Saudi Gazette report

JAKARTA — Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Abdullatif Al-Sheikh handed over, on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia's support for the construction of the mosque of the Faculty of Education at Sharif Hidayatullah University.

The support was received by the University Director Professor Amani Lobis during a meeting in Jakarta between the two officials.

Lobis expressed her thanks and appreciation on her behalf and all the university's employees to the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for their efforts in the service of Islam and Muslims.

She noted that the mosque would be built next to the College of Education on the university campus.

“It will be a beacon of knowledge and a call to spread the tolerant values of Islam and teach Arabic language,” she said.

Lobis added that this project will serve the faculty members and employees of the college and the neighborhoods close to the university to hold five prayers and Friday prayers, and it will be built in a modern urban style with all its equipment.

Dr. Al-Sheikh will proceed to Bali to take part in the 2nd ASEAN Conference "Khayr Ummah".

The event is organized on Thursday by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.

Around 130 ministers, muftis, presidents of universities, centers and Islamic associations, and religious and cultural leaderships from ASEAN countries will take part.

The conference aims to demonstrate the sources of the charity of the Ummah and its wide areas, and provide the necessary resources for achieving them.

It will highlight the efforts of Islamic institutions in promoting charity of the Ummah, and promote communication between Islamic institutions and figures to serve this end.

During the four sessions of the conference, participants will discuss several themes, most notably, the nation's charity in science, action, and calling for Allah, and the nation's charity in its centrality among nations.

It will highlight warning of the dangers of radicalism and deviation, as well as a review of models of modern nation charity and its efforts in bringing peoples, cultures and religions closer together.

The conference will be attended by participating delegations from ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The conference is part of Saudi Arabia’s major efforts under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, in the service of Islam and Muslims in the world.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance and the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia had held a preparatory press conference to launch the 2nd Islamic Conference for ASEAN Countries in Bali 'Khayr Ummah'.

Indonesia Vice President Haj Ma'ruf Amin is set to attend. The conference will be held between Dec. 21 and 23.