Iranian academic hails late Ahmed Omar Hashem as leading thinker of modern Islamic scholarship
The late Ahmed Omar Hashem was one of the most prominent figures of contemporary Islamic thought and a model of moderation, interfaith rapprochement, and character development, an academic said.
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An Iranian lecturer has described the late Ahmed Omar Hashem, former professor at Al-Azhar University, as a leading thinker of modern Islamic scholarship and an exemplar of moderation and efforts to promote understanding among Islamic schools of thought.
Speaking at a commemorative ceremony held at the University of Islamic Denominations in Tehran on Sunday morning, Mahmoud Veisi called the late Egyptian scholar as a leading thinker of modern Islamic scholarship and an exemplar of moderation and efforts to promote understanding among Islamic schools of thought, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).
Participants at the ceremony, while paying tribute to more than 120 of scholarly and religious works by late Ahmed Omar Hashem, highlighted his ethical and spiritual teachings, particularly his emphasis on good intentions and positive assumptions about others.
He said at the event honoring the late Ahmed Omar Hashem, former president of Al-Azhar University, that a key question was how Hashem came to be recognized as a scholar of rapprochement, moderation, and balance, as well as a role model in avoiding extremism in both speech and writing.
He noted that Hashem’s works and teachings—especially his book, Islam and Character Building, clearly reflect his approach to cultivating these qualities.
Veisi added that in stressing character development, rapprochement, and moderation, the late scholar focused on two fundamental principles: good intention and positive presumption. He quoted the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as saying that having positive assumptions is part of faith in God Almighty.
According to the professor, these two principles constitute essential prerequisites for achieving genuine and practical rapprochement among individuals and Islamic schools of thought, noting that without correcting misconceptions and avoiding suspicion, meaningful progress toward dialogue and constructive interaction is not possible.
In conclusion, Veisi said that honoring the memory of Ahmed Omar Hashem goes beyond paying tribute to a scholarly figure, underscoring instead the importance of moderation, ethics, and dialogue among Islamic denominations, and reflecting the enduring scholarly and moral stature of the late scholar in the Islamic world.
