DUSHANBE, September 21, 2012, Asia-Plus – The center for training imam-khatibs has been officially opened in Tajikistan.
On Thursday September 20, Jumakhon Ghiyosov, the deputy head of the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan, handed over the registration certificate to Saidmukarram Abduqodirzoda, the head of the Council of Ulemo (an Islamic council that issues fatwas and religious guidance to Islamic religious organizations in Tajikistan) under the Islamic Center of Tajikistan.
The ceremony was attended by Sulaymon Davlatov, Chancellor of the Islamic Institute, Mahmoudkhon Shoyev, a chief specialist with the Ministry of education, as well as guests from Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.
Speaking at the inaugurating ceremony, Saidmukarram Abduqodirzoda noted that the main objective of establishing the center for training imam-khatibs is in stirring religious thought within youth, propagating real Islam full of kindness, morality and love, and fostering the spirit of peace and patriotism in the youth.
Atovullo Qosimov, who graduated from the Russian Islamic Institute in Kazan, was appointed director of the center for training imam-khatibs.
In Sunni Islam, an imam khatib is a leader, often the leader of prayers in the mosque, and the Muslim community. This compound title is merely a common combination of two elementary offices: leader (imam) of the congregational prayer, which in larger mosques is performed at the times of all daily prayers; and preacher (khatib) of the sermon or khutba at the required congregational prayer on Friday. Although either duty can be performed by anyone who is regarded as qualified by the congregation, at most well-established mosques imam khatib is a permanent (part-time or full-time) position.
According to local academic experts, the population is 97 percent Muslim. Overall, active observance of Islam appeared to be increasing steadily, especially among youth.
The majority of inhabitants adhere to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam. Tajikistan has approximately 3,400 “five-time” prayer mosques and 355 Friday prayer mosques (larger facilities built for weekly Friday prayers).
