RIYADH: Crown Prince Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, opened a symposium on “Salafism: A Shariah approach and a national demand,” organized by the Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University here Tuesday and commended its objectives.
Prince Naif said Saudi Arabia would continue to follow the Salafist ideology and denounced those who create doubts about this moderate Islamic ideology and link it with terrorism and extremism.
"Salafism is rooted in the Qur'an and Sunnah and calls for peaceful coexistence with other faith communities and for respecting their rights," the crown prince said. "We have to stand united against those who launch smear campaigns on Salafism."
He also laid the cornerstone for a number of educational projects worth SR2.3 billion at the university.
Suleiman Abalkhail, president of the university, thanked Prince Naif for opening the event.
“The Kingdom is based on the moderate Salafi ideology,” he said, adding that the Saudi government has been following the teachings of Islam in all its affairs and relations.
He said more than 100 religious experts from around the world would take part in the symposium to discuss 120 research papers on seven core subjects.
This seminar aims to achieve several goals such as shedding light on the doctrinal teachings of the Salafist movement, clear misconceptions about Salafism, clarify the roots of Saudi government regulations and its rightful principles and lastly provide a clear idea about Islam’s approach toward non-Muslims.
The core subjects include Salafism, an approach pursued by the state since its foundation and its connection to Islam; misconceptions about the Salafi approach; the Salafi approach and its connection with the modern religious discourse, the relationship between the Saudi state and the Salafi approach in terms of originality and application; and the link between the Salafi approach and school curricula.
