Saudi: Translation of Friday sermons urged

[email protected] (Arab News)
March 30, 2014

Riyadh, Mar 30: Public pressure has been mounting to provide translation of Friday sermons in different languages spoken by non-Arab expatriates in the Kingdom, especially in English, Urdu, Malayalam and Tagalog, to help them understand the sermon 's message and learn more about Islam.

“This is a very important topic. We know there are millions of non-Arab expats who come to attend the Friday sermons but only a few of them get the message. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs must take up this matter seriously,” said Fuad Kawther, a Saudi engineer and former director general of the Industrial City Dawa Office.

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He hoped the ministry would allow translation of sermons in major languages for the benefit of expats. He stressed the importance of understanding the message of Friday sermons that contain Islamic rules and teachings to be learned by Muslims.

Kawther also urged Muslim expats to make use of their stay in the Kingdom to learn Arabic, the language of the Holy Qur 'an. He hoped that dawa centers and other charitable and cultural organizations would open more Arabic language centers for the benefit of expats.

The language center at Al-Hamra Dawa Center offers Arabic courses at three levels. It follows a curriculum developed by Al-Azhar University in Cairo. “There is big demand for Arabic language courses,” he pointed out. Arabic is the sixth most popular language in the world.

Kawther also pointed out that a mosque in Jeddah 's industrial city offers translation of the sermon in three languages. Kawther stressed the need to promote Arabic language to spread Islamic culture and civilization.

Abdullatheef Nadukandy, planning manager at a leading Saudi company in Jeddah, agreed with Kawther and urged expats to make use of the opportunity to learn Arabic. “It will not only help them understand Friday sermons but also excel in their professions,” he told Arab News.

Ahmed Mofarrah Al-Ghamdi, khateeb at Omar bin Al-Khattab Mosque in Faisaliya, stressed the significance of Friday sermons. “Many non-Arab expats including Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indonesians and Africans attend our sermons. Many of them do not know even a single word of Arabic,” he said, stressing the need for translation.

He proposed that volunteers of dawa centers provide translation of the sermon in different mosques, giving expats the gist of the sermon. “This will help them a lot in understanding their religion and change their ways.”

He hoped the Ministry of Islamic Affairs would instruct dawa centers across the country to deploy their volunteers in mosques to provide the service, especially at mosques where a large number of expats attend prayers.

The sermon delivered by Al-Ghamdi on Friday urged worshippers to take care of their parents, especially the elderly among them.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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