By: Fouzia Khan
Source: http://www.arabnews.com/
The Chinese Islamic Relations Council have signed an agreement with a Saudi company specialized in distance education for teaching Arabic to Chinese Muslims to help them understand and enhance their knowledge of Islamic civilization, it was revealed recently.
Dr. Ding Hui, chairman of the Board of Chinese Islamic Relations Council said it is a ground-breaking agreement made to promote and disseminate the culture of the learning of the Arabic language in China, a country with a population of about 1.4 billion people of whom 50 million are Muslims.
“There are some Islamic schools teaching Arabic but it is not sufficient,” he said, adding that language education needs specialists in the field to convey the message properly.
He maintained that donations for the building of mosques and Islamic schools are essential and this combined with the presence of specialized training in the Arabic language would benefit all.
He said the signing of the agreement would take the bilateral relations between the two countries to new heights and toward raising the level of Muslims in China in terms of understanding Islam, Islamic culture and civilization.
He noted that there are thousands of Chinese who are fluent in speaking and writing Arabic.
“The Islamic civilization is among the top five ancient civilizations which has come down to us through the ages and has been in existence throughout history,” Dr. Ding Hui said, adding that the Chinese have always been very interested in the Arab-Islamic culture, even before the western influences entered China.
The chairman said that they would arrange meetings with universities and Chinese schools in the country and would recommend to the experts of the company that they use their programs for teaching Arabic.
Zuhair bin Ali Azhar, CEO of the distance education company said that this agreement, which provides for the provision of education and training services, underlined the importance of the need for Chinese Muslims to master the language of their religion in a country where the number of Arabic speakers is minimal.
He said that the Chinese Muslims will not only learn the Arabic language and its sciences but also read the Qur’an in the language it was revealed in.
“This step comes as an extension of the duties toward social partnership with Muslims in general, and the Arab nation and Islamic world in particular,” he said.
He also said that the Arabic language has been able to accommodate different civilizations, and even become the dominant language in literature, politics and culture as well as being the language of religion and worship.
The Saudi company specialized in distance education and training is a strategic partner of the Arab Organization for Education, Science and Culture and Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture.
