ASA, The Imams group is scheduled to have Thanksgiving Dinner at the US Ambassador's home in Abu Dhabi. Photos of the Zayed House of Islamic Cultures Imams Training Program can be viewed at :
hhttp://picasaweb.google.com/home Photos by Curtis Sharif [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Khaleej Times Online >> News >> THE U.A.E American imams attend ZHIC orientation course By Lana Mahdi (Our staff reporter) 21 November 2007 AL AIN . US Ambassador Michele Sison thanked the UAE government for the excellent and warm welcome extended to the 28,000 American citizens living in the country who, she said, are good representatives of their country in the cultural dialogue being held between the two nations. She was addressing a meeting held yesterday at Zayed House for Islamic Culture (ZHIC) and attended by 14 imams from different mosques in the US as well as a trainee from France who are here to attend the six-week orientation programme run by the ZHIC. Sison said she had been working in the Department of State for 26 years but she had not seen a country like the UAE. The meeting was attended by Dr Mohammed Matar Al Kaaby and Dr Bassam Al Zain, chairman and deputy chairman of the ZHIC, respectively. She praised the revolutionary vision of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan that led to the progress of Abu Dhabi emirate as well as Al Ain city. The US ambassador said the 28,000 US citizens living in the UAE worked in the education, medical and business sectors. "The ZHIC that hosts the imams is consolidating the East-West dialogue and cooperation and friendship between the US and the UAE" she added. Khalid Al Marzouqy, director of ZHIC, said the orientation programme that started on the first week of November would help the imams understand and perform their duties better, adding that this was a good example of the joint efforts of the UAE and US. The programme included cultural, religious, heritage, educational, medical and entertainment activities. Al Marzouqy added the ZHIC would sponsor the Hajj Pilgrimmage of the 14 imams to Saudi Arabia. The programme is being held as part of the cooperation between the American Congress of Muslim Youth (ANCMY) and ZHIC that aims to strengthen ties between the two sides. The orientation programme will be extended to imams from other countries as well he added. Khalid Ahmed, head of the ACMY, said the council aimed at sending Muslims from the US to learn and gain more experience about Islam and Shariah. --------------------------------- Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! Bismillah, FYI Peace,Curtis Sharif Houston, Texas To receive future posts, subscribe to the asmnational online forum. Send an email to : [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
