Dr.Abd Al-Rahman Humood Al-Sumait
King Faisal Prize in Service to Islam 1996 Laureate
Undoubtedly, most of the painful conditions upon Muslim communities, which are unwanted by Allah, are of our own making
Abdulrahman Al-Sumait studied medicine in Baghdad University, obtained a Diploma of Tropical Medicine from Liverpool University (U.K.), and specialized in internal medicine and gastroenterology in Montreal General Hospital in Canada. He also conducted research on hepatic malignancies in King’s College, London. He worked as a Consultant Gastroenterologist in Al-Sabbah Hospital in Kuwait for three years, then committed himself, full-time, to humanitarian activities. He was an Honorary Health Attache for the Kuwait embassy in Kenya.
Dr. Al-Sumait had been involved in Islamic charity since he was a student. In 1981, he founded the African Muslim Agency, currently known as Direct Aid Society, and serves as its Secretary General. The society provides extensive humanitarian assistance to impoverished Muslims throughout Africa.
Dr. Al-Sumait was the author of several books and the recipient of several prestigious awards.
In addition to his immense activities, Dr. Al-Sumait founded associations for Muslim physicians and students in the United States and Canada. In 1984, he established the Kuwaiti Islamic Relief Commission, which helped save the lives of 320,000 Muslims during the drought and famine that struck many parts of Africa that year.
This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.
- He was a recipient of many awards and honors including:
- First Class Sudanese Order in 1999.
- GCC Order for Scouting Services in 1999.
- Rashed Al-Nuaimi Award in 2001.
- Honorary Doctorate from Omdurman University in 2003.
- Benin Knight Order in 2004.
- Hamdan Bin Rashed Humanitarian and Medical Award in 2006.
- Al-Sharjah Award for Humanitarian and Volunteer Work in 2009.
- Knight Order from Al-Sharjah Governorate in 2010.
- Charity Work Award from Dar Al-Inma in 2010.
- Dr. Abdulrahman Humood Al-Sumait passed away in Kuwait on 15/8/2013.