Murad Wilfried Hofmann named Islamic personality of the year

[Al-khiyal]

Hofmann named Islamic personality of the year

Dubai, September 2, 2009 -- Dr. Murad Wilfried Hofmann was selected the Islamic Personality of the Year by Dubai International Holy Qur'an Award (DIHQA), which was announced on Tuesday during the Qur'an competition session. Dubai International Holy Qur'an Award annually honours an Islamic figure for their immense contributions to Islam; with this year’s 13th session granted to Dr. Hofmann. The Qur'an competition has 85 contestants from different countries competing for the top 10 placements.

According to Ebrahim Bu Melha, Chairman of the Dubai International Holy Qur'an Award, Dr. Hofmann was selected for his numerous contributions and publications about and for Islam and for his conversion to Islam. Dr. Hofmann is a prominent German diplomat and author of several books on Islam, including Journey to Makkah and Islam: The Alternative. Many of his books and essays focus on Islam's status in the West and, after September 11, in particular, in the United States. He is one of the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding.

Dr. Hofmann was born a Catholic, but converted to Islam in 1980. His conversion was met with some controversy due to his high profile in the German government. He converted to Islam as a result of what he witnessed in the Algerian War of Independence and his fondness for Islamic art. In his own writings Dr.Hofmann stated of his conversion and time in Algeria, "I witnessed the patience and resilience of the Algerian people in the face of extreme suffering, their overwhelming discipline during Ramadan, their confidence of victory, as well as their humanity amidst misery." He felt it was their religion that made them so, and therefore, he started studying their religious book – the Qur'an. "I have never stopped reading it, to this very day," he said.

[Al-khiyal]

Holy Qur'an is inexhaustible guidebook: German scholar

DUBAI, September 11, 2009 — The Holy Qur'an is an inexhaustible guidebook for all mankind, its miracles are endless and, it best suits all times and places, according to an ex-German diplomat here. “I never stop reading the Qur'an. I changed and my problems as well. However, I always find perfect answers in the Qur'an,” said Dr Murad Wilfried Hofmann, winner of the Islamic Personality prize, which is part of
the Dubai International Holy Qur'an Award. Hofmann then said that being selected as the Islamic Personality of the year is an honour to him and to all Muslims in Europe and the West. “It is a nice gesture to more than 30 million Muslims in Europe. Such a move proves that Muslims all over the world are one nation,” he said. Talking about his journey with Islam, Hofmann said he was first connected with Islam in Algeria where he held his first posting as a German ambassador. “I always wondered how the Algerians were so disciplined though they were suffering. I therefore, read
about their Holy Book, the Qur'an,”
he said. “I then got touched by the Islamic and Arab architecture in Spain and Tunisia, where I regularly go for vacation. It is an elevated art other than the cold Greek and Roman one.” For his son’s 18th birthday, Hofmann gave him a gift of 14 papers on which he wrote what he believed to be
true religion. When Hofmann later met a Muslim scholar named Mohammed Rasul and showed him a copy of the 14-page gift, he told him that he was a
Muslim if he truly believed in what
he wrote. In 1980, Hofmann reverted to Islam. He then wrote many books, book reviews and hundreds of articles about Islam in German. His Diary of a German Muslim was well received. Fifty copies of that book were even distributed to all German embassies in Muslim countries as instructed by the German Minister of Foreign Affairs. Retiring in 1994, Hofmann dedicated all his time in service of Islam. He gave hundreds of lectures in the U.S. and Europe. “I never said what I wanted. I always asked the audience what they want me to talk about. They better know about their countries and problems,” he said. Hofmann then said he has not changed his official name ‘Wilfried’ which means a man with a strong will but for peace. “My Turkish wife is the one who has chosen my Muslim nickname ‘Murad’,” he said. Hofmann then called upon Muslims to smartly call for Islam telling people what Islam is, not what it is not. “It is much better to talk about Islam and jazz, not about Islam and terrorism”, Hofmann said.