Professor Wael Hallaq, a distinguished scholar in Islamic Studies, was honoured with the King Faisal Prize for Islamic Studies 2024 in a ceremony held in Riyadh, marking the 46th edition of the prestigious prize.
Prof Wael Hallaq, a US national and the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University, was recognized for his groundbreaking contributions in guiding the development of Islamic legislation and challenging the traditional narrative of the closing of the gates of ijtihad, the process of interpreting Islamic texts. His pioneering work has reshaped accepted paradigms in the field of Islamic Studies and garnered global recognition.
Hallaq’s extensive scholarly output, which includes over 60 books and articles translated into numerous languages, underscores his profound influence in the realm of Sunni fiqh (jurisprudence) and beyond. His relentless advocacy against the notion of closed gates of ijtihad has earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost authorities in the field.
The King Faisal Prize, established in 1977, aims to honour individuals and institutions that have made distinguished contributions to various sciences and causes. Since its inception, the prize has recognized 295 laureates from 45 countries, encompassing diverse fields ranging from service to Islam to medicine and science.
In addition to Professor Wael Hallaq’s accolade, the Service to Islam prize was jointly awarded to the Japan Muslim Association and Dr. Mohammad Al-Sammak of Lebanon. Meanwhile, in the fields of medicine and science, Dr Jerry Roy Mendell and Dr Howard Yuan-Hao Chang, both US nationals, were honoured with the prestigious awards, respectively.
Each laureate of the King Faisal Prize is bestowed with a generous endowment of $200,000, along with a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams and a certificate commemorating their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
