PUTRAJAYA – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has highlighted the importance of preserving traditional Islamic scholarship and ensuring its transmission to future generations following a meeting with prominent Egyptian scholar Al-‘Allāmah Syeikh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz bin Ahmad al-Shihawi al-Husaini al-Asy‘ari al-Syafi‘i.
Anwar said he had the opportunity to meet the scholar at Nasyrul Quran in Putrajaya, describing the encounter as an opportunity to reflect on the importance of maintaining established traditions of Islamic learning.
Syeikh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz was born in al-Mahallah al-Kubra, al-Gharbiyyah, Egypt, and is associated with the Shafi‘i scholarly tradition at Al-Azhar.
He is also described as Sheikh of the Mashaikh of the Shafi‘i school and Sheikh of the Shahawiyyah Burhamiyyah Sufi order.
The scholar is a jurist and teacher of Quranic recitation, or qiraat, at Al-Azhar. His approach to learning includes the traditional practice of talaqqi, through which religious texts and knowledge are studied directly with qualified teachers.
Anwar also highlighted the scholar’s extensive knowledge of several branches of Islamic learning, including hadith and qiraat. He said the Sheikh’s ability to retain a wide range of religious knowledge was notable.
During their meeting, the scholar emphasised the responsibility of preserving turath, referring to the body of traditional Islamic scholarly works and knowledge transmitted through generations.
The discussion also touched on the distinctive role of Al-Azhar in maintaining established chains of scholarly transmission, commonly associated with isnad, as well as continuity in the teaching and study of religious knowledge.
According to Anwar, the Sheikh stressed that preserving traditional scholarship did not mean rejecting modern technology. Instead, technology could be used to document, organise and safeguard scholarly resources for future generations.
The approach reflects a balance between maintaining established methods of Islamic learning and making use of contemporary tools to preserve historical and scholarly materials.
Anwar’s remarks also drew attention to the continuing relevance of traditional scholarship in an era where religious information is increasingly accessible through digital platforms.
While technology can broaden access to knowledge, the preservation of established scholarly traditions remains important in maintaining context, transmission and intellectual continuity.
The Prime Minister recalled a well-known saying attributed to Imam al-Syafie on the demands of acquiring knowledge.
“Whoever does not feel the hardship of learning even for a moment, will swallow the bitterness of ignorance throughout his life.”
The saying underlines the discipline and sustained effort traditionally associated with the pursuit of knowledge.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to highlight the longstanding intellectual links associated with Al-Azhar and the Shafi‘i tradition.
For students and scholars of Islamic studies, traditional methods such as talaqqi and the preservation of scholarly chains remain significant components of religious education.
Anwar expressed his prayers for the Sheikh’s continued health and wellbeing, as well as a long life filled with blessings.
He also prayed that the knowledge imparted by the scholar would continue to benefit others and become an ongoing form of charity.
The meeting comes amid broader discussions about preserving traditional knowledge in an increasingly digital environment.
The use of technology to document and make scholarly materials accessible could complement, rather than replace, established methods of learning and transmission.
For Anwar, the encounter served as a reminder that the preservation of Islamic scholarly heritage requires both respect for established traditions and thoughtful use of modern tools to ensure that accumulated knowledge remains available to future generations.
