Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Ain Region, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat will organise the Wa Al-Najam symposium on 26 January 2025, at Al-Jahili Fort in Al Ain, with the participation of a number of officials and specialists in astronomy and space sciences and Islamic studies.
His Excellency Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Awqaf’s Chairman, praised the support offered to Awqaf by the leadership and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. He also expressed his sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan for sponsoring the symposium, which coincides with the anniversary of Al Isra' wal Mi'raj celebration the Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and aims to highlight the religious and cultural aspects of the occasion, reflecting its divine meanings and noble values.
His Excellency Al Darei further added that the participants will enrich the symposium with scientific and intellectual contributions, as His Excellency Dr Sultan Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth, will share his experience during his trip to space and the scientific research and experiments that he conducted during his mission, which demonstrate the greatness of the Creator Almighty.
Dr Nidhal Guessoum, Professor of Physics, Astronomy, and Space Sciences at American University of Sharjah will present an overview on the latest astronomy discoveries. Engineer Khalfan Sultan Al Nuaimi, President of the International Astronomy Center, will focus on the UAE’s efforts in the field of astronomy and space sciences. In addition, Dr Nouf Al Shehhi from the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat will highlight statements in the Qur’an about the stars and their miraculous aspects. Dr Al Shehhi will also underline the UAE’s cultural progress and development in space sciences.
The symposium will feature various segments, including the presentation of a poem entitled The Art of Al-Taghrooda in Praise of the Prophet, which will be delivered by the poet Marshan bin Noman Al-Kaabi, as well as a documentary video highlighting the authority’s efforts in the Holy Qur’an memorisation centres, and the initiative to teach Surat Al-Najm (The Star) to participating mothers. As part of the astronomical exhibition accompanying the forum, a collection of photographs of stars captured in the sky of Al Ain will be showcased.
