Prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, the president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), has won Malaysia’s prestigious “Hijra of the Prophet” award. Qaradawi will be given the award by Malaysian King Mizan Zainal Abidin in a ceremony on the first day of the new hijri year which falls on December 18.
He will deliver a speech during the event, to be attended by ministers, statesmen and public figures, on the mission of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless and greet him).
The prominent scholar will also deliver a series of lectures and meet members of the National Council of Muftis as well as Malaysian intellectuals. The award comes in recognition of Qaradawi’s extensive knowledge and selfless contribution to serve Islam and Muslims, the development of Islamic culture for the benefit of the Ummah. The Malaysian award is the eighth international prize given to Sheikh Qaradawi for his scholarly contributions.
The “Hijra of the Prophet” award was initiated by the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development in 1987. It is granted to Muslim figures on the first day of the hijri year in recognition of their contributions to serve Islam. Leading among previous winners were Egyptian scholar Sheikh Mohamed Idris Al-Marbouy, Indonesian scholar and former religious affairs minister Haj Manour Shazali and Syrian scholar Wahba Al-Zuheili.