– Promises to strive against injustice for a prosperous society
Nigeria, Turkiye delegates congratulate him
Professor Ali Muhyiddin Al-Qaradaghi, the current Secretary General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), has been elected as the new president of the renowned global organisation of scholars.
The election was conducted on Monday at the ongoing 6th General Assembly of the IUMS in Doha, Qatar, which commenced on Saturday, January 6, and expected to end on Thursday, January 11.
Over 2,000 scholars, thinkers and academics from more than 90 countries, including Nigeria are participating in the significant event that addresses and attempts to profer solutions to plethora of challenges facing the Muslim world.
Ali Qaradaghi, a founding member of the union, secured an impressive victory by receiving 91% of the votes from participants during the congress.
I’ll strive against injustice for a prosperous society: New President
In an acceptance speech posted on his verified X, formerly Twitter handle, as monitored by Muslim News, Sheikh Qaradaghi praised the conduct of the election which he described as free and transparent.
Written in Arabic, the respective international Islamic figure pledged to uphold Islamic values, promote peace, tolerance, and justice, and strive against injustice, corruption, and poverty for a just and prosperous society.
هذه كلمتي وفيها بينت سيرة ومسيرة الاتحاد العالمي لعلماء المسلمين ودوره في الوقائع
التاريخية والثقافية والدينية للمسلمين في مختلف أنحاء العالم.
أولاً، يجب أن نلاحظ أن الاتحاد العالمي لعلماء المسلمين هو منظمة دولية غير حكومية تهدف إلى توحيد الجهود العلمية والدينية للمسلمين في جميع… pic.twitter.com/RZHPPMX9Rp— د. علي القره داغي (@Ali_AlQaradaghi) January 6, 2024
“I commit to being a living example of Islamic principles in my life and interactions with others”, he added.
Nigerian representatives joined their colleagues from other countries to extend heartfelt congratulations to the new president, who is a professor of jurisprudence at the faculty of Shari’ah and Islamic Studies of the Qatar University in Doha.
He is resourceful, versatile: Dr Asrau
A member of the Nigerian delegation to the ongoing IUMS Conference in Doha, Qatar, Dr. Bilal Siraajudeen Al-Asrau, congratulated Sheikh Qaradaghi on his emergence as the new president, describing him as a resourceful and versatile scholar.
According to Dr. Asrau, “Sheikh Qaradaghi had served as the General Secretary of the IUMS, a position he occupied for a very long time. He has many achievements to his name. So, his unanimous nomination didn’t come as a surprise. Virtually all of us who participated in the election from across the world also supported his nomination with our votes.”
Dr. Sirajudeen Bilal Asrau, on behalf of the Nigerian delegation congratulated Sheikh Ali @Ali_AlQaradaghi on his emergence as the newly elected President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), at the 6th General Assembly of the Union, held in Doha, Qatar. pic.twitter.com/C9RdjVx5pY
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) January 10, 2024
Narrating his relationship with the new president, Dr. Asrau said he first came across him through his analysis of Al-Waseet by Imam Ghazali in 1991, following which he met him physically at a conference in Makkah in 2006.
“I came across him through one of his books ‘Al-Waseet’ while I was in Madinah. Al-Waseet was written by Imam Ghazali, but Sheikh Qaradaghi, for his part, did an extensive analysis of the book which he first published in 1980. I came across the book around 1991 while I was on my masters programme. I really appreciate his demonstration of knowledge in the book.
“I could recall meeting him at a conference in Makkah in 2006, and I asked him if he had completed the remaining parts of the book. He responded that he was still on it. So, that was the book through which I knew Sheikh Qaradaghi.
المكتب الإعلامي:
جاء ذلك عقب انتهاء تصويت الجمعية العمومية، اليوم الاثنين، حيث أعلن الاتحاد أن الشيخ الدكتور علي محيي الدين القره داغي فاز برئاسة الاتحاد بأغلبية الأصوات بنسبة 91.51%.https://t.co/3H76Ht28as— د. علي القره داغي (@Ali_AlQaradaghi) January 9, 2024
“Another publication of his which I have read is ‘Al-Gayatu -l- Quswaa fi Diraasati -l- Fatwa’. This book was authored by Sheikh Al-Baydowiy, but Sheikh Qaradaghi did an analysis on it just like the earlier one I mentioned”, he said.
I wish him success”, says President Ittihadul Ulama
The conference also witnessed the active engagement of a delegation – Ittihadul Ulama, an educational institution in Turkiye.
The president of the institution, Mullah Enver Kılıçaslan, who led the delegation, extended heartfelt congratulations to Ali Qaradaghi on his election as the president of the IUMS.
In a symbolic gesture, he presented Qaradaghi with a model of the Dome of the Rock. Taking to his social media account, Mullah Kılıçaslan said, “I congratulate Ali Karadaghi, who has been elected as the president of the International Union of the Muslim Scholars (IUMS), and I wish him success.”
Dünya Müslüman Alimler Birliği Başkanlığına seçilen Prof. Dr. Ali Karadaği'yi tebrik ediyor hayırlara vesile olmasını temenni ediyorum. pic.twitter.com/6Frl4x2SZQ
— Molla Enver KILIÇASLAN (@enverkilicaslan) January 8, 2024
Sheikh Prof. Ali Muhyideen Al-Qaradaghi was born in 1949 in the city of Qaradagh, Iraq. He is a Kurdish Sunni Muslim scholar, jurist, and theologian; also the founder and president of the University of Human Development in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. He now lives in Qatar and has already secured its nationality.
The newly elected president of IUMS committed the whole of the Qur’an to heart from childhood. He graduated from the foremost Al-Azhar University in Cairo, finishing with first class degrees in all his academic endeavours, including his PhD. He started teaching at the College of Shari’ah in Qatar around 1985. He attained his professorship in the same institution in the year 1995.
Sheikh Qaradaghi has authored a lot of books. He writes extensively on Islamic finance and economy, Islamic jurisprudence and other issues which have positioned him to become a prominent figure in the global Muslim scholarly community.
The IUMS plays a crucial role in addressing contemporary issues faced by the Muslim world. Through scholarly discussions, research initiatives, and advocacy, the organization provides a platform for Islamic scholars to collaborate, exchange ideas, and offer guidance on various aspects of life, including religion, society, and politics.
– With additional information from ilkha News Agency (in Turkiye)
