Prof. Ali Shehata, Professor of Islamic Dawah and Culture at the Faculty of Dawah at al-Azhar University, stated that Allah created mankind in the best form and endowed them with superiority over many of His creations. Furthermore, he emphasized that this honor serves a purpose: the reconstruction of the earth and the promotion of goodness and peace within it.
This was mentioned during a lecture entitled “The Spiritual and Behavioral Nurturing of the Preacher,” which is part of a course titled “Refuting Extremist Thought.” The World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates organized the course via video conference for India’s Imams and Preachers, collaborating with al-Azhar International Academy for Training Imams and Preachers.
Notably, the Professor of Islamic Dawah and Culture stressed that preachers and scholars are the most important tools for reconstructing the earth by spreading tolerant principles, and values of peaceful coexistence among all segments of society, and combating intolerance and extremist ideology.
He highlighted that the preacher must be well-qualified to carry out this great mission and should possess several key qualities. The most prominent of these are: nurturing the soul by achieving complete servitude to the Almighty, refining the soul through beneficial knowledge, and engaging in righteous deeds.
Moreover, he explained the importance of spiritual nurturing, emphasizing that it protects the soul from intellectual, moral, and behavioral deviation. He added that focusing on the spiritual and behavioral nurturing of the preacher ensures they remain in a constant state of balance.
In conclusion, Prof. Ali Shehata, Professor of Dawah at al-Azhar University, urged the trainees to seek knowledge from authentic sources, promote the moderate Azhari approach, and serve as advocates of enlightenment in the face of obscurantist and extremist ideologies propagated by deviant groups.
