Riyadh, December 16: In 2011, great and serious events took place in different parts of the globe that changed many concepts, systems, and even regimes. The Arab Spring, for instance, offered unprecedented opportunities for Arab peoples to live real freedom, democracy, and equality. Financial problems in various parts of the world greatly affected people’s lives and posed serious challenges before political leaders and systems.
To all these events and crises, Muslim scholars and muftis did react in different ways Some of them issued fatwas and juristic statements to offer solutions to the world overwhelming problems.
In the Arab revolutions, for example, some scholars encouraged protestors while others kept silent or forbade protests and supported ruling regimes. Few of the scholars and da`iyahs (Arabic for “callers to Islam”) are able to reach out to Muslim youth, and very few of those da`iyahs are really able to interact with them. It is really a rare characteristic nowadays to find a scholar, mufti, or da`iyah who not only talks to Muslim youth, but rather “walks the talk.”
Now, share your thoughts with your brothers and sisters:
Who is the most influential scholar, mufti, or da`iyah in 2001?
Who is your favorite scholar or mufti whose knowledge and views you trust and who you think is close to Muslim youth?
What is your criteria in choosing that scholar, mufti, or da`iyah to be scholar of the year?