The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat hosted today, Friday 15 March 2024, the second meeting of the scientific forum, “A Ramadan Journey into the Depths of the Human Soul.”

The Forum was organized by ICESCO in cooperation with the Group of Spouses of Arab Ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations accredited to the Kingdom of Morocco. During the event, Dr. Khadija Abouzid, Professor of Higher Education at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, delivered a lecture titled “Ramadan: a Month for the Healing and Purification of Souls.” The Lecture was attended by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, a group of women ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom of Morocco, members of the Group of Spouses, and a large audience from the general public.

The Meeting kicked off with a general introduction by Dr. Yusra bint Hussain Al-Jazairy, member of the Group of Spouses, who emphasized that the second meeting of the Forum came after the outstanding success of the first meeting with Dr. Khadija Abouzid. She mentioned receiving numerous opinions, inquiries, and requests, most of which focused on the importance of shedding light on practical tools for checking the soul in all its aspects, as discussed in the previous meeting.

Dr. Al-Jazairy added that today’s lecture was chosen based on these requests, and that Dr. Khadija Abouzid would take the attendees on a journey into the depths of their souls and will share with them a set of practical tools applicable in this context. Moreover, she praised the creativity that imbued the lecture given in the previous meeting, especially when it mentioned that humans should always seek to strike a balance between the requirements of the body and the soul.

Dr. Yusra Al-Jazairy concluded her presentation by extending gratitude, on behalf of the Group of Spouses of Arab Ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations accredited to the Kingdom of Morocco, to ICESCO for its excellent organization and gracious hosting.

Following that, Dr. Khadija Abouzid started her lecture, during which she outlined the key steps for healing and purifying the soul. She affirmed that the blessed month of Ramadan is the ideal opportunity for soul purification, as “Shaitan” (Satan), the enemy of mankind, is chained during it, and Allah honors humans with the blessed “Laylat-ul-Qadr” (the Night of Power).

She pointed out that diagnosis is the first step towards rejuvenating and educating the soul by identifying its flaws and kick-starting the healing process. Furthermore, she highlighted that just as the body can be diseased, so can the soul, to which equal attention must be paid.

Dr. Abouzid elaborated on the sicknesses of the heart, as mentioned in the Holy Quran, including deceit, arrogance, and pretentiousness, highlighting that the sicknesses of the soul and heart, worldly attachment, and the whispers of “Satan”, are the obstacles that impede the purification of the soul.

Following the lecture, a discussion session was opened, and several questions and inquiries were addressed by Dr. Khadija Abouzid. Dr. Yusra Al-Jazairy thanked the lecturer for the spiritual journey that touched the hearts of the attendees and inspired them to purify their souls.

The Session concluded with a recitation of the poem “My Ultimate Destination” (Muntaha Amri) written by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, and performed by the Moroccan Nashidist Soumia Massine.