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College of Da'wa and Usul-ud-Din Brief: Umm Al-Qura University is one of the earliest universities in Saudi Arabia, as its kernel, i.e., the College of Shari`ah (Islamic Law), was established by virtue of the Royal Decree issued by the King Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud in 1369 A.H. Hence, it had become the first institution for university education to be established in Saudi Arabia, later Umm Al-Qura University. On 28/9/1401A.H, Royal Decree No. 39, based on the cabinet's decision No. 190 dated 19/9/1401 A.H. regarding the University system, was issued to rename the university as "Umm Al-Qura University". Then, different colleges started to be established, as the department of Da'wa proposed the establishment of a college under the title "College of Da'wa and Usul-ud-Din", in its meeting held on 24 Jumada II, 1397 A.H. The proposal was submitted to the competent boards. On 21/12/1401A.H, the Royal Decree No. 27278/32/3 was issued for the inauguration of the College of Da'wa and Usul-ud-Din. This college is considered as an extension of the two ancient colleges; College of Shari`ah and Islamic Studies and College of Education. It was renamed into "the College of Da'wa and Usul-ud-Din". At the beginning, the college had only one department, which had been inaugurated at the college of Shari'ah and Islamic Studies in 1395-1396 A.H. in its 14th session held on 26/8/1402 A.H, it approved the inauguration of the following departments: - The Department of Aqeedah (Creed); - The Department of Media (later moved to the College of Social Sciences); - The Department of Qera'at (various readings of the Qur'an). By the beginning of the academic year 1402/1403 A.H, the College started to offer courses and it included four departments for both male and female students; except the Department of Media. However, by the academic year 1404/1405 A.H, the Department of the Qur'an and Sunna was inaugurated by virtue of resolution No. 30/4/16/6827/1, issued on 22 Rajab, 1404 A.H, according to the resolution of university's high council during its second session dated 25 Jumada II, 1404, which required moving the Department of the Qur'an and Sunna from the College of Shari`ah (Islamic Law) to the College of Da'wa and Usul-ud-Din (Call to Islam and Religion's Fundamentals). The College has four departments:
It is worth mentioning that the postgraduate studies in the specializations of the college started since it was supervised by the College of Shari`ah and Islamic Studies, before their separation is effected. In 1420 A.H, the deputy deanship of the College of Da'wa and Usul-ud-Din for postgraduate studies was established as it started to supervise the postgraduate studies in the college. Objectives: The College seeks achieving a set of noble and supreme aims and purposes, most notable among which are: 1- Upbringing Muslim generation understanding the facts as the Prophet has stated before; 2- Spreading and disseminating religious knowledge among people through teaching and charging students with the responsibility of conveying knowledge for all people; 3- Exerting serious efforts to achieve the moderate Islamic way without any excess or negligence, exaggeration or alienation, as well as planting such manner in the souls of students to take it as a life method; 4- Contributing to keep the Islamic heritage by deducing its valuables to produce for the people of knowledge through scientific investigation in university theses; 5- Tackling intellectual and doctrinal accidents and emerging issues that require considering and inspection of the scholars; and 6- Meeting the requirements of Saudi community from religious qualified cadres to assume their positions in the community, like teaching, admonishment, guidance, giving legal verdicts and other tasks. Missions: The College of Da'wa & Usul-ud-Din assumes several academic missions as an effective player on the university education arena. The main missions of the College are as follows:
Activities: The College practices several activities, notably:
Educational Activity: It is the essential mission of the College since it features a number of academic departments; namely, Da'wa and Islamic Culture Department, Qur'an and Sunnah Department, Aqidah Department and Qera'at Department, along with a more important mission, postgraduate studies as students do their postgraduate studies in the MA and PhD phases through a group of scholars who contribute to the intellectual and academic formation of students. General Cultural Activity: Like the educational activity, the general cultural activity serves the mission of the College. In order to assume the activity properly, a committee was formed by a resolution by the College Board in its 7th Session dated 25.11.1426 A.H. and approval by the University Director of the Resolution No.2325, dated 27.01.1427 A.H. to assume the responsibility for cultural activity, nominated, "Cultural and Scientific Committee at the College of Da'wa & Usul-ud-Din". This Committee is also in charge of holding academic gatherings, lectures and seminars where senior scholars and professors are convened. Each year, the College holds a cultural season where academic seminars and lectures are given to tackle of-need issues as the College is keen to assist individuals make sound visions amidst so various sources that sound decision-making is not an easy task. So, the College invites scholars and professors of knowledge and experience to deliver sound insights based on the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophet's Sunnah. In addition, the College holds a monthly academic meeting. The committee has been also interested in publishing useful books that serve Shari'ah issues and focus on Makkah, of which the Valentine's Day was the first one. The book "Rules of Makkah" has been also issued, met with acceptance of science and Da'wa milieus and printed many times by various entities. Lastly, a book about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has been published. Student Activity The college has been interested in student activities that serve students usefully and keep their time. Therefore, a college team has been entrusted to supervise student activities through organizing student useful programs that satisfy their intellectual, scientific, cultural and physical needs. Sports activities, trips, lectures, courses and useful meetings have a great effect on psychological and intellectual structure of students since they provide sound thinking and moderate approach that support thoughts and trends of sober-minded student and deny citizen deviation and excessiveness. Social Activity Social activity is one of the most important activities practiced in the college, completed by a social, harmonious and friendly environment provided by the college which holds periodical meetings in scientific department on various occasions. In addition, a quarterly meeting, marked by friendliness and warmth, is to be held by the college's deanery and officials with its professors and employees. Social Service Being a part of the society, the college acquires strength through the solid relationship between them. Therefore, the college strives to play an active role in society's service, as well as its scientific, intellectual and cultural structure through the available potentials and its professors whose efforts had a great effect on social life since the college of Da'wa and Usul-ud-Din (Call to Islam and Religion's Fundamentals) has an active participation in most social events, most notably: Participation in Stray Advisory Committee, Reconciliation Committee, Da'wa and Guidance Centers, Communities Education Offices, Revival Centers, Makkah Glorification Project, Municipal Council and others.
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