H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, along with a group of scholars in humanities and social sciences from the Muslim world, won the Doha Arabic Book Award in its first founding session on Sunday evening, 22 Sha’ban 1445, corresponding to 3 March 2024, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Doha, Qatar.

Dr. Abdul Wahed Alami, Executive Director of the Doha Arabic Book Award, delivered a speech at the ceremony’s opening in which he said: “The Award aims to recognize researchers’ efforts and acknowledge their scientific and intellectual achievements. The mission of the Award is to contribute to the enrichment of the Arab library by encouraging individuals and institutions to present the best knowledge production in the social sciences and humanities, honoring genuine studies, spreading them, and recognizing the efforts of their authors, as well as supporting leading publishing houses to improve the quality of the Arabic book in form and content”

Dr. Al-Alami also stressed that “the Award is based on the wise policy of the State of Qatar, which has recognized the importance of knowledge and culture and honoring science and scientists.” He added: “In its inaugural session in 2024, the award chose to honor ten winners, including experts in the humanities and religious sciences who have enriched the Arab literature with their works and studies.”
Dr. Hassan Al-Nama, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, addressed the ceremony on behalf of the patron of the Award, His Highness Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. May Allah bless him. He expressed his hope that the Award will provide book lovers with access to creative spaces, restore the book’s status, and help the Arab nation catch up with civilization. He added: “Let’s give the new award a chance to promote intellectual values and culture, and the State of Qatar created this award to contribute to humanity and promote noble values.” He also expressed his hope that the Award will offer book lovers spaces for creativity, reading, and helping the Arab world catch up with the league of nations.

On her part, Prof. Faihaa Abdulhadi, Director of Al-Rawa Studies and Research Center, delivered a speech on behalf of the honorees of the Award in its inaugural session, in which she expressed winners’ honor for receiving the Award in its inaugural session, which represents a cultural and intellectual achievement at a time when we need to hold on to our culture and identity because culture is the primary means that enables us to stand against cultural appropriation.

The ceremony concluded with Dr. Hassan Al-Naima handing over the award shields to the winners one by one.

It is worth mentioning that the winners of the Award in this inaugural session are ten authors whose works are characterized by ingenuity, innovation, and creativity in their fields of specialization, in alphabetical order: Prof. Ayman Fouad Sayed (Arab Republic of Egypt), Prof. Gerard Gehami (Lebanese Republic), Prof. Saad Al-Bazai (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Prof. Taha Abdel Rahman (Kingdom of Morocco), Prof. Ghanem Kaddouri Al-Hamad (Republic of Iraq), Prof. Faiha Abdel Hadi (State of Palestine), Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano (Republic of Guinea), Prof. Mohamed Abu Musa (Arab Republic of Egypt), Prof. Mustafa Aqil Al-Khatib (State of Qatar), and Prof. Nacer Eddin Saidouni (Democratic People Republic of Algeria).