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Professsor Mohammad Odaimah

King Faisal Prize in Islamic Studies 1983 Laureate

Topic: "Studies on the Holy Qur’an"

The word of the Quran is a definitive grammatical evidence; what isn’t in the Quran, we appeal from Arabs; similarly goes for Islamic laws

Nationality: Egypt
Born: January 15, 1910, Khabbatah, Tanta, Arab Republic of Egypt
Professor Mohammad Odaimah was awarded the prize for his prominent work in the field of Quranic studies represented in his book Dirasat Li Auslub Al-Quran Al-Kareem, which enriched the Quranic grammatical studies, in which he followed the the Holy Quran methodology, and the opinions of interpreters; he transitioned the study of Syntax and Grammar from limited instances to the broader field of the Quran; he simplified research methodology on researchers in this field, which made his book an authentic source for all grammatical issues.

 

After memorizing the Holy Qur’an and completing primary school education, Mohammad Odaimah joined Al-Azhar Institute in Tanta, graduating in 1930, then attended Al-Azhar College of Arabic Language in Cairo, graduating in 1934, and continued his higher studies obtaining a Certificate of Specialization (equivalent to M.A.) in 1940, and the High Aalimiyya Certificate (equivalent to Ph.D.) in 1943 from Al-Azhar.

In 1947, Professor Odaimah was seconded to teach in Makkah and then transferred to Jaghbub Oasis in Libya until 1969. In 1972, he was appointed a Professor of Quranic Studies at Imam Mohammed Bin Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he remained for the rest of his life. It was during his time in Makkah that he started working on his groundbreaking text Linguistic Style of the Quran. This mammoth book, consisting 11-volumes each comprising at least 600 pages, took 35 years to complete. It is a highly authoritative work and one of the greatest books ever written on the linguistic treasures and grammatical structure of the Holy Quran. It has benefited countless numbers of students and scholars in this field.

Professor Odaimah was awarded the First Class Medal of Arts and Sciences by the Arab Republic of Egypt.

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

  • Professor Mohammad Odaimah passed away in Cairo on January 1, 1984.

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