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Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud received his education in Arabic language and Islamic studies under the tutelage of prominent Saudi scholars. As a young prince, he participated in his father’s efforts to unify the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, serving at one time as the Governor of Makkah, then as a Minister of Interior. He also led the Saudi delegation for negotiation of a border dispute with Yemen that successfully led to the conclusion of the Taif Agreement between the two countries in 1934.

During the reign of King Faisal, he was named Crown Prince and, following Faisal’s assassination in 1975, he became Saudi Arabia’s fourth monarch, reigning from 1975 to 1982. Not long after his accession, he launched the second Five Year Plan, which set in train much of the infrastructural development on which the future health and prosperity of the Kingdom was to depend.

King Khalid’s religious upbringing influenced his reign. He continued the tradition of his predecessors: modernizing his country without compromising its commitment to Islamic teachings. Under his leadership, the Kingdom developed at an exceptionally fast pace while remaining stable, secure, and adhering to Islamic values. He was a devout Muslim who strove relentlessly to promote Islam and encourage solidarity and cooperation among Muslim countries. He also fostered numerous philanthropic projects in Islamic countries and ardently supported Muslim minorities worldwide.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Dr. Natsir combined religious and public education. He received his first degree from the College of Education in Bandung and was subsequently awarded an honorary doctorate from the Islamic University in Jakarta. He worked as a teacher, an educator, and an administrator during the years of Dutch occupation of his country. In 1945, he joined anti-colonial efforts. He became a member of the Indonesian parliament, founded Masjumi (The Council of Muslim Associations of Indonesia) in 1946, and was a Minister of Information for four years. During his tenure, he vehemently opposed proposals to turn Indonesia into a confederacy and championed the unity of the republic.

Dr. Mohammad Natsir was not only a leading figure in the struggle against occupation in Indonesia, but also one of the leaders of the modern Islamic movement in that country.

In 1950, Natsir became Indonesia’s Prime Minister only to resign a year later following clashes with Indonesia’s Sukarno, who was heading towards autocratic rule. By the late 1950’s, Sukarno had banned Masyumi, and in 1961, he imprisoned Dr. Natsir and other leaders of the movement. They were released four years later by Suharto, who deposed Sukarno in a military coup. Following their release, Dr. Natsir and other leaders of the banned Masjumi, formed the Indonesian Supreme Council for the Islamic Daawa (invitation to join Islam) in Jakarta, and focused on public education, establishing mosques, assisting students and farmers, and promulgating Islam throughout Indonesia.

In 1967, he was selected a vice president of the International Islamic Conference held in Pakistan. He was a founding member and, at one time, a Vice-President of the Islamic World League. He published several articles and books, mostly dealing with questions of Islam and modern civilization, the foundations of Islamic government, Islam and World peace, and similar topics.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Abu Al-Hasan Al-Nadawi studied Hadith 1 and Tafseer 2 in addition to the Arabic, Persian, and English languages and Arabic literature. He founded the Indian Islamic Academy and dedicated his life to the teaching and propagation of Islam in India and other countries. He was a member of the Arabic language academies of Syria and Jordan, the Advisory Council of the Islamic University of Al-Madinat Al-Munawwarah (Saudi Arabia), the Association of Islamic Universities. He was also a founding member of the Islamic World League. He served as a professor of Hadith, Tafseer, Arabic Literature, and Logic in Dar Al-Ulum College in Aligarth, and traveled extensively throughout the Islamic World to promulgate the teachings of Islam. He was an invited speaker to many universities in India and the Arab world.

Al-Nadawi is regarded as one of the most significant Islamic thinkers of modern times. In addition to numerous articles and essays, he authored more than 50 books on Islam or Islamic topics in Urdu, Arabic (16 books), Persian, and English. Among his most famous books are Islam and the World, Muslims in India, Saviors of the Islamic Spirit, and Biography of Sayyid Uthman Ahmad Al-Shahid. He also wrote many books for Muslim children in India, explaining Islam and emphasizing its values.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.

Abu Ala’a Al-Mowdoodi received home education before moving to formal education. However, his undergraduate studies in Dar Al-Uloom, Hyderabad, were disrupted by the death of his father, and he moved on to journalism for a living, while continuing his self-education. At the age of 17, he wrote his magnum opus, Tarjuman al-Quran, a coveted series providing brief but powerful commentary of the Holy Qur’an in Urdu. This was followed by a series of copious publications, including Mabadi’ al-Islam (Principles of Islam), which was translated to numerous  languages, and Tafhim al-Quran (The Meaning of the Qur’an) in which he tried to simplify the meanings of the Qur’an in order to bring it closer to the understanding of ordinary  people. Of particular significance is his book Islamic Law and Constitution which embodied his views on the doctrine and philosophy of Islam and the divinity of Islamic laws. He was the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami in India, a religious political movement to promote Islamic values and principles. It is currently the oldest religious party in Pakistan. His political struggle led to his imprisonment several times. In 1953, he was sentenced to death, but overwhelming public pressure forced the government to commute his sentence to life imprisonment and eventually to release him.

Sayyid Abul Ala’a Al-Mowdoodi was a renowned Pakistani journalist, theologist, and promulgator of Islam throughout the Indian subcontinent.

Al-Mowdoodi is regarded as one of the most influential Islamic philosophers of the 20th century. His life and thought have been researched by Muslim and non-Muslim scholars worldwide. His vast knowledge and prolific writings inspired many Muslims to adhere to the spirit and values of Islam.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.