The Story of The establishment Islamic University of al-Madinah al-Munawarah
The establishment of The establishment Islamic University of al-Madinah al-Munawarah :
Sheikh Muhammad bin Nasser Al-Aboudi was the first to join the The establishment Islamic University of al-Madinah al-Munawarah. He stayed for six months alone. This was in 1380 AH, during King Saud’s reign.
In a lecture at the Islamic University, he shared his memories. He talked about Islamic University of al-Madinah al-Munawarah’s start and his role. He said he was listening to the radio when he heard about the university’s plan.
The next day, he received a telegram from the Grand Mufti. It told him to hand over the institute and go to Riyadh. He thought it might be about Islamic University of al-Madinah al-Munawarah. So, he went to Riyadh and met the Grand Mufti.
The Grand Mufti told him about the university plan. King Saud wanted Sheikh Abdullah Khayyat as the director. He was to be assisted by Sheikh Al-Aboudi.
Sheikh Al-Aboudi was hosted at the Yamama Hotel in Riyadh. He was waiting for Sheikh Khayyat but he didn’t come. Sheikh Khayyat was the Imam of the Grand Mosque and didn’t want to leave Mecca.
Sheikh Al-Harkan was chosen to replace Sheikh Khayyat. He was known for his integrity. He stayed with Sheikh Al-Aboudi at the hotel. People in Jeddah sent many telegrams to the King asking him to stay.
Sheikh Al-Harkan also asked to stay in Jeddah. The King agreed. Sheikh Al-Aboudi was left alone at the hotel for two months.
As the academic year approached, a committee was formed. It included Sheikh Yusuf Yassin, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Muammar, and others. They drafted the university’s regulations.
The biggest disagreement was about the seats for Saudis. It was decided that Saudis could have no more than 20% of the seats. This was because Saudis already had two Sharia colleges in Riyadh and Mecca.
His Excellency talked about setting up a Supreme Advisory Council at the university. It would have twenty top scholars and Islamic leaders from the Muslim world. Names like Abu Al-Hasan Al-Nadwi and Al-Tahir bin Ashour were included.
He shared a funny moment when Ali Al-Tantawi joked about two Bahjats. One from Iraq and the other from Syria. This was during their first meeting.
King Saud and the Grand Mufti agreed on Islamic University of al-Madinah al-Munawarah’s leadership. Sheikh Ibn Ibrahim would be the president without pay. Sheikh Ibn Baz, the vice president, would earn 5,000 riyals. His Excellency Sheikh Al-Aboudi would get 3,000 riyals as Secretary-General.
The university started in Rabi’ al-Awwal 1381 AH. The council met every Thursday night. Sheikh Ibn Baz hosted dinner every night, often with dried meat.
Many doubted Islamic University of al-Madinah al-Munawarah’s success due to its inexperienced administration. But His Excellency Sheikh Al-Aboudi had experience. He was the director of the Buraidah Scientific Institute and had taught in colleges.
Choosing the university’s location was a big decision. His Excellency Sheikh Al-Aboudi worked with King Saud and Mr. Sulaiman bin Hamad Al-Shuwaileh. They decided to use the royal palace’s twenty houses.
His Excellency Sheikh Al-Aboudi shared stories from his travels. He visited almost every country in the world. His first trip was to Africa to learn about Muslims there.
He proposed sending a delegation to Africa. After King Saud’s approval, he led a three-month, seventeen-day mission. They visited eleven countries without major issues.
They found a big lack of knowledge about Muslims in Africa. His Excellency proposed sending fifty Islamic preachers. King Faisal agreed.
His Excellency Sheikh Al-Aboudi continued his work even after moving to the General Secretariat for Islamic Propagation. He focused on connecting with Muslims worldwide for 50 years.
He never traveled for fun. His trips were always for work. He explored nearby areas and wrote books about his travels, including to the North Pole.
He talked about seeing many wonders, like a place in the North Pole where the sun never goes down. He even prayed with locals while the sun was still up. The people there can choose how to measure day and night, or follow the Hanafi school’s rules.
Sheikh Al-Aboudi said he went as far south as Christchurch, where Muslims wanted a mosque. King Fahd helped build it. They felt close to the South Pole, saying “Allahu Akbar” often. He compared them to Fiji’s people, who say they’re closest to the West to say “Allahu Akbar.”
Extrapolated Links to Resources on the Subject:
- Medina Islamic Official Website:
https://iu.edu.sa
The official website has info on Islamic University of al-Madinah al-Munawarah’s history, mission, and programs. - Muslim World League (MWL):
https://www.themwl.org
The MWL helped start the Islamic University. Their website talks about their global work. - Biography of Sheikh Muhammad bin Nasser Al-Aboudi:
https://www.alukah.net
This site has Sheikh Al-Aboudi’s biography and his work in Islamic education. - King Saud University Archives:
https://ksu.edu.sa
The archives have documents on educational institutions during King Saud’s time. - Islamic History and Culture Resources:
https://www.islamicfinder.org
A great resource for Islamic history, including education. - Saudi Ministry of Education:
https://www.moe.gov.sa
The ministry’s website has info on Saudi Arabia’s education history, including theIslamic University of al-Madinah al-Munawarah. - Books by Sheikh Al-Aboudi:
https://www.goodreads.com
A list of Sheikh Al-Aboudi’s books, including his travel stories and education writings. - Historical Documents on King Saud’s Reign:
https://www.saudiaramcoworld.com
This site has insights into King Saud’s reign and his education contributions. - Islamic Educational Institutions Worldwide:
https://www.islamic-relief.org
Info on Islamic schools around the world and their impact.