Doha: The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, represented by the Department of Da’wah and Religious Guidance, has announced the addition of 130 new visual materials in sign language to the Islamweb website, specifically for its deaf portal. This initiative is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance religious and guidance services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

According to Qatar News Agency, the deaf portal is one of the pioneering initiatives within the Islamic network Islamweb. It serves as a unique knowledge platform for the deaf community by providing comprehensive religious content in the unified, international Arabic sign language. This platform aims to enhance the Islamic identity of the community and promote social and academic integration with other societal segments.

By the end of 2024, the portal’s visual materials are expected to reach approximately 823 video clips, while the number of visitors to the site during the same year has exceeded 52,000. Since the portal’s launch, the total number of visitors has surpassed 260,000.

The Department of Da’wah and Religious Guidance highlighted the portal’s strategic objectives, which include enhancing communication with the deaf community and empowering them to learn Islamic teachings to serve as preachers among their peers. Additionally, the portal aims to alleviate the community’s challenges and create a global electronic platform dedicated to them. It also provides educational cadres in the field of deaf education with an integrated educational methodology to facilitate the delivery of religious information effectively.

The deaf portal remains committed to annually updating its content to meet user needs and cover various aspects of religious, educational, and social life.