Director of Muhammad Bin Hamad Al-Thani Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilisation at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Dr. Aisha Yusuf Al Mannai stressed that the holy month of Ramadan is an opportunity to deepen understanding of Islamic civilization and its historical contributions, through Ramadan lectures and seminars on the cultural and scientific heritage of Muslims.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Mannai, a College of Islamic Studies professor, said that the spiritual atmosphere that characterizes the month of Ramadan provides an ideal environment to enhance awareness of the importance of Islamic heritage, and to present a comprehensive picture of Islamic civilization, which has contributed with its scientific and intellectual achievements to the development of humanity throughout the ages.
Regarding the motives that led to the establishment of the Center, Al Mannai said it came in response to the urgent need to correct misconceptions about Islam, and to highlight the unique contributions made by Muslims in various fields of knowledge.
She added that Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani had established the center in 1983, when he was then Minister of Education with the aim of translating the most important Islamic books into English, out of his belief in the importance of intellectual communication between peoples and cultures.
The center was then transferred in 2010 to the College of Islamic Studies. She pointed out that the Center plays a pivotal role in preserving and disseminating Islamic heritage globally by translating Islamic works into different languages, organizing scientific conferences and seminars, and supporting researchers in the fields of Islamic civilizational contributions, which contributes to building bridges of communication between researchers and academic institutions at the regional and international levels.
Regarding the role of translation in spreading Islamic cultural knowledge, Al Mannai said that translation is one of the most prominent tools that contributed to conveying Islamic thought to the world, as it played a pivotal role in introducing other peoples to the contributions of Muslims in various sciences.
She explained that the center works on translating books into several major languages, such as English, French, German, Turkish, and Chinese, which helps in spreading Islamic knowledge on a wider scale and enhancing cultural dialogue between cultures.
Al Mannai revealed that there are future plans to expand the scope of the translated books series, to include a long list of scientific works covering the fields of medicine, astronomy, pharmacy, and engineering, in addition to the humanities and intellectual sciences.
She pointed out that a specialized global scientific committee developed this list, and the center is working to implement it within the available budget. She emphasized that promoting historical knowledge is one of the center's main objectives, noting that its work has expanded beyond translating from Arabic to other languages to also include translations into Arabic, enhancing scientific communication.
She also noted that the center is focused on verifying rare Islamic manuscripts, publishing summaries of key works on Islamic civilization, and organizing scientific conferences and seminars to foster knowledge exchange on the contributions of Muslims to global civilization.
Regarding the center's impact on the stereotype of Islam and Muslims, Al Mannai emphasized that the center's mission is to highlight the positive civilizational aspects of Islam by presenting an objective portrayal of its scientific and humanitarian contributions.
She stated that the center's activities aim to correct misconceptions about Islam and reaffirm its role as a religion that contributes to building human civilization. She also noted that the center seeks to instill confidence in Muslim youth about their faith and cultural heritage, viewing Islam as a religion that encompasses both material and spiritual life.
Al Mannai further explained that the center contributes to changing the stereotypical image of Islam by presenting reliable scientific works, based on the verification of manuscripts and the translation of works, which enhances mutual understanding between peoples and cultures, and reflects the sublime humanitarian message of Islamic civilization.
She continued that the Islamic civilization is inseparable from the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, as it forms the foundation of various fields and aspects. Based on this understanding, the center organizes an annual conference focused on studying the Prophet's biography from different perspectives. This year, the conference highlighted the Prophet's stance on war and peace.
Concluding, Al Mannai praised the role of Qatar in supporting efforts aimed at reviving Islamic heritage and enhancing civilizational dialogue between peoples, stressing that the center represents part of an integrated system through which the state seeks to present a positive image of Islamic civilization and highlight the contributions of Muslims to humanity.
She noted that the center aspires to become a global platform for studies and research on the contributions of Muslims to human civilization, which contributes to enhancing the scientific and cultural giving of the Qatar at the global level, and confirms its position as a major supporter of knowledge and civilizational dialogue.
Dr. Aisha Yusuf Al Mannai
