• Name: El-Sheikh Muhammad Metwali Al-Shaarawi
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Muhammad Metwali Al-Shaarawi

Muhammad Metwali Al-Shaarawi (April 15, 1911 – June 17, 1998) was a prominent Egyptian religious scholar and former Minister of Awqaf. He is regarded as one of the most famous interpreters of the Quran in the 20th century, known for his simplified and accessible explanations, which allowed him to reach a wider audience of Muslims across the Arab world. He was affectionately called "Imam of the Preachers" and was renowned for his reflections on the Quran.

Early Life

Born in the village of Daqadus, in the Mīt Ghamr district of Egypt, on April 15, 1911, Al-Shaarawi memorized the Quran by the age of eleven. In 1922, he enrolled in the Al-Azhar Primary Institute in Zagazig, showcasing early talent in poetry and literature. He later pursued further education at Al-Azhar, where his father insisted he move to Cairo for higher studies, despite his initial reluctance.

Education

Al-Shaarawi attended the Arabic Language College in 1937 and was actively involved in the national movement against British occupation. He became the president of the student union in 1934 and delivered lectures at Al-Azhar, which led to his arrest several times.

Family

While still in high school, Al-Shaarawi married based on his father’s choice and had three sons—Sami, Abdul Rahim, and Ahmad—and two daughters, Fatima and Salha. He believed that a successful marriage is founded on mutual choice and love.

Professional Life

He graduated in 1940 and obtained his license to teach in 1943. Al-Shaarawi worked in various religious institutes in Egypt and later moved to Saudi Arabia in 1950 to teach at the University of Umm Al-Qura. Despite his specialization in Arabic, he excelled in teaching theology.

After political tensions in the region, he was prevented from returning to Saudi Arabia by President Gamal Abdel Nasser and was appointed director of the office of the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Hassan Ma'moun, in Cairo. He later served as the head of the Al-Azhar mission in Algeria.

During the 1967 Six-Day War, he famously expressed gratitude for the hardships Egypt faced, suggesting that the nation's trials preserved its faith.

In 1976, he was appointed Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and served until 1978. He was noted for establishing Egypt’s first Islamic bank, Bank Faisal.

Positions Held

• Teacher at the Al-Azhar Institute in Tanta, then Alexandria and Zagazig.
• Loaned to teach in Saudi Arabia in 1950.
• Deputy Director of Tanta Al-Azhar Institute in 1960.
• Director of Islamic Affairs at the Ministry of Awqaf in 1961.
• Inspector of Arabic Sciences at Al-Azhar in 1962.
• Director of the office of the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar in 1964.
• Head of the Al-Azhar mission in Algeria in 1966.
• Visiting professor at King Abdulaziz University in 1970.
• Head of the Graduate Studies Department at King Abdulaziz University in 1972.
• Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Egypt in 1976.
• Member of the Islamic Research Academy in 1980.
• Member of the Shura Council in 1980.

Despite offers for prominent positions in various Islamic countries, he chose to focus on Islamic advocacy. Al-Shaarawi remains a revered figure in Islamic scholarship and education.