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Dr. Ghalib Al-Qurashi

PhD in Islamic Political Jurisprudence Former Minister of Endowments and Guidance Chair, Justice and Endowments Committee, House of Representatives (2003 – present)

A scholar of Islamic political jurisprudence (al-Siyasa al-Shar'iyya) and an academic at Sana'a University. He served as Yemen's Minister of Endowments and Guidance and as a member of the Consultative Council and the Shura Council, and was elected to the Yemeni House of Representatives for Constituency 16 in the Capital Secretariat, Sana'a, where he has chaired the Justice and Endowments Committee since 2003.

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An address by Dr. Ghalib Al-Qurashi

#فجر_اليمن (Dawn of Yemen)

His most recent video address, as Chair of the Justice and Endowments Committee of the House of Representatives, published on the Dr. Ghalib Al-Qurashi Forum's Facebook page. In Arabic.

Watch the reel on Facebook

Biography

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Early Life

He was born on 7 Ramadan 1365 AH (5 August 1946) in the village of Al-Hubari, Al-Hasiya sub-district, Shar'ab Al-Rawnah, in Taiz Governorate. His family sent him to the village Qur'an school (the “mi'lama”) at the age of three, where he learned to read and write and studied the Qur'an under his two maternal uncles, both educated in Zabid. He then worked alongside his father, herding sheep and farming, until the age of eighteen.

In 1964 (1384 AH) he set out for Makkah on a gruelling month-long journey through Aden, Ataq, the edges of the Empty Quarter, Najran and Taif. He had intended to find work; instead, fate led him to a life of learning. As he puts it: “Sometimes hardship gives birth to remarkable things in a person's life.”

His career has combined scholarship, university teaching and public service, in both the executive and the legislative branches.

Education

Makkah (1966–1972): Dar al-Hadith, then the Scientific Institute of the Holy Mosque founded by Sheikh Abdullah bin Humaid, through secondary school, graduating first in his class while also attending night school
Islamic University of Madinah (1972–1976): Bachelor's degree, College of Da'wah and Fundamentals of Religion
Higher Judicial Institute, Riyadh (1981): Master's in Islamic Political Jurisprudence, with first-class honours, thesis “The Political Firsts of Umar al-Faruq”
Higher Judicial Institute, Riyadh: PhD in Islamic Political Jurisprudence, with first-class honours, dissertation “The Firsts of Umar al-Faruq in Administration and the Judiciary”

Timeline

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1946 · 1365 AH

Born in the village of Al-Hubari, Shar'ab Al-Rawnah, Taiz Governorate.

1964 · 1384 AH

Emigrates to Makkah and enrols at Dar al-Hadith.

1966 · 1386 AH

Joins the Scientific Institute of the Holy Mosque, and runs Al-Fakhriyya School in Ajyad while still a student.

1972 · 1392 AH

Enrols at the Islamic University of Madinah, College of Da'wah and Fundamentals of Religion.

1981 · 1401 AH

Master's in Islamic Political Jurisprudence with first-class honours, Higher Judicial Institute, Riyadh.

1982 · 1402 AH

Editor of the Islamic page at Al-Madina newspaper.

1983 · 1403 AH

Editor at Al-Irshad magazine, Ministry of Endowments, until 1986, while completing his PhD.

1988 · 1408 AH

Faculty member at Sana'a University: Faculty of Arts, then the Faculty of Sharia and Law from 1992.

1993 · 1413 AH

Minister of Endowments and Guidance, until May 1997.

2003 · 1424 AH

Member of Parliament for Constituency 16, Capital Secretariat, and Chair of the Justice and Endowments Committee.

2012 · 1433 AH

President of the University of the Holy Qur'an; receives the International Award for Service to the Holy Qur'an.

Positions and Memberships

Chair, Justice and Endowments Committee, House of Representatives2003 – present
President, Dr. Ghalib Al-Qurashi Forum2013 – present
Member, Association of Yemeni Scholars1993 – present
Deputy Chair, Shura Council of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah)
President, University of the Holy Qur'an2012 – 2024
Chair, Sharia Committee, Tadhamon Bank2001 – 2022
Chair, Sharia Supervisory Board, Saba Bank's insurance company2001 – 2022
Chair, Local Shura Council, Capital Secretariatuntil 2013
Member, Legal Support Team of the Presidential Leadership Council2022
President, Charitable Society for Qur'an Education (head office)
Minister of Endowments and Guidance1993 – 1997
First Head of the Media Department, Islah1990 – 1993
Member, Preparatory Committee that founded Islah1990
Member, Shura Council2000
Member, Consultative Council1997

In His Words

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Selected from his interview on the programme “Siyar wa Mawaqif”, translated from Arabic. Each quote links to its moment in the interview.

