A CELEBRATED Canadian Muslim scholar is scheduled to speak at an event organised by leading Muslim organisations here.The scholar Shaykh Faisal Hamid Abdur Razak is being hosted by the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) and the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman (GUSIA) in association with the Al Faisilliyah Fraternity (AFF).

The event is billed for this Wednesday from 18:30hrs (after Maghrib Prayers) at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex, West Coast Demerara.

According to Public Relations Officer Reyaz Hussein, the programme will also feature special recitations of Qaseedas and a Short Zikr; the programme coincides with the Annual Al Isra Wal Meraj, which marks the time Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad (SAS) was invited and taken bodily from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to the Heavens, in the nearest proximity to God Almighty.

Shaykh Faisal, who lives in Brampton, Canada, studied in Saudi Arabia, first at Umm al-Qurra University in Makkah, then at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah.

He also studied at York University, Toronto, Canada. He has received numerous Ijaazas (Certificates in Traditional Islamic Sciences), and his most important Ijaazas he received from Shaykh As-Sayyid Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim al-Yacoubi al-Hasani and Shaykh Muhammad Ibn `Alawi al-Maaliki al-Hasani. After completing his studies, he returned to Canada where he became actively involved in Islamic Da`wah and education.

He served as Imam / Khatib of several Masjids and Islamic Centres, including the Islamic Society of Peel, the Islamic Centre of Brampton, and the Toronto And Region Islamic Centre (TARIC).
Shaykh Faisal served on the Government of Canada Interfaith Committee, the Province of Ontario Multifaith Council, and the City of Brampton Multifaith Committee.

He is also the President of the Islamic Forum of Canada, President of the Ahlus Sunnah Council of Canada, Vice-President of the Islamic Council of Imams of Canada, Shaykhul Islam of the Anjuman Sunnatul Jamaat Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Murshid of Al Faisaliyyah Fraternity of Guyana and a member of the al-Shura Muslim Consultative Council of Canada.

He has lectured on a wide range of Islamic topics to gatherings in many countries including Canada,the U.S.A., England, Germany, Norway, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Syria, Guyana, Barbados, Suriname and Trinidad. He is widely recognised throughout the world as a foremost Sunni scholar.

Razak has to his credit more than 100 titles recorded on Audio and DVDs and is the author of many books on Islam.