Al Azhar launch of new online services

Developed with the support of 'H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Project to Preserve Al Azhar Scripts and Publish Them Online,' the new services were launched at an event attended by H.E. the Grand Imam, Dr. Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, the Sheikh of Al Azhar and Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Director of the Al Azhar Online Project.

The Grand Imam said, 'The new online features come as part of Al Azhar's effort to communicate to a larger Muslim audience using the latest information and communication technologies.

'The website will help us promote the true essence of Islam and spread its message of tolerance and peace. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with our brothers in the UAE to develop more initiatives that benefit the Islamic world.'

The new services have been developed with the support of 'H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Project to Preserve Al Azhar Scripts and Publish Them Online' established in a partnership between Al Azhar and the HH Sheikh Mohammed IT Education Project (ITEP).

Speaking about the success of the partnership, Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Director of the Al Azhar Online Project said: 'We are extremely happy to see that our cooperation with Al Azhar is extremely fruitful. Our efforts are focused on using modern technologies to serve the Islamic nation.

'Al Azhar's new services will help scholars, researchers and millions of other people across the world view rare manuscripts that otherwise would have been inaccessible. We hope that our cooperation with Al Azhar will continue to grow in the coming years.'

Al Azhar's new services available on www.alazharonline.org enable subscribers to download digital copies of several priceless manuscripts. CDs of the manuscripts can be also obtained from Al Azhar's online library for a small fee. The money generated from these services will be used to further support the project.

The website includes a 'fatwa' section which enables Muslims to obtain Al Azhar's counsel on queries posted by them on various issues. The site has received more than 800 queries since its launch in 2005, answers to which were published on the website. The website also lists prayer timings.