Sometimes hardship gives birth to remarkable things in a person's life: in his path, his education, his patience, the endurance he gains. Comfort is not all there is to a good life.

Politics here does not mean politics in the modern sense of scheming, deception and cunning. It means what scholars of Islamic political jurisprudence define it as: caring for the public interest, upholding ethics, and understanding new realities.

Responsibility is a trust. I may not simply follow what the party says, nor what my own desires want, nor act out of ignorance.

In any profession, practice matters more than study: for the doctor, the engineer, the administrator and the journalist.

Partisanship exists even among scholars; those spared from it are the ones with true knowledge and faith.

My son, ask your father: when did he first ride in a car? He will tell you: after the revolution. When did he first see electricity? After the revolution.

On the impact of the 26 September Revolution

Every Yemeni has benefited from this country… This is a kindness and a generosity that must be neither overlooked nor denied.

On the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Achievements

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Dr. Ghalib Al-Qurashi receiving the award from Prince Khalid Al-Faisal

International honour

Best College for Qur'an Education in the Islamic World

He was honoured by HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Governor of the Makkah Region, as President of the University of the Holy Qur'an, after the university won the award for the best college for Qur'an education in the Islamic world.

Occasion: Fifth International Award Ceremony for Service to the Holy Qur'an
Organiser: International Organisation for Qur'an Memorisation, Muslim World League
Capacity: President of the University of the Holy Qur'an

1993 – 1997

At the Ministry of Endowments and Guidance

Created a third division in the ministry, the Investment Division, to grow endowment revenues alongside the Endowments and Guidance divisions.
Recovered more than a thousand endowment properties in Aden, Lahj and Abyan, using the British survey maps of 1953 and 1963.
Established endowment title to land in Taiz and leased it under binding contracts, with fifteen years' rent paid in advance to the endowments.
Grew the ministry's resources from about 150 million riyals to about 3 billion riyals.
Struck his own name from the annual bonus list, accepting only the regulated travel allowance.

As recounted in his interview on “Siyar wa Mawaqif”, Yemen TV.

2003 – present

In the House of Representatives

Opened a constituency office (Constituency 16) to receive citizens' requests and follow up their cases, the first initiative he carried out after his election.
Helped resolve complex cases, including homicide disputes, and helped qualified but overlooked people find employment.
Chairs the Justice and Endowments Committee and takes part in drafting legislation.

As recounted in “Siyar wa Mawaqif”.

2013 – present

The Dr. Ghalib Al-Qurashi Forum

An intellectual forum for dialogue that he founded and leads, holding regular seminars and discussions on public affairs. Its motto: “Difference of opinion unites the vision.”

The General Secretariat of the National Dialogue Conference invited the forum in April 2013 to present a working paper on endowments and their independence, covering their legislative and legal framework, an assessment of their current state, and a vision for an independent endowments authority.
Held the First National Symposium on Zakat under the patronage of the Prime Minister (July 2013).
Hosted ministers, ambassadors, journalists and academics in discussions on Yemen's issues.

What Others Say About the Forum

The forum's work contributes to building society, to political education, and to cultural and civic development in Yemen, pursuing the truth through scholarly, high-level dialogue.

Ambassador Abdulwahab Tawaf (translated from Arabic)

It's hard to think of a more interesting way to spend an afternoon than sitting in on the discussion at Dr. Ghaleb al-Qurshi's forum. The issues discussed are always timely, and the mix of guests is always interesting. As a foreign journalist, it's a privilege to be able to attend.

Adam Baron, journalist

The forum on Facebook

The Dr. Ghalib Al-Qurashi Forum

An intellectual forum for dialogue holding regular seminars and discussions on public affairs. Its motto: “Difference of opinion unites the vision.”

The forum on Facebook ↗

July 2013 · Sha'ban 1434 AH

First National Symposium on Zakat

Held by the forum in Sana'a on “Zakat and Its Economic and Social Role”, under the patronage of the Prime Minister.

Press coverage of a seminar at the Dr. Ghalib Al-Qurashi Forum

In the Media

Press coverage of a forum seminar hosting the Minister of Foreign Affairs, alongside many television interviews.

▶ Watch the interviews

Books

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Research and books on Islamic political jurisprudence, administration, the judiciary and Islamic economics. Titles are in Arabic; English translations are given for reference.

Three-volume work