Celebrating Exceptional Achievements in Islamic Studies

University of Sharjah announced the winners of its third Excellence in Islamic Studies Award (2024-2025), with two scholars sharing the prize: Professor Dr. Mohammed Ouda Ahmed Al-Houri from Jordan and Professor Dr. Mohammed Sayed Ahmed Shehata from Egypt. The award recognizes outstanding research contributions in Islamic studies and represents a growing effort to advance scholarly work in the field.

The ceremony took place under the theme "Resolving Issues in Authentic Hadith Collections," sponsored by Al Maktoum College of Higher Education in Scotland. The event brought together key academic figures, including University of Sharjah Director Professor Dr. Essam Al-Din Ajami and Sultan Matar bin Dalmook Al-Ketbi, Chairman of the Holy Quran and Prophetic Sunnah Foundation in Sharjah.

The award ceremony followed traditional protocols, opening with the UAE national anthem and Quranic recitation. Beyond honoring the winners, the event recognized the award sponsors and the scientific committee responsible for evaluating the submitted research works.

This annual international prize operates through the University of Sharjah's College of Sharia and Islamic Studies. The award targets distinguished researchers whose peer-reviewed published work advances specific areas of Islamic scholarship. By focusing on rigorous academic standards, the program aims to elevate the quality of Islamic studies research globally.

The choice of theme - addressing interpretive challenges in the most authentic hadith collections - reflects the award's emphasis on tackling complex scholarly questions. This approach signals the university's commitment to supporting research that addresses real methodological issues in Islamic studies rather than purely theoretical work.

For the broader academic community, awards like this create incentives for high-quality research in Islamic studies. They also help establish the UAE as a serious player in Islamic scholarship, building on the country's broader strategy to become a regional knowledge hub.