AWQAF AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS

Oman was one of the first countries to accept the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed, who in 630 AD sent his emissary Amr Ibn Al As to meet Jaifar and ‘Abd, the two sons of al Julanda (joint rulers of Oman at that time) in order to spread the faith. Oman developed its own school of Islam, the Ibadhi branch named after seventh century scholar Abdullah Ibn Ibadh, but a few Omanis adhere to other branches of Sunni Islam and to Shia’ Islam.
Religious conflicts are not an issue in Oman, which extends tolerance to Muslims and to non-Muslims. In his National Day speech in 1994, Sultan Qaboos emphasised that Islam is a liberal religion and condemned the fanaticism based on a lack of knowledge that leads some Muslims to violence, discord and hatred.
The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs promotes the role of Islam in Omani society. Awqaf are religious endowments, properties and revenues administered to benefit the community. It also issues fatwas (religious instructions) and provides Islamic guidance at home and abroad.
It also promotes and collects zakat, an income tax that every Muslim is obliged to pay, and one of the five pillars of Islam. Officials collect zakat and distribute the proceeds to the needy.. The funds also pay for printing the Holy Quran, and distributing religious works to students, mosques and individuals.

Mosques and schools

There are more than 13,000 mosques in Oman, and the Sultanate spent an estimated RO 1.65 million in the first half of 2001 for the construction and maintenance of mosques and awqaf. Nearly 80 new mosques were built in the first half of 2001, funded by the government, by non-government sources or from private donations. State-run Quranic schools employ 322 teachers and cater for 10,500 students. Quranic centres open during the summer holidays to occupy students and school children. Recently, 55 additional private Quranic schools have opened, catering to 3,700 male and female students.
Islam requires Muslims to fast during the holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims ensure that no food, drink or tobacco passes their lips during daylight hours. Oman’s social habits and working hours change to accommodate the fast, and non-Muslims avoid eating, drinking and smoking in public places during the day too.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Oman’s mosques display a range of Islamic architectural styles. The flagship Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque opened in 2001. It features five minarets, representing the five pillars of Islam, with the main minaret more than 90 metres high. This beautiful new mosque, just off the main road between Muscat and Seeb Airport in Bausher district, has space for up to 16,000 worshippers. Built at Sultan Qaboos’ personal expense, the Grand Mosque houses a library and centre for teaching religious studies. More than 2,000 mosques have been built at private expense across the Sultanate.

Properties and income

The Awqaf and Bait Al Mal (Treasury) plans to maximise earnings from property and other assets, which include 21,773 date palms, 166 uncultivated properties and 432 commercial premises and for which monthly rents are collected. Officials have studied ways to improve 30 properties’ incomes, and analysed the cost of repairs and renovation. An inventory of treasury properties in 2001 has been made which covered 1,465 agricultural, 311 residential and 318 commercial properties in 300 neighbourhoods.
Oman’s mosques were traditionally built near to the village’s water channel ( falaj), before tap water became widely available, allowing worshippers to complete their ritual ablutions before prayer. Treasury properties include 34 falaj irrigation systems and 14 wells. Dates are harvested on its properties and their sale raises the funds to upgrade water systems owned jointly with local communities. A date planting programme has been launched in order to increase earnings from agricultural plots.

Ifta’

Ifta (the office answering religious queries) promotes religious awareness and provides Islamic advice and guidance. It issues fatwas (religious instructions/advice), and organises lectures and religious events at home and abroad.
Oman’s Grand Mufti, represents the Sultanate at Islamic events in Arab and Islamic states. During the first half of 2001, 26 converts declared their faith before the Grand Mufti, his assistant or regional Sharia Court judges. Muslim converts are given religious books which have been translated into various foreign languages. In 2001 departments and regional directorates were computerised and a website (www.mara.gov.om) set up. The library too has been restocked and a modern staff training centre set up. A new voice mail service, at 1151, provides the times for the five daily prayers.
A programme of monthly sermons is run covering intellectual, social and economic issues that concern the Muslim community today and current issues are examined from an Islamic perspective. A series on contemporary social questions has been published covering divorce, the break-up of the family and juvenile delinquency, and books covering fiqh (jurisprudence).

Pilgrimage

The Hajj, or pilgrimage, is another pillar of Islam and Muslims in Oman are encouraged to travel to the Holy Sites of Mecca and Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it. The government co-ordinates travel arrangements for groups travelling to Mecca from the Sultanate.
Pilgrims are registered which helps to prepare them spiritually and practically for their pilgrimage and around 40 Hajj mission officials accompany the Omani delegation to Saudi Arabia including medical staff and police officers.

The Institute of Sharia Sciences

In 2001, the Institute of Sharia Sciences taught 80 Omani and 46 foreign students. Summer schools at the institute included Quranic studies and training for students in Sharia judicial procedures in the courts near the student residences. The institute organised a student trip to the Holy Sites of Mecca and Medina and several final year students performed the Umrah pilgrimage.

Oman 2002/2003:- Home Geography and History Sultan Qaboos Government Foreign Affairs Defence,Law and Order Key Industries Economic Development Social Development Awqaf & Religious Aff. Heritage,Culture/Media Utilities Oman in figures Oman and The World Oman 2000 Book