Nuh Ali Salman al-Qudah (1939 – 19 December 2010) was a Jordanian Muslim scholar and the

Grand Mufti The Grand Mufti (also called Chief Mufti, State Mufti and Supreme Mufti) is the head of regional muftis, Islamic jurisconsults, of a state. The office originated in the early modern era in the Ottoman empire and has been later adopted in a num ...

of Jordan from 2007 to 2010.

Career

Qudah was born in Ain Jana in

Ajloun Ajloun ( ar, عجلون, ''‘Ajlūn''), also spelled Ajlun, is the capital town of the Ajloun Governorate, a hilly town in the north of Jordan, located 76 kilometers (around 47 miles) north west of Amman. It is noted for its impressive ruins of t ...

in 1939. He went to Syria in 1954 to study at Islamic schools and he obtained a degree from the College of Sacred Law at

Damascus University The University of Damascus ( ar, جَامِعَةُ دِمَشْقَ, ''Jāmi‘atu Dimashq'') is the largest and oldest university in Syria, located in the capital Damascus and has campuses in other Syrian cities. It was founded in 1923 through ...

in 1965. Upon his return to Jordan he joined the

Jordanian Armed Forces The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) ( ar, الْقُوَّاتُ الْمُسَلَّحَةُ الأرْدُنِية, romanized: ''Al-Quwwat Al-Musallaha Al-Urduniyya''), also referred to as the Arab Army ( ar, الْجَيْشُ الْعَرَبي ...

and became the mufti of the institution in 1972. He continued his studies in Egypt, and in 1980 he obtained a master's degree from

Al-Azhar University , image = جامعة_الأزهر_بالقاهرة.jpg , image_size = 250 , caption = Al-Azhar University portal , motto = , established = *970/972 first foundat ...

in Cairo. At the

Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) (), commonly known as Al-Imam University, is a public university in Baladiyah al-Shemal in northern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was founded in 1953. represented by the College of Sharia Sciences (n ...

Riyadh Riyadh (, ar, الرياض, 'ar-Riyāḍ, lit.: 'The Gardens' Najdi pronunciation: ), formerly known as Hajr al-Yamamah, is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the R ...

, Saudi Arabia, he obtained a doctorate in 1986. Apart from his religious capacities he also served as the Jordanian ambassador to

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

between 1996 and 2001. Qudah was appointed by royal decree as Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Jordan on 28 February 2007. In October 2007 he was one of the 138 Muslim signatories of the open letter

A Common Word Between Us and You "A Common Word between Us and You" is an open letter, from October 13, 2007, from Muslim to Christian leaders. It calls for peace between Muslims and Christians and tries to work for common ground and understanding between both religions, in lin ...

to Christian leaders calling for peace between the Muslim and Christian communities. He resigned on 23 February 2010 and was replaced by

Abdul Karim Khasawneh Abdul Karim Saleem Khasawneh (born 1944) is a Jordanian Muslim scholar who was Grand Mufti of Jordan between 23 February 2010 and 22 January 2017. Since then, he has been the chief Islamic justice. Career Khasawneh was born in 1944 in Irbid Gove ...

Death

On 19 December 2010 Qudah died and he was buried the same day. Thousands were reported to be present at his burial in Ras Munif,

Ajloun Governorate Ajloun Governorate (alternative spelling Ajlun Governorate) ( ar, محافظة عجلون) is one of the governorates of Jordan, located north of Amman the capital of Jordan. Ajloun Governorate has the fourth highest population density in Jordan ...

, and several politicians and leaders went to offer condolences to the tribe of Qudah. Visitors included

Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad (born 15 October 1966) is a Jordanian prince and a professor of philosophy. He is the son of Prince Muhammad bin Talal of Jordan and his first wife, Princess Firyal of Jordan, Princess Firyal. He is a grandson of King T ...

, Prime Minister

Samir Rifai Samir Zaid al-Rifai ( ar, سمير زيد الرفاعي) (born 1 July 1966) is a Jordanian politician who was the 38th Prime Minister of Jordan from 14 December 2009 to 9 February 2011. Early life and education Al-Rifai hails from a prominent ...

, House Speaker

Faisal al-Fayez Faisal Akef Al-Fayez ( ar, فيصل عاكف مثقال الفايز) (born 20 December 1952 in Amman) is a Jordanian politician who was the 34th Prime Minister of Jordan from 25 October 2003 to 6 March 2005. He took office following the resigna ...

, Interior Minister Saad Hayel Srour, and the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mashal Mohammad Al-Zaben. Shortly after his death the Shariah and Law faculty of the

World Islamic Sciences and Education University The World Islamic Science & Education University (The WISE University or W.I.S.E) (Arabic جامعة العلوم الإسلامية العالمية) is an Islamic university in Amman, Jordan that was established in 2008. It is accredited by th ...

in Amman was renamed after him. After Qudahs' death, Mohammad Qudah, his son and a former Minister, together with followers of Noah Qudah started the Sheikh Noah Rifadah Society. The organization seeks to alleviate poverty in Jordan.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Qudah, Noah Asharis Shafi'is People from Ajloun Jordanian Sunni Muslims Jordanian religious leaders Grand Muftis of Jordan Damascus University alumni Al-Azhar University alumni Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University alumni Jordanian military personnel Ambassadors of Jordan to Iran 21st-century Islamic religious leaders 1939 births 2010 deaths

Career

Death

See also

References