Sheikh Yusuf Qardhawi, an Egyptian now based in Qatar Islamic scholar. He is one of the prominent contemporary Muslim scholars who has a huge amount of books published in different languages all over the world.

Sheikh Yusuf Qardhawi was born in 1926 in a small village in Western Egypt. He memorized the Holly Qur'an at the age of 10.

In 1953 he graduated from the Department of Basics of Religion of the oldest and the most famous Islamic university Al-Azhar.

In 1954, Sheikh Al Qardhawi received his certificate on graduating from Arabic Language Department, when he won the first place among 500 students, after which he headed the Institute of Imams at the Waquf Ministry of Egypt(or Ministry of Religious Endowments). Afterwards Sheikh Al-Qardhawi worked at the Department of Islamic Culture at Al-Azhar University.

In 1961 Yusuf Qardhawi headed Religious Institute in capital of Qatar, Doha. In 1973 he established the Department of Islamic Research at the University of Qatar and was in charge of that Department. In the same year he brilliantly defended his doctoral dissertation entitled "Role of Zakat in the Solution of Social Problems".

In 1989 Sheikh Yusuf found the Research Center of Sunnah and Biography of the Prophet at the University of Qatar, which he is in charge of up till now. After founding the European Council on Fatwa and Research, headquartered in Dublin, Sheikh Al-Qardhawi has been in charge of that body since 1997.

Sheikh Yusuf is a great orator, publicist, prominent writer, poet, lawyer, and professional expert in various areas of Islamic sciences. Sheikh Yusuf Qardhawi is the author of over 80 fundamental monographs that are famous all around the world. Many of his books became real bestsellers of modern Islamic thought. They were published dozens of times and translated to many languages to reach out to the whole world.
Yusuf Qardhawi has the reputation of an Eminent Islamic preacher and scholar, who does not accept any extremes. Sheikh Yusuf follows Prophet Mohammad’s precept to stick to the principles of 'Ummah of the middle". In his views he combines the traditions and the modern times, while stressing on rational perception of goals and priorities of the Shariah (God's Commands) , which brings harmony between the invariability of Islam and changes that the modern era brings. Sheikh Al-Qardhawi draws inspiration from the history of Islam; he is coexisting with the present and looking into the future.

Sheikh Yusuf Qardhawi was among the Islamic scholars who affirmed that the struggle in Chechnya is indeed a Jihad (Fighting for the sake of Islam). However, it is clear for Muslims of Chechnya and for Muslims all over the world that their fight against the Russian aggressors is legitimate and rightful. But no doubt Fatwa of Sheikh Yusuf Qardhawi has huge psychological and political meaning. It is not only a reminder to the Muslim nations, oppressed by the Russian oppression, about their obligation, but it is also an alarm to the Muslims who are still looking for an excuse for their inaction and cowardice by futile debates on whether it is considered a Jihad in Chechnya or not.

However, Sheikh Al Qardhawi is against killing the innocents. He denounced the attacks against civilians in the U.S. during September 11th attacks, and called on Muslims all over the world to donate blood to the victims of the attack. He was quoted saying "Our hearts bleed for the attacks that has targeted the World Trade Center [WTC], as well as other institutions in the United States despite our strong oppositions to the American biased policy towards Israel on the military, political and economic fronts.

Among his views is that everyone has the freedom of choice. Allah The Most High does not restrict anyone in freedom of choice, however, everyone is responsible for his choice.

Find lesson from any occation