JEDDAH: The winner of the King Faisal International Prize 2017 for Islamic Studies, Prof. Ridwan Al-Sayyid, has underscored the importance of revisiting Islamic political thought and heritage in Islamic sources.
Al-Sayyid was giving a lecture on Islamic political thinking, organized by the general secretariat of the King Faisal International Prize at the King Faisal Foundation auditorium in Riyadh. The lecture was attended by senior academics, political experts and ambassadors.
Al-Sayyid won the prize, which this year was for Islamic political thought, for his contributions and thorough knowledge of Arabic-Islamic jurisprudence and political heritage based on modern research methodology.
The lecture reflected the general secretariat’s efforts to provide innovative platforms to exchange ideas with prominent scientists and researchers, and shed light on their achievements.
Al-Sayyid highlighted the obstacles encountered in Islamic political thinking, and said the main task of any nation is to manage the public affairs of its people.
He criticized the extreme doctrine adopted by Daesh, saying it is little different to that of the Shiite doctrine.
During his lecture, he pondered why the Muslim world has failed to establish a global scientific reference institution for Islamic studies and humanities.
He also expressed surprise that Arab universities have not expanded their capabilities to act as reference entities. This, he said, is leading to a reliance on British, American, and even Japanese and Chinese universities.
Al-Sayyid’s academic research is characterized by its accuracy and successful integration of traditional Islamic political thought and current Arabic-Islamic reality.
He has conducted multiple studies on Islamic political thought, including issues of governance, authority, state, society and nation.
King Faisal International Award winner urges review of Islamic political thought
King Faisal International Award winner urges review of Islamic political thought
Saudi Cabinet reviews cooperation and agreements with other nations
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs meeting and briefs ministers on his recent meeting with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
- Cooperative efforts includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air transport
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers reviewed a number of domestic and international matters during a session in Jeddah on Tuesday chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The crown prince briefed the Cabinet on his recent meeting with the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which included discussions about regional security and stability, the latest developments in the Middle East, and other topics of importance to the Arab and Islamic world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He also shared with ministers the contents of a letter he received from the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The council discussed progress in cooperative efforts involving Saudi Arabia and other countries including Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Estonia, Cuba and Kiribati, and approved a number of memorandums of understanding.
The cooperation includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air-transport services, the press agency said. Ministers also approved an agreement between the Saudi General Authority for Awqaf and its Omani counterpart relating to endowments.
They reviewed national initiatives, including one for the promotion of charitable work, and the enhancement of humanitarian and developmental efforts across the country.
A merger of the National Competitiveness Center with the Saudi Center for Economic Business to create a combined Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center was authorized.
