(Project Life): An Evening of ACADEMION Cultural Platform
As part of the series of meetings presented by ACADEMION Institute through the ACADEMION cultural platform, a non-profit platform that aims to disseminate knowledge and sciences through the institute's ambassadors and advisors, and through a variety of reading, audio, and visual materials, the platform presented an evening as part of a series of interactive evenings featuring a distinguished elite of intellectuals and pioneers of science in various fields. The evening discussed the concept of the imprint and the impact that remains for a person after their departure from this world and what they may leave as a legacy that benefits the nation, homeland, and society as a whole. The evening began at 9 PM on Tuesday, corresponding to 26/11/1442 AH via Zoom.
The evening was introduced by Dr. Mishal bin Yasin Al-Muhallawi, founder of ACADEMION Institute, who welcomed the guest of the evening, Dr. Naji Al-Oufaj, an expert in the field of dialogue and cultural communication, and in introducing Islam, education, authorship, and translation for more than 30 years, as well as a global trainer and speaker.
Dr. Al-Oufaj initially posed a question about (Project of Life) or what is the life project that a person can undertake that leaves an impact and imprint after their departure, and the reward they receive from Allah Almighty for that project? He then elaborated on his academic and practical journey in life and the details of his scholarly journey, mentioning his influence by Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, may Allah have mercy on him, which inspired him to study the English language to understand Western thinking and how to convey Islam to those countries through dialogue with non-Muslims in their language. This was a significant turning point in Dr. Al-Oufaj's life and a major challenge, especially in a modest town like Al-Ahsa at that time, where the goal of studying English was not just a job but a much higher and nobler ambition focused on how to engage with the West and understand the debates of Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, may Allah have mercy on him, which was the primary motivation for that journey.
Dr. Al-Oufaj embarked on traveling abroad to study for his master's and doctorate, specifically to (the United States of America) which was a new step in his life to get to know that country closely and understand the appropriate way to engage in dialogue with them. He was the official spokesperson for the student association in various fields, and this experience greatly influenced and shaped his personality, developing him into a first-class conversationalist. He also engaged in volunteer work alongside his studies, which added a wealth of experiences, skills, friendships, and diverse relationships to his portfolio.
Dr. Al-Oufaj highlighted his journey after returning from abroad, obtaining his doctorate, and joining Imam University in Al-Ahsa, where he was tasked with establishing the Department of Languages and Translation, as well as contributing to the establishment of the Computer Science Department. He also served as the college's deputy and was seconded to the Muslim World League, and worked as the Secretary-General of the International Committee for Cultural Communication. He later worked in the UK as an assistant to the cultural attaché for cultural affairs and supervised a student cultural club.
Dr. Al-Oufaj affirmed that all these rich experiences led him to establish a project titled (Discover Its Beauty) which was the culmination of nearly 40 years of experience in dialogue, communication, and travel to over 100 countries worldwide, delivering courses and lectures on satellite and radio channels. The project (Discover Its Beauty) aimed to introduce the beauty and virtues of Islamic law and its values in a civilized manner suitable for the mentalities and thinking of the West and non-Muslims in general. The project emerged from a field experience rather than a theoretical one, through extensive dialogue with many Western figures and others in a wise and diplomatically civilized manner. Dr. Al-Oufaj also mentioned his recent establishment of an institution titled (Cultural Communication Foundation) for educational consulting services and for translation and linguistic proofreading.
In conclusion, Dr. Al-Oufaj added: "This is a summary of the Project of Life over a long period of time. What is your project, dear brother, and you, dear sister, the life project you wish to present for Islam, for the homeland, for yourselves, and for your children?"
At the end of the evening, some members of the ACADEMION cultural platform presented their comments and questions to the guest Al-Oufaj, including: Mr. Suleiman Al-Zakri, and Professor Muhammad Ilyas from Islamabad. The evening concluded with Dr. Mishal Al-Muhallawi expressing his gratitude to Dr. Al-Oufaj for accepting the invitation to present the engaging evening despite his travel circumstances, wishing him success and prosperity.