In a summary of the annual report on the balance of the activities of the Higher Council and Local Councils of Ulema, which he presented, on Saturday evening, to HM the King during the religious evening chaired by the Sovereign at the Hassan Mosque in Rabat in commemoration of Aid Al-Mawlid Annabawi Asharif, the Minister stressed that this Institution has been able, despite the effects of the pandemic, to continue its work through the four main axes of intervention, namely communication (Tabligh), qualification, supervision and intervention in the field within the framework of activities of general interest.
Thus, in the field of communication, Toufiq assured that, within the framework of the interest accorded to the Holy Quran, the Council has ensured the reopening of the Quranic schools that meet the conditions in force and that were closed because of the pandemic.
As for the high royal request towards the Hadith, the minister stressed that this year was marked by the creation and launch, according to the high instructions of HM the King, Amir Al Muminin, of the digital platform “Mohammed VI of the Hadith”, noting that a follow-up of the platform was ensured after its opening to the public.
As for the guidance and preaching mission, the minister pointed out that more than 3,000 male and female preachers have ensured this mission in mosques, in addition to the responses of the Local Councils of Ulema to citizens’ questions.
Referring to the issue of fatwa, Toufiq explained that the Fatwa Commission has continued its action by interacting with issues related to national or local public affairs, and continuing to manage issues related to the legal aspect of participatory financing, in coordination between the Higher Council of Ulema and Bank Al-Maghrib.
As for the contribution to the dissemination of religious information, the minister pointed out that this is an activity of guidance and education that is well received by the general public, especially through the Mohammed VI channel of the Holy Quran.
As for the qualification axis, Toufiq explained that within the framework of the qualification of the leadership in mosques, a strict system of appointments and transfers of imams has been established, which observes three conditions: the needs of the mosques, the social conditions of the imams, as well as their competence and moral qualities.
He also highlighted the resumption of the imams’ qualification sessions, planned within the framework of the Charter of the Ulema, which were interrupted due to the pandemic, and pointed out that 4,500 mosques have been equipped with screens to favor communication.
The third axis concerns the improvement of the effectiveness of the work of the Councils through the development of methodological and thematic guidance documents, in particular the working guide of the Local Councils of Ulemas and the working guide of the Imams, Morchidins and Morchidats, the minister continued, stating that to facilitate the work, the instant digital communication network has been generalized to all parties involved in religious supervision, under the supervision of the High Council or the Local Councils of Ulemas.
As for the axis inherent to the intervention in the field within the framework of activities of general interest, it concerns, Toufiq stressed, the participation in scientific, cultural and social activities at the local and national levels, the accompaniment of the activities carried out by the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulemas, in Morocco and in several African countries, and the continuation of participation in the activities carried out by the Moroccan Council of Ulemas for Europe, as well as with the associations of mosques of several European countries that maintain relations with this council.
