His Eminence Dr. Noah bin Ali bin Salman Al-Qudah, a jurist of the Shafi’i school of thought, was known in the United Arab Emirates as one of the leading figures in both jurisprudence and intellectual thought. His prominence and stature rose among the scholars of Islamic affairs, endowments, Sharia judiciary, and faculties of Sharia and law in the UAE within a period not exceeding three years, which was the duration of his secondment to establish the Fatwa Center. During this time, he was a highly regarded authority in jurisprudence, fatwa, and university teaching methodologies, owing to his divine endowment of success, expertise, humility in accepting the truth, and unparalleled piety among his peers.

I had the honor of knowing him personally during academic discussions, where he consistently demonstrated a commitment to foundational scholarship and meticulous investigation. To me and to other researchers, he appeared as a wellspring of thought and profound insight, deeply rooted in respected principles of jurisprudence. It is no surprise, therefore, that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan would take pride in this distinguished scholar among its sons. The Jordanian monarch appointed him as the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom with the rank of Minister, even while he was still with us in his second home, the United Arab Emirates. There, he diligently fulfilled his duties in the Department of Fatwas at the Judiciary Department and collaborated with his fellow scholars at the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments. Together, they shared the responsibility of inviting others to Allah with wisdom and good counsel and contributed to organizing conferences, seminars, and Islamic studies.

He had no choice but to answer a call he neither sought nor aspired to. The United Arab Emirates bid him farewell with the respect and honor befitting a nation that values its scholars of Islamic law and celebrates their esteemed status. In recognition of his contributions, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE—may Allah preserve him—awarded him the Independence Order of the First Class. The decoration was conferred upon him by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

He was also bid farewell by the country’s dignitaries and scholars in a manner befitting his esteemed status among them. In our previous issue, we highlighted some of the notable expressions of honor and farewell extended to him. All that remains is for the editorial team of Manar Al-Islam magazine to extend our heartfelt congratulations to His Eminence and offer our prayers that Allah, The Exalted, will be his guide, supporter, and source of strength. Such a man only adds greater stature and credibility to the position he holds, by Allah’s grace.

To provide further insights, Manar Al-Islam magazine conducted an interview with His Eminence and the following conversation took place between him and the editor:

• *Who is Dr. Noah Al-Qudah?

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

I extend my gratitude to my brothers in the editorial team of Manar Al-Islam magazine for their sincere congratulations regarding the esteemed trust bestowed upon me by the leadership in both the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the brotherly United Arab Emirates. I consider the medal awarded to me by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates—may Allah preserve him—through the hands of his trustworthy Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as an honor not just for myself but for all my fellow scholars in both the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and the Judicial Department. I am but one of them.

I also consider the position I have been entrusted with in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to be an honor for all my fellow scholars who have committed themselves to the path of explaining Islamic rulings with authenticity and objectivity. Elevating the rank of the Mufti to that of a minister is placing matters in their rightful position, as a minister is someone who bears a responsibility on behalf of the ruler in one of the aspects of general governance. Explaining Islamic rulings is among the most significant of these responsibilities.

Therefore, I extend my gratitude to the leaders of both brotherly countries and seek Allah's assistance in bearing a responsibility for which I neither sought nor desired. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) promised divine assistance to those who take on public responsibilities without seeking them.

As for what you have asked about, I will answer as much as the occasion allows. I am, the humble servant of Allah, Noah (Nuh) Bin Sheikh Ali Bin Salman, from the Qudah clan in Jabal Ajloun, Jordan. I was born in 1939 in the village of Ain Jannah. My late father traveled to Damascus in 1927 and studied under the righteous scholar Sheikh Ali Al-Daqar, who established the Al-Ghurra Association in Damascus to promote Islamic knowledge during the time of French colonial rule in Syria. He, along with his students, was able to spread Islamic knowledge, particularly in Damascus, and more broadly in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.

My late father, may Allah have mercy on him, was a well-grounded scholar to whom the people of Jabal Ajloun would turn for Fatwas. He encouraged us to pursue Islamic knowledge. I traveled to Damascus in 1954 and joined the Institute of Islamic Sciences affiliated with the Al-Ghurra Association. In Damascus, I completed my preparatory and secondary religious education and graduated from the College of Sharia in Damascus in 1965. My brother, Sheikh Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, preceded me in seeking Islamic knowledge in Damascus, and my two brothers, Sheikh Hud and Sheikh Zakariya—may Allah extend their lives—followed me.

• What positions have you held in the Kingdom that have contributed to your understanding of life?

I joined the Jordanian Armed Forces in 1965 as a religious guide with the rank of First Lieutenant. In 1973, I became the Mufti of the Armed Forces, a position I held until 1992, during which I attained the rank of Major General. During this period, I earned a master’s degree in Comparative Jurisprudence from Al-Azhar University through a scholarship from 1977 to 1980. I later obtained a doctorate in Comparative Jurisprudence from Imam Muhammad Bin Saud University in Riyadh in 1986.

