DUSHANBE, September 13, 2008, Asia-Plus — President’s initiative to announce 2009 as Year of Imam Azam (Al-Imam al-A”zam, “The Greatest Imam” Nu’man bin Thabit bin Zuta bin Mahan, better known by his kunya as Abu Hanifah, (699-767 CE / 80-148 AH), was the founder of the Sunni Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence – Asia-Plus) promotes formation of the one mazhab (Islamic jurisprudence school) model in Tajikistan that will protect the country against possible discords, Tajik grand mufti and head of the Shuroi Ulamo (Council of Islamic Scholars) of Tajikistan, Amonullo Nematullozoda, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, due to announcement of Year of Imam Azam, the present balanced attitude of the country’s authorities to Islam will become more stronger and Islamic world will treat Tajikistan even more kindly.
“When I was in Arabic countries in 1999, Arabs did want to closely cooperate with Tajikistan because they considered that Communists are in power in the country,” said the grand mufti, “Now, when the head of state expressed his adherence to Islamic values, erroneous views will be removed.”
As a whole, the next year will be of significant importance for culture and society and what is the most important thing it will strengthen national security, Nematullozoda said.
