- Muhammad Metwali Alsharawi
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Muhammad Mutawalli Ash-Sha'raawi Egyptian Islamic Scholar 
Recent image of deceased Ash-Sha'raawi.Full name Muhammad Mutawalli Ash-Shar'aawi Born April 5, 1915 Birthplace Egypt Died June 4, 1998 (aged 83) Place of death Egypt Religious beliefs Sunni Islam Muhammad Mutawalli Ash-Sha'raawi (Arabic: محمد متولي الشعراوي) (April 5, 1911– June 17, 1998) was an Islamic scholar and former Egyptian minister of Endowments. 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]
Contents
Birth and early life
Muhammad Mutawalli Ash-Sha'raawi was born on April 5, 1911, in the village of Dakados, Egypt. At the age of 11, he had completely memorised the Qur'aan and in 1916 he joined 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.
Mutawalli always had a strong desire to stay close to his family, to help them work their land, but his father insisted that he would attend Al-Azhar University.
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.
Career
After graduating in 1940, he went on to earn his teaching certification in 1943. He later graduated from the religious institution of Tanta (ar|طنطا،), 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. However, in 1963, the diplomatic relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia worsened and it became impossible for him to return to Arabia. Instead, he took the position of manager of the office of the Imam of Al-Azhar, Hasan al Ma'amoon. Later, he travelled to Algeria as a head of the Al-Azhar expedition, where he stayed 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 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.[2] The bank, Faisal Islamic Bank, was approved by the People's Assembly during that time.
In 1987, he was selected as a member of Arabic language Complex. In 1997, he boasted that he hadn't read any book besides the Qur'aan since 1943.[3]
Alsharawi was host of very popular Friday afternoon TV program preaching Islam.[1]
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 (religiously forbidden) on the grounds that `humans do not own their bodies`.[4]
Family
Ash-Sha'raawi got 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 he was blessed with three boys and two girls. 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.[5][6]
Works
Ash-Sha'raawi published many works that explore his interpretation of the Qur'aan. These works include:
- Israa and Mi'raaj
- Secrets of In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful [7]
- Islaam and modern thinking [7]
- Islaam and women, curriculum and religion [7]
- Prayers and Pillars Islaam [7]
- The Path to Allaah [7]
- Ruling ( Fataawaa)[7]
- Hundred Question and Answer in the Islaamic Fiqh [7]
- The woman as Allaah Desires [7]
- The Miracle of Qur'aan[7]
- This is Islaam[7]
Links
- Biography from Dubai International Holy Quran Award English
- Official website Arabic
- An extended biography on him Arabic
- An introduction about him on Biblioislam website English
- Some audio records of his lessons hosted at Islamweb website Arabic
References
- ^ a b c Osman, Tarek, Egypt on the Brink by Tarek Osman, Yale University Press, 2010, p.77
- ^ http://www.faisalbank.com.eg/FIB/About_0.jsp
- ^ Adel Darwish (19 June 1998). "Obituary: Shaiykh Mohammad Mutwalli Ash-Sha'raawi". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-sheikh-mohamed-mutwali-sharawi-1165880.html. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ Osman, Tarek, Egypt on the Brink by Tarek Osman, Yale University Press, 2010, p.78
- ^ "إمام الدعاة (مسلسل) – ويكيبيديا، الموسوعة الحرة" (in (Arabic)). Ar.wikipedia.org. http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A9_%28%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%29. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
- ^ 02:49 AM. "مسلسل إمام الدعاة كامل 30 حلقة وبجودة عاليه – برامج نت". Bramjnet.com. http://www.bramjnet.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=539501. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "اغتنم اكبر مكتبة كتب للشيح محمد متولى الشعراوى – الكتب الاكترونية وجميع برامجها – منتديات داماس". Damasgate.com. http://www.damasgate.com/vb/t73298/. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
Categories:- 1915 births
- 1998 deaths
- Muslim scholars
- Egyptian people
- Sunni Muslim scholars
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