His Eminence Sheikh Ali Mohiuddin Al-Qaradaghi
President of the World Union of Muslim Scholars
Prof. Dr. Ali Mohieddin Ali Al-Qaradaghi is a scholar of jurisprudence and university professor, one of the most prominent scholars of contemporary Islamic jurisprudence, and an international authority in the jurisprudence of financial transactions and Islamic economics.
He participated in the establishment of the World Union of Muslim Scholars alongside a group of senior scholars of the nation, and has contributed since its inception to its scientific and intellectual leadership, holding pivotal positions in the Board of Trustees and the Executive Office, and chairing a number of specialized committees.
He combined authentic scientific training with in-depth academic study, graduated from senior scholars, obtained the highest scientific degrees from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif University, studied and headed scientific departments, participated as an expert in international jurisprudential councils, and was a member of fatwa and Sharia supervisory boards.
He has pioneering scientific contributions, writings and researches that have left a wide impact on issues of jurisprudence, economics and contemporary Islamic thought, in addition to his advocacy, relief and humanitarian efforts in serving the causes of the nation.
Chairman's Message
One of the most famous and widely circulated phrases is the German philosopher René Descartes: “I think, therefore I exist.” This may be true in two respects:
First: Considering the existence of a person in himself and with himself, as long as he thinks, he achieves his subjectivity and feels his personality and its existence.. This meaning does not add anything new, and does not give an existential meaning other than what is for all beings.
Second: Considering the active presence that influences the thinker, the thinker exists with his intellectual effectiveness and influence. This is the proper meaning of this phrase and its weight and fame.
But what about those who think and prolong their thoughts, but they have no trace of them or their thoughts in reality around them?! Is it considered to exist, or is it considered non-existent? Or is it in the ruling of the destitute?!
At a time when we find the media buzzing and crowded with news about politicians, actors, singers, coup d’etatists, athletes, and types of gays. We find many scientists, philosophers, and thinkers who are obsessed and marginalized, who do not know their thoughts, and who are not heard! I have often asked some contemporary scientists and philosophers: Is so-and-so dead, or is he still alive? I hardly find a correct answer, even among those who were their colleagues and students! These are the mouthpieces of their mouthpiece that says: I think, but I don’t exist anyway!
So why this strange and miserable reality for many scientists and intellectuals?
The answer is: because the media did not care about them, and its owners did not want them, and because they could not reserve a place for them in the crowd of the media, so they became as if they did not exist. What exists is in reality, but what exists in the media.
So today we can say: I’m present in the media, so I exist.
The occasion of this speech is this new media step of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, the step of launching a new or renewed website, which is intended to be a beacon for scholars and intellectuals, their ideas and jurisprudence, and to be at the level of the required competition, in order to perform the mission of the Union, and to achieve the actual presence of religious scholars, and the campaign of the flag of Sharia.
Media attention and media visibility of scientists and intellectuals, and their opinions, positions, activities and productions, is tantamount to reviving them and their status. Reviving the status and function of scholars is a life of religion, science and constructive good work. {And whoever revives it, it is as if he has revived all the people} [Al-Ma’idah 32].
Today, the media has become “alive and dead”; it may revive those who deserve to be revived, it may revive the trivial failures, it inflates the dwarves, and it dwarfs the flags. He may highlight and clarify the facts, distort them, or obliterate and kill them. He may adopt and spread falsehoods, embellish them and support them. The media is the one that creates and disseminates concepts, terms, ideas and theories, moods and desires.
Today, the media is the most powerful means and channels for preaching and spreading various calls and beliefs, what is good and what is corrupt.
For this reason, the World Union of Muslim Scholars seeks – and calls – to consolidate, expand and activate the presence of scholars and preachers in the media arena as much as possible.
Therefore, he is taking this step, hoping for the support and cooperation of all Islamic scholars, intellectuals and writers, and at the same time thanking the soldiers of the Mujahideen team, which is based on this website and on the communication platforms of the Union, including media, technicians and administrators.
Thanks to Allah to all, and accept from all amen, and “Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good” [at-Tawbah: 120].
