KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Prominent Egyptian scholar Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Syahawi has advised that Islamic classical heritage (turath) must continue to be preserved, while new technology should be leveraged to document and sustain Islamic scholarly heritage.
This message was delivered when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited him at Nasyrul Quran, Putrajaya, this afternoon.
Anwar stated in a social media post that Sheikh Abdul Aziz reminded that the preservation of turath is a responsibility because these treasures serve as a bridge connecting today's generation to a long scholarly tradition.
"The distinctiveness of Al-Azhar, he said, lies among other things in the strength of its chain of narration (isnad) and the continuity of its scholarly tradition preserved across generations.
"At the same time, new technology should not be rejected, but instead utilised to document and sustain these treasures," said the Prime Minister.
Anwar added that Sheikh Abdul Aziz is a scholar born in Al-Mahallah Al-Kubra, Al-Gharbiyyah, Egypt, and is one of the leading Shafi'i scholars at Al-Azhar, as well as the Sheikh of the Sheikhs of the Imam Al-Shafi'i School and the Sheikh of the Shahawiyyah Burhamiyyah Order (Tariqah).
He is also a jurist (faqih) and teacher of Quranic recitation sciences (qiraat) at Al-Azhar Mosque who is devoted to the traditional method of studying classical texts face-to-face (talaqqi kitabul turath), possessing strong memorisation skills across various branches of religious knowledge, hadith, and Quranic recitation.
In the post, Anwar also quoted Imam al-Syafie's advice regarding dedication in seeking knowledge: "Whoever does not experience the hardship of learning even for a moment, will swallow the bitterness of ignorance for a lifetime."
The Prime Minister also prayed that Sheikh Abdul Aziz be granted health and well-being, a long life in blessings, and that the knowledge he has imparted become a continuous, flowing charity (amal jariah).
-- BERNAMA