The Department aims to achieve a leading position and an Islamic approach, striving to be the best globally in Islamic and charitable endeavors.
Dr. Mohammed Suhail Al-Muhairi, Director of the Masjids Religious Services Directorate and head of the “Imam Al-Farij” initiative team, reported that 70 mosques in the Emirate of Dubai have been designated to start receiving participants interested in joining the initiative. He noted that conditions for participation have been set, such as registration through the imams in the mentioned mosques, and a requirement for attendance not to be less than 70% for each participant.
Al Muhairi explained that there will be a course for participants, consisting of educational sessions held three days a week for two age groups. The sessions for ages 6-14 will take place on Sundays (remotely), and on Tuesdays and Thursdays physically, starting after the Asr prayer until the Maghrib prayer. Meanwhile, sessions for ages 15-21 will be held physically on Mondays and Wednesdays, and remotely on Fridays, all starting after the Asr prayer until the Maghrib prayer.
The team leader further added that participants will be educated during this course on jurisprudential programs regarding the rules of imamate, prayer, and Quran memorization. Participants’ progress will be assessed by committees during the upcoming month of September.
