Yusuf al-Qaradawi

Yusuf ibn Abdullah al-Qaradawi (1926-2022 CE / 1345-1444 AH) was an Egyptian-born scholar who became one of the most widely known and prolific Islamic scholars of the contemporary era. Born in a village in the Nile Delta, he studied at al-Azhar and earned his doctorate from there. He later settled in Qatar, where he spent most of his professional life.

Al-Qaradawi authored over 120 books covering fiqh, theology, Quranic studies, economics, politics, and social issues. His most important work is al-Halal wal-Haram fil-Islam (The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam), which became one of the most widely read Islamic books of the 20th century. His Fiqh az-Zakah is a comprehensive study of Islamic alms-giving, and Fiqh al-Awlawiyyat (Jurisprudence of Priorities) proposes a methodology for prioritizing Islamic rulings. His tafsir, completed later in life, was also widely circulated. He advocated for what he called wasatiyyah (moderation and balance) in Islamic thought.

Al-Qaradawi served as chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars and was the founding chairman of the European Council for Fatwa and Research. He reached millions through his television program ash-Shari'ah wal-Hayah (Islamic Law and Life) on Al Jazeera. His approach to fiqh emphasized ease over hardship, engagement with modern realities, and the objectives of Islamic law (maqasid ash-shari'ah). He was both widely followed and controversially received, with traditional scholars sometimes questioning his more lenient positions. He passed away in Doha, Qatar.