The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, UAE (Awqaf UAE) has reported receiving more than a million visitors from around the globe during Ramadhan 2016. This is an estimated increase of 60% compared to 2015, the organisation said.
The increase in visits can be attributed to increasing public trust in Awqaf UAE as the official reference for fatwa (religious-related regulations) in the UAE and the services it offers, as well as the accessibility of electronic services, Awqaf UAE added.
The Awqaf website recorded some 160,000 visits to the khutbah (Friday speeches) over Ramadhan in addition to around 1 million visits to the fatwa section. Visitors came from 192 countries around the world.
Awqaf's Official Fatwa Centre answered 80,589 questions over Ramadhan, the organisation added, an estimated increase of 7,000 fatwas discussed compared to last year. The fatwas addressed questions about jurisprudence of worship, business transactions and women-specific matters.
Dr Mohammed Matar al Kaabi, Awqaf's Chairman, said, "Awqaf had to increase the Centre's capabilities in terms of scientific research and fiqh competences in order to meet the requirements of people and offer them righteous and moderate judgements in a an easy manner."
He noted that the Centre continued receiving fatwa enquiries during the Eid al Fitr official holidays until the first day of Eid. It also answered people's questions at the weekends via SMS during the holy month. Fatwas were released as well via the Awqaf's accounts on social media platforms.
Dr al Kaabi shared that as a preparation for the Hajj season, Awqaf has laid down a plan to offer fatwa services before and during the performance of the pilgrimage rites.
Website content and services are regularly updated in both Arabic and English as part of the m-Government transformation initiative launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.