Source: www.rta.ae
The Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC), Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has recently kick started a campaign to educate cabbies about the Holy Quran and its interpretation (tafseer) under the context of events held by the Global Islamic Culture Project under the them My Religion is My Identity, in cooperation with the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai.
The Campaign, which runs from 14/2/2013 to 30/11/2013, aims at diffusing the religious culture, inculcating the pure religious belief, and disseminating the correct and sound knowledge & approach among 8,000 cabdrivers or more hailing from 31 different nationalities.
A statement to this effect was made during the signing of the ‘Educative Partnership’ Agreement between the Dubai Taxi Corporation and the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities, in the presence of senior DTC figures including Dr. Yousef Al Ali, CEO of DTC; Mansour Al Falasi, Director of Resources & Support; Mohammed Yousef, Director of Fleet Operations; and Marwan Othman, Acting Director of Fleet Drivers Affairs. From the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai attended Dr. Omar Mohammed Al Khateeb, Assistant Director General for Islamic Affairs; Aysha Mohammed Obaid Al Kash, Director of Religious Education and Guidance; and Iman Ismail Abdullah, Executive Supervisor of the Project. Also in attendance were Dr. Shareef Abdullah Shareef from the General HQ of the Dubai Police; Dr. Abdul Haleem Hassan, Head of the Judges Panel; three scholars specialized in Quran sciences; Sheikh Jasim Mohammed Al Amiri, Head of Tests Committee for the evening session, and key figures from both entities.
“The educative partnership contract entails providing year-round education to cabbies by delivering to them Quran lessons & quizzes, educational courses & workshops in addition to Ramadan get-together events among other events which will be delivered in Arabic, English and Urdu languages. The Quran memorization (tahfeez) campaign is undertaken under the mission of the two parties to promote the Islamic culture through giving religious courses, lectures and sermons delivered by senior religious scholars, taking part in Quran memorization and recitation contests, and adjudging contestants in the context of the program set for this year,” said Al Ali.
He continued: “Events & activities to be held in the DTC in coordination with Drivers Training & Qualification Center and the Marketing & Media Section will be geared to the Educative Partnership forged with the Religious Education & Guidance unit in the context of the Global Islamic Culture Project 2013. Events will be held three times a week (on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday) and specific hours will be allocated during the daily training schedule for educating cabbies to be held within the facilities of the DTC.
“The DTC praises the efforts of the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities towards enhancing communication and breaking the daily business routines and immersing in the social, educational and religious atmosphere; which will contribute positively to stepping up drivers satisfaction and accordingly customers satisfaction as well as realizing our vision of Pioneers in Passengers Transport Services,” concluded Al Ali.
“This campaign features the participation of more than 8 thousand drivers from the DTC for memorizing “Amma Juzu” and taking part in Quran contests, lessons and interpretation in conjunction with the concerned bodies at the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities,” said Dr. Al Khateeb.
“The vision, mission, objectives and overall layout of the Campaign has been aligned with strategic objectives of the Project i.e. engaging the participation of half a million participants through Al Huda International Centers & Mosques spreading all over Dubai, Quran memorization centers, government entities, workers and drivers; in events conducted in various languages. Engaging the DTC falls within the scope of its mission to improve the attitudes & ethics of drivers who are interacting with various segments of the community by sticking to the teachings of the Holy Quran & the Prophet’s Biography (Sira).
The move conforms to the partnership agreement forged between the DTC and the Global Islamic Culture Project entitled My Religion is My Identity, partnership agreement with Al Farouq Omar bin Al Khattab’s mosque & center to continue conducting Quran’s interpretation and memorization courses for ladies in English. It also comes in line with the partnership agreement with Al Huda International Centers for holding 35 Quran memorization rings (halaqat) in Dubai mosques, Al Mulla Plaza halls, and the cultural Islamic Sunna centres. More info