KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has congratulated former Penang mufti Datuk Seri Hassan Ahmad, and the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) president Prof Dr Ali Muhyiddin Ali Al-Qaradaghi on being named recipients of the National Tokoh Maal Hijrah and International Tokoh Maal Hijrah 1446H/2024M awards, respectively.
In a Facebook post, the Prime Minister also expressed his deep gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, the King and Queen of Malaysia, for gracing the national-level Maal Hijrah celebration on Sunday (July 7).
Themed "Al-Falah Pemacu Malaysia Madani", the celebration was held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).
The Prime Minister also reflected on the meaning of "hijrah" (migration), highlighting that it requires significant sacrifice and struggle, which must begin with a change in one's soul and mind.
He emphasised that Allah SWT has placed the precondition of Taghyir al-Nufus (change of soul and mind) for transforming the nation's fate towards a skilled and civilised Malaysia.
"Behind the meaning of ‘hijrah’ (migration), there lies an implicit hope for the elevation of human dignity, the upholding of justice, the sovereignty of truth, the spread of prosperity, and the guaranteed safety of the people.
"This hope must be realised through the hard work and support of the people,” he said.
Hassan and Ali Muhyiddin both received a cash prize, a medal and a certificate.
The national-level recognition for Hassan, 82, is the second for the native of Kepala Batas, Penang, after being selected as the recipient of the National Maulidur Rasul 1433H/2012M Award.
Hassan, who served as the Penang mufti for 17 years from 1997, demonstrated exceptional leadership in overseeing the state’s religious affairs.
He also held the role of syariah advisor to multiple financial institutions, including Bank Negara Malaysia.
Graduated with a Master’s Degree in Usul Al-Fiqh from Al-Azhar University, Egypt, he has made significant contributions to education, serving as honorary advisor at Pusat Pengajian Darul Hadis in Penang, lecturer in the Faculty of Syariah at the Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya, and also as dean of the Faculty of Syariah and a Senate member of the same university.
The recipient of the Penang state-level Maal Hijrah 1436H/2014M Award has also made significant contributions in the field of writing, authoring books such as "Bai’al-Murabahah”, "Kepentingan Mencari Kekayaan Dalam Islam”, "Ruang Lingkup Ijtihad” and "Kesesuaian Islam Untuk Semua Keadaan”.
Meanwhile, Ali Muhyiddin, 75, better known as Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi, is a prominent figure in Islamic Economics, Islamic Banking, Maqasid Syariah, and Islamic Thought, with his knowledge recognised as a primary reference for numerous Islamic financial and banking institutions.
Born in Qaradagh, Iraq, he has earned widespread international acclaim from Russia, Turkey, Kuwait, Sudan, and Jordan for his outstanding contributions to various fields of Islamic education.
He has also published over 100 research papers and authored 59 books on various subjects.
In addition, Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi has held several significant positions, such as professor of Islamic Jurisprudence at Qatar University, vice-president of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, and member of the Academic Advisory Board of Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.– Bernama
