Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday mourned the death of Emirati scholar Sheikh Mohammed Ali Sultan Al Olama, who passed away at the age of 104, leaving behind a legacy rich in knowledge, charitable deeds, and service to humanity.
On his X account, Sheikh Mohammed said: “Today we lost one of Dubai’s distinguished scholars ,Sheikh Mohammed Ali Sultan Al Olama. A mentor to hundreds of students and author of over 70 books on Islamic science, he also led numerous charitable projects. His majlis was a beacon of goodness, knowledge, and community interaction. May Allah rest his soul in eternal peace and grand his family patience and solace.”
Who is Sheikh Mohammed Ali Sultan Al Olama?
Born in 1920, Sheikh Mohammed Ali began his education in the kuttabs (type of elementary school in the Muslim world), memorising the Quran.
Under the tutelage of his father, Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Yusuf, he flourished, mastering both legal and Arabic sciences. His quest for knowledge took him further to India and Al Azhar University.
Following his father’s death in 1941, Sheikh Mohammed Ali succeeded him and continued his legacy at Al Rahmani school, founded by his father.
He became a mentor to hundreds of scholars and thousands of students who spread their knowledge worldwide.
Despite his busy teaching schedule, he dedicated each afternoon to engaging with people, resolving their issues, and answering their queries, making his majlis a hub of community activity.
Sheikh Mohammed Ali was also a fervent philanthropist, establishing numerous mosques, schools, colleges, hospitals, and Quran learning centres, and contributing to the development of infrastructure such as roads. His charitable projects exceeded 200 in number.
An accomplished author, he penned over seventy books, including notable works such as ‘Safwa Al ‘Irfan in Tafsir Al Quran’, ‘Commentary on Arbaeen Al Nawawiya’, ‘Ghayat Al Mamoul in the biography of Prophet’, ‘Commentary on Riyadh Al Salihin’, ‘Labab Al Labab’, among many more.
His contributions were recognised when he was awarded the Islamic Personality of the year at the 20th edition of Dubai International Holy Quran Award in Dubai.
