World Interfaith Harmony Week observed by QU’s College of Sharia and Islamic Studies

World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith, as mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace.

Qatar University (QU), through the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies, has been keen to promote the meanings of dialogue and coexistence among religions and civilizations, to focus on joint initiatives, activities, events, workshops, seminars, visits and meetings, which aim to replace misconceptions among followers of religions and cultures with a more objective, credible and respectful view that distances from fanaticism and rejects the idea of clash, and establishes the values of coexistence, understanding, tolerance and harmony.

One of the most important initiatives is the establishment of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Chair in Alliance of Civilizations, housed at the university’s College of Sharia and Islamic Studies in 2016. This agreement paved the way for QU and ISESCO to collaborate on developing studies and databases in civilizations specialisation, providing scholarships for graduate students involved in relevant research activities, and awards of appreciation for distinguished research projects. 

The establishment of the ISESCO Chair in Alliance of Civilizations also serves to implement a course on alliance of civilizations within QU academic curriculum.

The college also launched the first-ever Encyclopedia of Occidentalism. 

Executive Director of the Encyclopedia of Occidentalism, Dr. Azzeddine Mamiche shed some light on the project, which is the first largest intellectual project in the Arab and Islamic world saying, “The encyclopedia highlights the important role of Qatar in promoting the spirit of dialogue and alliance between civilizations at the regional and the international level. This project, which is the first-of-its-kind, reflects Qatar University’s commitment to advance a culture of dialogue in Qatar and the Islamic and Arab world. It will deliver tangible benefits to research centers, universities and academic institutions.”

The College also established the Qatar Global Award for Dialogue Among Civilizations alongside the Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The award aims to achieve various educational, research and development goals and outcomes. It serves as the driving force towards progress, prosperity, openness to human horizons, and spreading a culture of harmony, tolerance, coexistence, understanding and mutual respect among nations and peoples.