Draft:Abdul Quddoos Al-Azhari

Abdul Quddoos Al-Azhari (also spelled Azhari) (الازهري) is an Indian-born Sunni Islamic scholar, entrepreneur and Grand Mufti of Australia from April 2021 to April 2024. He is the founder of the Australian International Islamic College and The Qalam Group of Institutions.

He is currently the president of the Jamiyatu Ulama Australia.

He is proficient in English, Hindi, Arabic, Urdu, and Tamil.

Biography
Abdul Quddoos Azhari is a prominent figure in the landscape of Islamic scholarship and community leadership. He was born on February 18, 1953, in Periyapattinam, India.

Origins and Early Life
Abdul Quddoos Al-Azhari's obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Studies from Bakiyathus Salilath Arabic College in Vellore, N.A.D., in 1974, followed by a Master of Arts in Arabic and Islamic Studies from Darul Uloom University in Deoban, Delhi, India, in 1975.

Academic Pursuits and Scholarly Achievements
Abdul Quddoos Al-Azhari's academic journey led him to Al-Azhar University in Egypt, where he earned a Master of Arts in History, Culture, and Civilisation in 1977. Additionally, he obtained an Australian Graduate Diploma in Education from Northern Territory University and an ESL Degree from Massey University in New Zealand.

Pioneering Initiatives in Fiji and the Pacific Oceania
After completing his studies in Egypt, Abdul Quddoos Azhari embarked on a remarkable journey that would define his career. Following an application to a job fair at the Libyan embassy in Cairo, he was swiftly offered a position as the representative of World Islamic Call Society (WICS) by the Libyan Government in Fiji and the South Pacific. Azhari recalled, "I didn't even get the chance to return to my apartment; they wanted me to start so fast." His tenure in Fiji witnessed the establishment of the first Islamic Academy of the South Pacific in collaboration with the Fiji Muslim League, providing a beacon of educational excellence and spiritual guidance for generations to come.

The Ministry of Islamic Education and Services of the Libyan government entrusted Abdul Quddoos with the monumental task of spearheading mosque construction initiatives across the Pacific Oceania. He oversaw the construction of Masjids in a number of Pacific nation countries.

Architect of Islamic Education in Australia
Abdul Quddoos Azhari's arrival in Darwin played a pivotal role in organizing Muslim communities and establishing mosques, madrasas, and educational institutions across the Northern Territory.

He relocated to Brisbane in 1991, where he embarked on a mission to address the educational needs of the Muslim community for Islamic schooling. He establishment of the Darul Uloom Academy and Brisbane Muslim School, providing a holistic educational environment grounded in Islamic values and academic excellence.

His educational legacy came to fruition with the founding of the Australian International Islamic College (AIIC). With 5 campuses in Queensland and Northern Territory, the AIIC follows the Australian curriculum (ACARA), so it's all the same structure as any school with an added bonus of Islamic education and Arabic studies.

Champion of Interfaith Dialogue and Social Cohesion
As a founding member of the Multi-Faith Forum of Australia and the Multi-Faith Centre at Griffith University, he sought to cultivate an ethos of mutual respect, understanding, and collaboration among diverse religious communities.

Throughout his tenure as the Grand Mufti of Australia, Abdul Quddoos endeavored to bridge the divide between communities, fostering dialogue and reconciliation in the face of prevailing societal challenges. His unwavering advocacy for social justice, equality, and inclusion resonated deeply with individuals and organizations across the spectrum, earning him widespread admiration and respect.

Awards and recognition
In 2001 Abdul Quddoos was awarded the Centenary Medal by Prime Minister John Howard.

Honourary Award of Recognition by the Tamil Association Queensland.

Controversies

In March 2019, in a speech to people gathered in Brisbane to pay their respects to the victims of the Christchurch massacre he said "CONGRATULATIONS Mr Terrorist you lost, you failed, we won.”

In April 2021 Abdul Quddoos was elected as the Grand Mufti of Australia by AFIC, causing a row with the Australian National Imams council which had appointed its own Mufti. The controversy stems from the decision AFIC to reinstitute the position of Grand Mufti, created in 1988, after it was paused following Controversial statements made by the late Sheik Taj El-Din Hilaly. During the period where the position of Mufti was vacated, ANIC had decided to appoint its own Mufti for Australia.

One month into his election as Grand Mufti of Australia, at a Ramadan Iftar dinner organised in Sydney by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils AFIC, Abdul Quddoos gained the irk of the AFIC leadership by suggesting that ANIC is also a legitimate organisation in Australia and that there is nothing wrong with having competition among Muslim organisations.

On 7 May 2024, at the International Conference of Religious Leaders held in Kuala Lumpur, presided by the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Abdul Quddoos called for an intervention to stop the war in Gaza and said “The Genocide is happening before our eyes with the support of major world powers, we must continue to strive with all our efforts to stop the genocide and to bring about justice and reconciliation. I salute all the advocates of peace, especially his excellency Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his most courageous stand on this matter (of Gaza, especially in today’s speech and in his interview with German TV)."