Tariq Abdelhaleem
Tariq Abdelhaleem | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1, 1948 Cairo, Egypt |
| Occupation(s) | Islamist scholar, cleric |
| Known for | Islamist scholarship, leadership of Dar al-Arqam Institution |
Tariq Abdelhaleem (طارق عبد الحليم; born 1 September 1948) is an Egyptian Islamist scholar and cleric residing in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He previously led the Dar al-Arqam Institution located there. Recognized by Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al-Qaeda, alongside figures such as Abu Qatada and Hani al-Sibai, Abdelhaleem is regarded as a scholarly authority by various jihadist factions, though he maintains no formal ties with them. Hailing from Cairo, his lineage includes prominent Islamic scholars, notably his maternal great-grandfather Salim al-Bishri, who once served as grand imam of Al-Azhar University.
Ideology and causes
Abdelhaleem has openly labeled liberals and secularists as "infidels," promoting violent means to incite clashes between Islamist groups and secular opponents. His publications have been disseminated by the jihadist fugitive Hani al-Siba'i, who has also defended him against critiques. Nevertheless, Abdelhaleem jointly condemned ISIS in a 2014 statement alongside al-Siba'i.
In the aftermath of the 2013 removal of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, Abdelhaleem issued a video urging violent jihad against Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, accusing him of favoring Christians and derogatorily referring to him as "a Jew." In the 19th issue of the Turkistan Islamic Party's periodical Islamic Turkistan, he identified Buddhists as adversaries of Turkistan and pinpointed areas including the Persian Gulf, Jordan, the Levant, and Egypt as internal threats to Islam. Meanwhile, he categorized regions such as the Caucasus, Chechnya, Afghanistan, and Turkistan itself as Muslim lands under occupation.
His impact on jihadi thought has sparked debate regarding Canada's role in permitting his presence and activities within its territory.
Works
- الأعمال الكاملة (The Complete Works) - An eight-volume series encompassing Islamic jurisprudence, its foundational principles, political Islam, and modern Arab political developments.
- الجواب المفيد في حكم جاهل التوحيد (The Beneficial Answer Regarding Ignorance of Tawheed) - Considered Abdelhaleem’s most significant work, this book explores how lack of knowledge affects various aspects of faith; it includes an introduction by former Saudi Grand Mufti Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baz.
- مفتاح الدخول إلى علم الأصول (The Key to the Science of the Principles of Jurisprudence) - A beginner’s guide to understanding jurisprudential principles.
- حقيقة الإيمان (The Essence of Faith) - A concise overview of Islamic belief grounded in traditional scholarship.
- دفاع عن الشريعة (Defence of the Shariah) - A justification of Sharia law and its advantages.
- مقالات في السياسة والشريعة والحياة (Words Regarding Politics, Sharia, and Life)
- دراسات في الفرق (Sect Series) - Multiple volumes analyzing doctrines and practices of various Islamic sects including Sufism, Mu'tazilism, Ash'arism, and Maturidism.
- المصلحة في الشريعة الإسلامية (Public Interest in Islamic Sharia)
- فتوى شيخ الإسلام في من بدل شرائع الإسلام (The Judgment of Ibn Taymiyyah Regarding Those Who Alter the Law of God) - A detailed examination of Ibn Taymiyyah’s stance on modifying divine law.