Foreword by Dr Salah Eddine Namiq
Professor of Economics
Former Dean of the Faculty of Business
Administration,
Al-Azhar University
In the early 60’s. the Faculty of Business Administration
Al-Azhar University,
introduced for all its Bachelor of Arts programs a course on “Economic
Thought in Islam”. I have personally given much importance to the subject
from the time I began teaching it at this University in 1964 for two major
reasons first. this is a subject that is taught only at Al-Azhar and second,
this is indeed a new subject where economic theory and Islamic thought
blend in harmony to provide us with an Islamic culture of great importance.
As
a result of this economic dichotomy in Islam, I never believed that this
subject could be taught only by an Islamic jurist as was the case in the
early sixties. nor only by an economist who has no knowledge of Islamic
law. This is why I was very happy when I met Dr. Shawqi Al-Fanjari and
discovered that he was knowledgeable not only in economic theory. but in
Islamic thought as well. This is a harmony that was much needed both in
Egypt and the Islamic world in general. I then asked Dr. Al-Fanjari who
was then Counselor to the State Council to help by teaching this course
on Islamic economics. and he agreed with no hesitation. He has been teaching
this course at Al-Azhar University since 1968.
Dr. Al-Fanjari’s contribution was not limited to teaching. He supervised and
examined many M.A and Ph.D. theses on Islamic economics presented by students
at Al-Azhar during the last ten years. He has thus contributed a great
deal to the forming of a new generation of young researchers in the field.
Above all, Dr. Al-Fanjari has contributed by his presence and research
to all colloquia and seminars on economics in Islam both in Egypt and abroad.
His research on “Insurance in the Context of Islamic Law” has won the official
approval of the Government of Saudi Arabia, and instigated a Fatwa from
the Board of Senior Ulema in that country, (Fatwa n. 51 of 4/4/1397 A.H).
Finally, I am pleased and honored to present to the Moslem intelligentsia
Dr. Mohammad Shawki Al-Fanjari, the pioneer of Islamic thought in the Arab
world.
May Allah help us all in what is
good for Islam and the Moslems. Cairo, Ramadan 1398 A,H,, August
1978.
