08/10/2026
𝗔𝗹-𝗔𝘇𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗶 𝗨𝗞 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗲-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗸𝗵 𝗗𝗿 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗨𝗺𝗮𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗹-𝗔𝘇𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆
Shaykh Professor Dr Ahmad Umar Hashim, former President of Al-Azhar University and Member of the Council of Senior Scholars of Al-Azhar, passed away last year, aged 84, on Tuesday 7 October, 2025. Dr Ahmad Umar Hashim spent his entire life in the study and teaching of knowledge and calling people to Allah Almighty. Shaykh Umar Hashim is one of the most celebrated and prominent scholars of Al-Azhar in modern times, an established and reliable hadith scholar, credible memoriser of hadith, eloquent orator, and scholarly educator.
Following the passing away of Shaykh Umar Hashim, in October 2025, the President of Al-Azhar Alumni UK, Bakhtyar H Pirzada, travelled to Egypt, to pay his respects at the Shaykh’s resting place in Banu Amir, in the Zagazig district of al-Sharqiyyah, where it houses the Hashemite Courtyard. He was warmly received by members of the Hashimi family and meaningful discussions were held regarding Shaykh Umar Hashim’s life, legacy and his enduring connection with Al-Azhar Alumni UK.
Shaykh Umar Hashim developed a unique relationship with the Patron of Al-Azhar Alumni UK, Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada and the British institution of Jamia Al-Karam. He was the first senior scholar of Al-Azhar to visit Jamia Al-Karam at its historic campus of Eaton Hall in Retford, Nottinghamshire, in 2001, as the sitting President of the university, delivering the keynote address at the annual conference. He awarded Shaykh Pirzada the Al-Azhar’s ‘Shield of Excellence Award’ and granted him ‘ijazah’ (licence of transmission) of the ‘Sahih’ of Imam al-Bukhari, well before Shaykh Pirzada contemplated writing his commentary, ‘Bukhari: The Sublime Tradition’.
Al-Azhar Alumni UK and its members extend heartfelt prayers to the wider Hashimi family, students and acquaintances of Shaykh Umar Hashim. May Allah Almighty raise his ranks, envelope him in His mercy and may He accept his lifelong service to Islam. Amin.