Umm al-Qura University (UQU) hosted HRH Prince Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Muhammad Al Saud, Chairman of the Islamic Call (Da'wa) in Africa Committee, along with members of the African Preachers Committee, in this year's 25th convention, which comes under the theme: "Intellectual Deviation:  Reasons and Ways to Address It". The convention, held on Monday, Ramadan 22, 1437H, was attended by the UQU President, Dr. Bakri bin Maatooq Assas, Vice President for Educational Affairs, Dr. Abdulaziz al-Sorouji, and Dean of the Arabic Language for Non-Native Speakers Institute, Dr. Abdullah al-Qarni, in addition to Islamic preachers and scientists hailing form 41 countries. It took place at King Faisal Hall at UQU Al-Abdiyah Campus.

Following a Qur'anic recitation, Dr. Assas delivered an address welcoming Prince Bandar, the committee guests, and the UQU faculty members.

He said: "What's so striking about this meeting is that it represents three levels of distinction. First, administrative distinction: it is represented by the coordinative system run by the Da'wa in Africa Committee, under the chairmanship of Prince Bandar. This system creates and strengthens bridges between the public and private sectors, so far as da'wa is concerned; between the official and da'wa purposes; between the East and the West; between da'wa and leadership; and between science and society. In so doing, the committee plays a role that I have always seen as unique in the contemporary da'wa context." "The second level of distinction," according to Dr. Assas, "is the da'wa distinction, as represented by this constellation of Africa's preachers, who act as torch-bearers of the righteous, moderate faith amidst the current chaos of thoughts and doctrines."

"The third level," he added, "has to do with academic distinction, as represented in the fruitful cooperation binding the university with the Da'wa in Africa Committee. Each year, a delegation from the Arabic Language Non-native Speakers participates with the committee in the courses it delivers each summer. That is to be added to other forms of cooperation between the UQU faculty members and the committee programs."

"To be a good preach is no longer an easy task," Dr. Assas stressed. "In the past," he expounded, "preachers used to recite a Quranic versa or Hadith to find responsive ears, tearful eyes, and devout hearts. Nowadays, on the other hand, each preach is beset by hundreds of questions, doubts and objections. This is due to the unprecedented influx of information that has shocked the minds of many people, who remain unable to comprehend such a momentum. They lost the righteous path, while believing they possess reality!"

Dr. Assas went on explaining, "To think that all such an influx is benign or spontaneous doesn't seem to be a valid conclusion. Rather, errant groups have taken advantage of it to defuse fallacies and wicked thoughts through people, with the effect that segments of Muslims have fall prey to either atheism and immorality, or extremism and extravagance. As a result, 'intellectual deviations' have come to the fore, making it indispensable for preachers to stand firm in the face of all such deviations."

Dr. Assas emphasized that resisting such intellectual deviations by preaching requires the the preacher to reinforced with three types of preparation: the first type is cognitive and knowledge related, the second based on skill, while the third has to do with technology.

He went on to say: "This country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has taken upon itself protecting the righteous faith, guided by the Pious Ancestors. To attain such a lofty objective, it has spared no effort, in the hope that you - preachers - would take part in enjoining good and forbidding evil." He called upon preachers to "stand firm in the face of such intellectual deviations, heresies and fallacies that come to the fore every now and then. Know reality, and stick to it!"

Expressing his confidence in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Dr. Assas was quoted as saying, "May Allah reward King Salman for his colossal efforts aimed at serving the da'wa in all parts of the world. His efforts in this domain are beyond words. "And following in his footsteps are HRH the Crown Prince and HRH the Deputy Crown Prince for their unceasing support." He thanked also the Advisor to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Emir of Makkah, for hospitality.

It followed that Sheikh Kooni Eissa, from the Republic of Ivory Coast, a graduate of the UQU College of Sharia, Islamic Economics Department, delivered the Da'wa in Africa Committee's gusts address. After welcoming attendees, Sheikh Eissa, on behalf of guests of the Committee, expressed sincere thanks and gratitude to the Saudi Government, working under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HRH the Crown Prince, and HRH the Deputy Crown Prince, as well as HRH Prince Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Muhammad Al Saud, Chairman of the Da'wa in African Committee, for all the valuable services they provide for the sake of Islam and Muslims.

After that, Dr. Fahad bin Muhammad al-Sarhani al-Qurashi, Head of Islamic Creed Department, at UQU College of Da'wa and Islamic Theology, gave a lecture under the theme: "Intellectual Deviation: Reasons and Ways to Address It". To begin with, he posed the question: why should we pay attention to individuals' thoughts, as long as their behavior is the thing that matters at the end of the day?

He answered: "By changing thoughts, views and tendencies, change of behavior becomes more probable, given that thought is the starting point of behavior. The person with positive tendencies, who has received decent upbrining is more likely to adopt a sound approach when encountered with the various situations. The person with negative tendencies, on the other hand, who has been induced to aggression, is more likely to take an aggressive, harmful stance." He concluded, "Once thought is distorted, any behavior, no matter how peculiar or irrational, could be expected."

Dr. al-Qurashi highlighted how extremism and extravagance cause intellectual distortion. He gave examples, and suggested the meeting theme to be the theme of an international forum to be organized by UQU with the aim of investigating this issue exhaustively.

This was followed by an address delivered the Chairman of Da'wa in Africa Committee, Prince Bandar bin Salman bin Muahmmad Al Saud, in which he said: "Nowadays, as we come together in this blessed spot, the abode of Revelation, to discuss matters of Islam and Muslims, Islam is suffering serious attacks owing to the intellectual deviation of some Muslims. We pray for Allah Almighty for salvation from such a calamity with which we have been afflicted."

Concluding, Prince Bandar thanked Umm al-Qura University for hospitality, and wished success for everybody.