Then I was appointed as Chief Justice in 1992, a position I held for a year during which I closely examined the state of the judiciary in Sharia courts and worked towards improving it. I resigned from this position in 1993.

I taught at Yarmouk and Jerash Universities in the Faculties of Sharia for two years, during which I gained insight into the state of education in Sharia colleges. After that, I was appointed as the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Tehran from 1996 to 2001. During this time, I became acquainted with the nature of education in religious institutes in Iran, known as "Hawzas Ilmiyyah," as well as the organization of these Hawzas and the academic degrees they offer.

Then I moved to the United Arab Emirates from 2004 to 2007 to establish a Fatwa Authority there. During this time, I was appointed as the Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, starting from February 28, 2007, while I was still in the United Arab Emirates.

The transition through these scholarly positions was not planned by me but was ordained by The Lord of The Worlds. During this journey, I gained insight into the reality of the Muslim Ummah from various perspectives, which are only accessible to someone who has undertaken such an experience.

I realized early on that what the Muslim Ummah needs cannot be achieved by an individual or a group alone. The ultimate requirement for a Muslim, according to Sharia, is to do their utmost in serving their community. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear." [Al-Baqarah/286].

If every Muslim performs their duties in the best way they can within their area of expertise, the Ummah will achieve what it strives for. Otherwise, the good-doer has fulfilled their responsibility before Allah and will not be questioned about the condition of the Ummah thereafter.

One of the worst afflictions that the Muslim community (Ummah) faces is the disease of relying on others, where each person shifts responsibility to someone else and does not act. As a result, the Ummah remains powerless and backward, for a sum of zeroes is still zero in arithmetic. I have exerted my effort wherever I have gone, and I seek help from Allah. I have always and will continue to think well of every Muslim, counting their good deeds and overlooking their shortcomings, because no one but the prophets (PBUT) were perfect. Therefore, I have greeted Muslims with love and treated them with optimism, and I found in return love, cooperation, or at least courtesy. Life is a diminishing opportunity, and a Muslim must seize every moment in ways that benefit them with Allah, The Almighty.

• What tasks were you assigned to in the United Arab Emirates during the previous period?

I arrived in the United Arab Emirates on March 28, 2004, to establish a federal Fatwa Authority, to serve as a reference for the Fatwa House in all The Emirates of the state. I worked on that, and during this period, I responded to questions directed to me in writing, by phone, and orally. I also participated in preparing Friday sermons, taught in educational and jurisprudential study circles, and participated in television seminars (Program: 'And Remind').

As for the Fatwa Authority, it was not formed, and perhaps that is for the best. Being a guest, I did not inquire about the reason for that. However, the system for the authority was set, and the general idea about it was clear. I hope that the project will be implemented as it was originally planned.

During this period, which lasted three years, I had the privilege of meeting many people of knowledge and virtue who will never be forgotten, whether they were citizens of the good people of the UAE or expatriates residing on the blessed land of the UAE. I would like to particularly mention my brothers in the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and my brothers in the Sharia Judiciary Department.

• What are the typical responsibilities of the Grand Mufti in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan:

The Grand Mufti is considered the reference for people regarding religious matters they inquire about. If we remind ourselves that Islam encompasses all aspects of life, we can understand the magnitude of the burden that the Mufti shoulders. It is important to note that the Grand Mufti has alongside him a Fatwa Council, which convenes when necessary to clarify the Sharia ruling on the following matters:

Emerging issues, such as the ruling on organ transplantation.

Issues that affect the entire community, such as the ruling on limiting the number of pilgrims from each country due to the overcrowding during the Hajj season.

Issues referred by official bodies and institutions, such as the ruling on social security.

I participated in this council for many years when I was the Mufti of the Armed Forces. As for other matters, there is no restriction on scholars to clarify their rulings for the people, as imams, preachers, and professors in Sharia colleges are asked and provide answers (may Allah bless them all).

• What does Sheikh Noah, the Grand Mufti, want from the fatwa departments in the Islamic world?

In Islam, there is no distinction between an official mufti and a popular mufti. Every student of knowledge who has studied and understands Islamic rulings is capable of issuing fatwas on matters they know the ruling of when people ask. However, the establishment of official fatwa bodies is considered a matter of organizing the affairs of the community, so that citizens know who to ask when a specific issue or problem arises. I hope that the official fatwa bodies, if I may call them that, will cooperate and work together to unify fatwas on general matters. This is because Islam is one religion, and the Muslim Ummah is one. In the past, scholars would discuss and deliberate over the issues presented to them, and I hope that Allah, the Almighty, will grant us success in establishing a fatwa council for the Islamic world, or a national fatwa council for Muslim countries where daily life aspects are similar. And Allah is the One sought for assistance.

 

• ([*]) This article was published in issue (390), year (33).