Muhammad Metwali Alsharawi

Muhammad Mutawalli Ash-Sha'raawi
Egyptian Islamic Scholar

Recent image of deceased Ash-Sha'raawi.
Born April 5, 1911
Egypt
Died June 4, 1998(1998-06-04) (aged 87)
Egypt
Full name
Muhammad Mutawalli Ash-Shar'aawi
Religion Sunni Islam

Muhammad Mutawalli Ash-Sha'raawi (Arabic: محمد متولي الشعراوي‎‎) (April 5, 1911 – June 17, 1998) was an Islamic scholar, former Egyptian minister of Endowments and Muslim jurist. He has been called one of Egypt's most popular and successful Islamic preachers, and "one of the most-prominent symbols of popular Egyptian culture" in the decades of 1970, 80s and 90s.[1]

Birth and early life

Muhammad Mutawalli Ash-Sha'raawi was born on April 5, 1911, in the village of Dakadous village, Mit Ghamr, Ad Daqahliyah, Egypt. At the age of 11, he had completely memorised the Quran and in 1916 he joined a Zagazig elementary institution. In 1923, he earned his elementary certificate, joining the secondary institution afterward. During this time, his interest in poetry and literature had grown immensely and he went on to be elected leader of the Student Union at the institution due to his popularity and charisma.

A turning point in his life, when his father sent him, paying for his living expenses, to further his education in Al-Azhar, Cairo. Muhammad El-Shaarawy wanted to stay with his brothers to cultivate land. Trying to avoid going to Cairo he placed what seemed an impossible condition. The condition was for his father to buy him amounts of books in the heritage, language and Quran science. But his father caught on to that trick, and bought him all requested material, saying "I know my son that all of these books are not prescribed to you, but I preferred to buy in order to provide you the draws of the science."[2][3]


In 1937, he joined the College of Arabic Language and became active in the nationalist movement and Al-Azhar movement, participating in the anti-colonial rallies and related gatherings. He graduated from Faculty of Arabic language, Al-Azhar University in 1941.

Career

After graduating in 1940, he went on to earn his teaching certification in 1943. He later graduated from the religious institution of Tanta, before moving to another at Zagazig and then, finally, at Alexandria. In 1950, he moved to Saudi Arabia to work as professor of Sharee'ah in the University of Ummul-Quraa. In 1960, Institute of Tanta Azhary appointed him as the director of the Islamic Call. In 1961, the Ministry of Awqaf appointed him as inspector of Sciences. In 1963 he returned to Egypt and served as the Director of the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar.[4] However, the diplomatic relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia worsened and it became impossible for him to return to Saudi Arabia. Instead, he took the position of manager of the office of the Imam of Al-Azhar, Hasan al Ma'amoon. In 1966, he traveled to Algeria as the head of Al-Azhar Mission and remained for seven years. During his stay in Algeria, the war of June 1967 occurred and Egypt suffered tremendous losses to Israel. Ironically, Ash-Sha'raawi 'praised' the defeat, saying "Egypt did not gain victory while the hands of communism surrounds them and their religion remains uncorrupted." Later, he did get to return to teach at the King Abdul Azeez University in Saudi Arabia. In 1970, he was appointed a visiting professor at King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Sharia in Mecca, then President of the Department of Graduate Studies at King Abdul Aziz in 1972.

In November 1976, Mamdouh Salem, then Prime Minister, chose the members of his cabinet, among them was Ash-Sha'raawi, appointed Minister of Endowments until October 1978. During this time, he issued a law that helped establish the first Islamic bank in Egypt in 1979.[5] The bank, Faisal Islamic Bank, was approved by the People's Assembly during that time. Then he flew to Saudi Arabia where he taught at the University of King Abdul Aziz for only one year in 1981 .[4]

In 1987, he was selected as a member of Arabic language Complex. He was also nominated to become a member Arabic compound (immortal compound) after receiving a majority of votes.[4] In 1997, he boasted that he hadn't read any book besides the Qur'aan since 1943.[6]

Alsharawi was host of very popular Friday afternoon TV program preaching Islam.[1]

El-Shaarawy had a very widespread popularity which earned him the title of "The preacher of the century."[2] El-Shaarawy was exceptionally talented in explaining the meanings of the holy Quran.[2] His real talent was best shown when he explained in simple words the meaning behind the most difficult verses of the Qur'an.[2] He was also famous[2] for being the only non-Saudi to give the khutbah, or Islamic speech at Mount Arafat,[2] a mountain of central importance during the Hajj, or the Islamic pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

On reflection of his influence was the Egyptian parliament's repeated blocking of legislation permitting organ-transplant operations, after Alsharawi issued a Fatwā declaring such operations Haraam (sinful)(in case organs are sold and not just "donated") on the grounds that `humans do not own their bodies`.[7]

Family

He is a descendant of Ali ibn Abi Talib. Ash-Sha'raawi married at a relatively young age, the wish of his mother who also chose a wife for him. He complied with his mother's decision and had three boys and two girls.[2] The boys were named Sami, Abdur Raheem and Ahmad, the girls, Faatimah and Saalihah.

Death

On June 4, 1998, Ash-Sha'raawi died with little known about the details surrounding his death. Reportedly more than a million mourners packed Cairo's streets in a display of grief.[1]

Television

In 2003, a television series, Imam of the Missionaries, was produced by Egyptian television and aired on different networks. The series discussed the Ash-Sha'raawi's life in detail. The series was in four parts. The first focused on the young Ash-Sha'raawi's education, the second, as a young adult, the third, on his position as minister and the last part focused on the later years of his life.[8][9]

Works

Ash-Sha'raawi published many works in arabic that explore his interpretation of the Qur'aan. These works include:

  1. Biography from Dubai International Holy Quran Award English
  2. Official website Arabic
  3. An extended biography on him Arabic
  4. An introduction about him on Biblioislam website English
  5. Some audio records of his lessons hosted at Islamweb website Arabic

References

  1. 1 2 3 Osman, Tarek, Egypt on the Brink by Tarek Osman, Yale University Press, 2010, p.77
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 http://www.ahram.org.eg/MalafatOuter.aspx?typeid=33
  3. ↑ http://www.al-eman.com/monwat/Ozamaa/Shaarawy.asp
  4. 1 2 3 http://www.ahram.org.eg/269/2010/08/25/225/33/Malafat.aspx
  5. ↑ http://www.faisalbank.com.eg/FIB/About_0.jsp
  6. ↑ Adel Darwish (19 June 1998). "Obituary: Shaiykh Mohammad Mutwalli Ash-Sha'raawi". The Independent. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  7. ↑ Osman, Tarek, Egypt on the Brink by Tarek Osman, Yale University Press, 2010, p.78
  8. ↑ ar:إمام الدعاة (مسلسل) – ويكيبيديا، الموسوعة الحرة, Retrieved 2010-06-17
  9. ↑ "مسلسل إمام الدعاة كامل 30 حلقة وبجودة عاليه – برامج نت". Bramjnet.com. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "اغتنم اكبر مكتبة كتب للشيح محمد متولى الشعراوى – الكتب الاكترونية وجميع برامجها – منتديات داماس". Damasgate.com. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
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