By Matters India Reporter
Abu Dhabi: An Indian Muslim billionaire businessman, based in United Arab Emirates, has come forward to help build a Protestant church in its capital city of Abu Dhabi.
Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader, popularly known as M A Yusuff Ali on July 23 donated 500,000 dirhams (US$136,147 or 10,138,771 Indian rupees) for the construction of a worshipping center of the Church of South India in Abu Dhabi.
Ali is the chairperson and managing director of Lulu Group International, a multinational conglomerate company that operates a chain of hypermarkets and retail companies.
Church of South India parish in Abu Dhabi Father Lalji M Philip received the check from Ali.
The church will be built on 4.37 acres of land donated by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces and the de facto ruler of Abu Dhabi.
The church is expected to be completed by the end of this year, the priest said.
“There are places of worship for all religions in UAE as the leaders here are ensuring a cordial environment for the co-existence of different religions. They are following the legacy of tolerance set by the Father of the nation Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,” Yusuff Ali said on the occasion.
The Church of South India is a united Protestant Church, the second-largest Christian denomination in India. It was formed on September 17, 1947, a month after India attained its independence. It has more than 3.8 million members.
The Chennai-based Church is the result of union of several Protestant Churches in South India and Sri Lanka. It is a member of the World Methodist Council, as well as the World Communion of Reformed Churches; as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion.