“Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned” Al-Ankabut: 57.

“Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” Al-Baqara: 156.

The General Secretariat of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy received the news of the passing of the great scholar, historian, and academic, our father, H.E. Professor Abdul Wahab bin Ibrahim Abu Sulaiman, with hearts full of faith in Allah’s fate and destiny, comforted by the great rewards that the Almighty has reserved for the heirs of the prophets, who preached others with sincerity.

His Eminence has educated generations of scholars and contributed to the Islamic library with significant works and extensive research on jurisprudence and its origins, as well as in history and civilization. His Eminence introduced the Ummah to Makkah, its holy mosque, university, library (birthplace of the Prophet PBUH), Al-Salaam Gate, and the significance of Islam in human history. His Eminence also discussed the Haram Library’s contribution to the modern literary and scientific renaissance.

His Eminence was a founding member of IIFA and made notable contributions as a researcher, speaker, and rapporteur during its numerous sessions and seminars until his passing. I can attest that he consistently reminded us of the importance of Islamic heritage and its gems. His Eminence was always insisted that Islamic jurisprudence can keep up with modern developments and that collective Ijtihad should be used to manage calamities, rectify negative transformations, and rationalize reforms. In addition, His Eminence was such a generous companion, an honorable man, kind, modest, and a peacemaker, and his smile was never absent. His Eminence frequently renounced his opinion if he believed it to be at odds with the general consensus, and he always attempted to remain calm and approachable when debates raged, and directions diverged.

The International Islamic Fiqh Academy, its presidency, its Secretariat General, its members, and its experts mourn the deceased who passed away on Monday, 26th of the blessed Ramadan 1444, corresponding to Monday, April 17, 2023, and would like to extend its sincere condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his Crown Prince, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as well as to H.E. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al Sheikh, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and to the relatives of the deceased, his family, his students and the entire Ummah, asking Allah the Almighty to bestow upon him an abundance of His mercy, to cover him with His forgiveness and satisfaction, and to make his final resting place in the gardens of bliss in the presence of the Almighty Lord.

May Allah the Almighty have mercy on you, O’ Abu Anas, and reward you in our name, in the name of the Ummah and its scholars, as He has rewarded teachers on behalf of their students; and may Allah the Almighty unite you with your scholarly brethren who came before you, so that you live among the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous, and these are the best of companions.

On behalf of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy’s president, its members, and its experts.

Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano.

Secretary General

International Islamic Fiqh Academy