The Role of Religious Institutions in Achieving Intellectual Security

Abstract

The research talks about the role of religious institutions in achieving intellectual security, stating that intellectual security prevails in societies where moderation is achieved.

Working to strengthen the moderation of Islam and the moderation of its principles in society is of high importance in order to achieve intellectual security. Besides, remoteness from moderation and temperance is a major cause of intellectual deviation which leads to insecurity.

Achieving moderation cannot be done by a specific institution, but the efforts of all societal institutions must be combined to work towards achieving this. Among the most important of these institutions are: religious institutions: such as mosques, courts, Fatwa House, and so on. The majority of the community members attach the utmost importance to the role of the mosque in achieving intellectual security of the community members and protecting them from any deviation. Most people lack the guidance of scholars to remove uncertainty regarding some religious suspicions that stick in their minds and, hence, the important role of these institutions in achieving intellectual security emerge.

The researcher used the descriptive approach in his research.

Among the most important results reached by the researcher:

• The majority of community members attach the utmost importance to the mosque’s role in achieving intellectual security for community members and protecting them from any deviation.
• The degree to which the mosque is currently exercising its role in the field of achieving intellectual security is “medium.”

Among the most prominent recommendations are:

• That the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da’wah and Guidance should establish specific controls for those who undertake the task of public lecturing, preaching, guidance and advising, provided that these controls and specifications are proposed by the Ministry itself in cooperation with members of the Council of Senior Scholars, the Permanent Committee for Fatwa, and Sharia professors in Saudi universities.
• That the relevant institutions take care of preachers, religious leaders, mosque lecturers, and those who carry out the tasks of guidance, education, and advising in society, by enlightening them with the methods of wise advocacy and regularly providing them with the fatwas of the Council of Senior Scholars in the latest developments, rehabilitating those who need rehabilitation, and holding multiple specialized courses for them in:
• Methods of preaching and guidance.
• The foundations of wise advice and conduct.
• The concept of moderation and temperance.
• Accepting the other opinion.
• Remoteness from extremism and fanaticism.
• That the relevant institutions work to clarify the Islamic approach in regulating the relationship between the ruler and the ruled, because of its significant role in preventing intellectual deviation and treating it.