Ministry of Endowments Organizes Seminar on Economic Reform

Doha: The Department of Islamic Research and Studies at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs organized a seminar on Furud Al Kifayah, with participation from a distinguished group of scholars from the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at Qatar University.

According to Qatar News Agency, the event is part of the Ministry's efforts to revive the concept of collective duties and promote their cultural significance as a comprehensive civilizational approach. Participants in the seminar emphasized that economic reform is among the most critical collective obligations necessary for the revival of the Muslim nation, noting that this issue poses an existential threat that extends beyond the economic sphere to affect all aspects of life.

Professor of Fiqh at Qatar University College of Sharia, Dr. Abdelkader Jadi, explained that a collective obligation was any essential task whose fulfillment is intended, regardless of who specifically performs it. He pointed out that economic reform involves eliminating corruption in economic policies by restoring balance between supply and demand, both domestically and internationally, using well-designed financial tools. He reviewed historical efforts in economic reform, highlighting the deep connection between collective obligations and economic planning, particularly in relation to finance, forecasting, and financial institutions.

Assistant Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at Qatar University, Professor Dr. Saleh Qader Al Zanki, noted that the civilizational, economic, and cultural decline currently facing the Muslim world is not inevitable, but rather a result of abandoning essential functions. He stressed that collective duties are not only religious mandates but also civilizational necessities that lay the foundation for a balanced and sustainable economy. He added that such an economy can promote empowerment, reinforce economic sovereignty, and counteract despair and the emigration of skilled professionals by leveraging modern sciences and disciplines for the benefit of society and the development of the earth.

Al Zanki emphasized the importance of moving from individual efforts to institutional collective action in fulfilling collective duties. This transition allows for task distribution, talent development, resource allocation, and the building of effective oversight systems. He argued that economic reform can only be achieved through a comprehensive intellectual, social, and administrative framework.