Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar named Islamic Personality

The Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb has won the Islamic Personality of the Year award at the 18th session of the Dubai Holy Quran Award for his services to Islam, the Holy Quran and humanity.

Chairman of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award organising committee Ibrahim Bu Melha made the announcement on Monday afternoon at the award’s new headquarters in Al Mamzar. “Dr Al Tayeb — born in Luxor in Upper Egypt in 1946 — has been awarded the Dh1 million prize in appreciation of his tireless activities for the Arab and Islamic worlds.”

Dr Al Tayeb has a PhD in Islamic philosophy from the Paris-Sorbonne University, where he mastered the French language. His ancestors were Sufis and he has expressed support for a global Sufi league. Late in April 2013, Dr Al Tayeb won the Cultural Personality of the Year Award at the 7th edition of the Shaikh Zayed Book Award.

Bu Melha, who is also Advisor to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs, said the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar, who has worked here in the UAE University, was first appointed as the Grand Mufti of Egypt, then as President of Al Azhar University, and finally as Grand Imam of Al Azhar since 2010.

“Sheikh Al Tayeb, considered a major reference for Muslims worldwide, has always been promoting tolerance concepts of Islam and affirming peaceful coexistence among all nations.”

Bu Melha explained that Dr Al Tayeb has provided a variety of great services to all Muslim countries, including education and accommodation. “Some of the students educated at Al Azhar have gone on to become presidents and senior officials in their countries. I still remember when Al Azhar sent us a group of elite teachers who instructed us at the religious Institute in Dubai.”

Dr Al Tayeb will be specially flown in to receive the award during the concluding ceremony on Ramadan 20 (July 18) at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

Ahmed Al Zahid, Head of the Media Unit, said the award has a list of Muslim Arab and Non-Arab personalities. “The activities and services of the dignitaries listed are discussed, and a candidate is picked up either by agreement or voting.”

The first recipient of the Islamic Personality of the Year award was the late Sheikh Mohammed Metwally Al Shaarawy of Egypt in 1997, while the eminent Indian scholar Dr Zakir Naik won it last year.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com