Sheikh Fareed set to retire with farewell sermon on Friday
07 Mar 2011, 11:52 AM
Ahmed Nazeer
The Islamic Foundation of the Maldives (IFM) has announced that famous religious scholar Sheikh Ibrahim Fareed will deliver his ‘Farewell Sermon‘ this Friday night at the artificial beach.
”This may be his last sermon,” said President of Islamic Foundation of the Maldives (IFM) Ibrahim Fauzy.
”On Friday night he will announce whether he is retiring or not,” he said. ”As everyone know very well, Sheikh Fareed has a pending case in court, which could make him stay in prison for more than 10 years, if found guilty.”
Fauzy said that in the recent years as well as today religious scholars faced many obstacles to their work.
”Today also we do not have the real freedom – the culture of obstructing religious scholars is still alive,” he said.
On Friday night, Fauzy said Shaeikh Fareed will say his “last will and testament” to the people.
”He will refer to the Khuthbathul-Wadhaau (Last Sermon of Prophet Mohamed PBUH) and will also preach about the current situation,” said Fauzy.
Likewise, Sheikh Ilyas Hussein in his sermon told the attendees that it might be his last sermon he will deliver to the people.
Recently, in an interview with an Indian magazine ‘The Week’, unnamed government officials described Sheikh Illyas and Sheikh Fareed as “hate preachers”.
Sheikh Fareed will have been active in the religious field for more than 10 years, said Fauzy.