Muscat: A symposium titled ‘Family and Building Values: Opportunities and Challenges’ kicked off at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre today. The three-day symposium was organized by Imam Jabir Bin Zaid Waqf Foundation (JBZF). The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information.
The 11 sessions of the symposium focused on three main themes: ‘Intellectual and Ethical Aspects of the Family’, ‘Social Reality of the Family’ and ‘The Family’s Role in a Digitized World’.
Many academics and specialists from the Sultanate of Oman and abroad are taking part in the symposium.
His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalili, the Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman, said in a speech at the opening of the symposium that the family is the core component of society and that the intactness of the family influences the strength and harmony of society.
Al Khalili pointed out that Man was created by the Almighty Allah to be civil and social by nature. He undersc
ored the individual’s need for a family and the family need for a society. ‘This reciprocity serves collaboration that in turn meets the needs of all (individuals, family and society)-as they engage in supporting each other and serving the interests of each other,’ Al Khalili added.
Al Khalili laid emphasis on the legacy established by the first generation of Muslims who, he affirmed, set the most wonderful examples of collaboration and fraternity as ordained by Allah the Almighty. Through this fraternity, he said, they overcame the enmity inherited from generation to generation-from ancestors to successors, Al Khalili observed. ‘All were united by Faith that erased every trace of conflict and disagreement among them,’ he added.
For his part, Khalil Ahmed Al-Khalili, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the JBZF, delivered a speech on behalf of the endowment foundation in which he spoke about the rapid pace of successive events that continue to impact our life as they unfold.
The family finds itself in th
e heart of such an endless rhythm of changing scenarios, irrespective of their motives-be they political, economic or intellectual, said Khalil. ‘In the middle of this shakeup, it is no longer a secret that relentless efforts are underway to disintegrate the family and destroy its existence,’ he added.
The main session of the symposium addressed community awareness of the role of the family. It focused on the importance of moral awareness and the role of the family in consolidating social bonds and promoting positive communication among members of society. It elaborated on strategies and roles that the family must use to deal with the challenges posed to its existence.
The first day of the symposium included 4 sessions: The first session focused on the central role of family to society and to humanity at large.
The second session discussed the western media and the implications of the type of upbringing that advocates atheism and homosexuality. It revealed the measures undertaken by such ideological media
in shaping ‘atheism-oriented generations’.
The third session touched on the role of terminology and to utilize it in a manner that shapes sound ideological awareness.
The fourth session dealt with awareness about the natural and legal functions of all individuals in the family.
The overall objective of the symposium is to spread awareness about the most important challenges of globalization and its impact on the family. In particular, the symposium seeks to fortify young people intellectually and cognitively, nourishing them with authentic human principles and values.
Source: Oman News Agency
