Dr Issam H. Zabalawi, Chancellor of Sharjah university, said the institution and its students took pride in upholding the Islamic instructions and teachings reflected in the decency and public conduct directives. The university, he said, was a national institution and should abide by the values, principles and conventions of Islamic teachings. It should try to cultivate people who are capable of preserving these values.

Dr Zabalawi said implementation of the directives would have a positive impact on society in preserving its values and principles in the face of alien cultures. “In fact, one of the important goals of the directives is to protect our society from any kind of harm that might result from mingling with other cultures,” he said.

Implementation of the directives would help isolate any harmful aspects from alien cultures, he said. He said the decency rules clearly express respect and appreciation for women in our society.
“They also manifest Dr Sheikh Sultan’s keenness on fending off the dangers of practices that do not belong to our religion and help women in Arab societies continue to have maximum respect and appreciation as part of their rights stipulated in, and secured by, our religious laws as well as our customs, traditions and conventions,” Dr Zabalawi said.

He said respect for women was clearly evident in the Ruler’s decision to give her the right to have a political and legislative role in society. He referred to the fact of five women joining the Sharjah Consultative Council.

Dr Mossad Abdullah bin Abdullah Al Muhaiya of Al Imam Mohammed bin Saud University, Saudi Arabia, and representative of Al Shaqaeq magazine, praised Dr Shaikh Sultan’s directives and asserted the need for the Arab world to enhance its Islamic identity.

He said it was ultimately the family’s responsibility to guide their children on Islamic principles and advise them on the repercussions of not abiding by Islamic teachings, particuilarly the importance of hijab for women in Islam.

Source : Summarized from Khaleej Times, 24 Oct 2001