In a progressive move, the United Arab Emirates has announced the selection of 16-year-olds to serve as mosque imams, shedding light on educational initiatives in the country that extend to religious education.
According to a reputable national newspaper, Dubai authorities have taken an intriguing step towards young individuals passionate about becoming mosque imams.
Last month, a new project named “Imam Al-Faraj” was announced by Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, focusing on grooming young imams. Arab media is now actively sharing information about this project.
Ahmed Darwish Al-Muhairi, Director-General of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, highlighted that the aim of this initiative is to bring young imams into Dubai’s mosques while also contributing to education and awareness within society.
Under the Imam Al-Faraj project, children aged between 16 and 21 will undergo a four-month training period to take on significant responsibilities in various mosques.
A selection of 70 mosques has been made by the authorities where parents can send their children for training starting from May 1 after the Dhuhr prayer. The project will kick off with their training.
Two key roles have emerged in this project: Imam Al-Faraj and Muadhin Al-Faraj. The age range for Imam Al-Faraj is set between 16 and 21, while for Muadhin Al-Faraj, children aged 6 to 15 will be selected. During this program in the UAE, children will receive education on leading prayers, Quranic studies, and Quran memorization.
