SHEIKH ABDULLAH AL-NOURI

In continuation of our endeavor to chronicle the biographies of distinguished individuals from Kuwait’s first generation. These individuals have made significant contributions in the fields of knowledge, thought, and literature, leaving a lasting impact on their nation’s history. Today, we focus on the life story of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri may Allah have mercy on him, a prominent figure in education, jurisprudence, and literature. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri, who passed away more than 25 years ago, remains deeply remembered and respected by many Kuwaitis. Born in 1905 in Al-Zubair, he hailed from a renowned family known for their intellect, literary works, and religious devotion. He belonged to the Shammar Al-Qahtani tribe. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Nouri -may Allah have mercy on him- his father, played a crucial role in his education and upbringing.

During his early years, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri was raised by his loving grandmother. Under the tutelage of his father, he learned to read and write at an early age and completed the recitation of the Quran by the age of nine. To deepen his understanding of Hanbali jurisprudence, he studied under the guidance of Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalaf Al-Dhuhayan, a respected scholar and the mufti of Kuwait at the time. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri had a strong passion for knowledge and actively participated in scholarly gatherings and devoted himself to reading. As the Ottoman Empire’s influence declined in Iraq and Basra came under British occupation, he attended Turkish schools and later enrolled in private schools. In Baghdad, where his father worked as a teacher, Sheikh Abdullah continued his studies at a school in the Shuyukh market and excelled academically. Despite being selected for the Teachers’ College in Baghdad, he could not complete his studies there as his father chose to relocate to Kuwait. He then began his teaching career at Al-Ajeeri School in the Al-Qibla neighborhood, leaving a commendable mark in the field of education. Throughout his tenure as a teacher and while transitioning between schools like Al-Mubarakiah School and Al-Ahmediyah School, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri actively supported his less privileged students and catered to their requirements.

In the early years of 1926, he secured a position as a court clerk and steadily advanced to become the chief clerk. Eventually, he was personally chosen by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the head of the court, to serve as his secretary. Alongside his court duties, he voluntarily taught at the newly established religious institute for three years without any financial compensation. Recognized as a pious imam and an adept preacher, he led congregations in various mosques throughout Kuwait. Notably, he served as the imam of Abdullah Al-Othman Mosque, located in his residential area of Al-Qadisiyah, as well as Dasmaan Mosque, Bin Bahr Mosque, and others. His contributions to religious scholarship expanded further when he was appointed as a member of the fatwa committee in 1964. Throughout his life, he authored numerous books on preaching and guidance, leaving behind an extensive literary legacy. Among his notable works are “From the Strange Questions I Was Asked,” “Common Proverbs in Kuwait,” “Hadiths,” “Harvesting Flowers,” “A Month in the Hijaz,” and various other publications. Known for his eloquent writing style, his diverse writings encompassed not only jurisprudence but also his passion for documenting journeys, poetry, heritage, popular history, and proverbs.

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri is widely renowned for his significant contributions to Islamic jurisprudence. It is worth mentioning his close association with the late father Abdullah Al-Othman – may Allah have mercy on him – who played a key role in publishing one of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri’s esteemed books. Throughout his life until his passing in 1981, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri maintained his eminence as a distinguished figure in the realms of knowledge, jurisprudence, and literature. However, the brilliance of his contributions extends far beyond these domains. Even today, more than forty years after his demise, researchers, scholars, and academics from diverse fields continue to be captivated by his persona. To preserve his legacy, the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Society took on the commendable task of documenting his biography and reissuing his books as a non-profit initiative. Under the chairmanship of Mr. Hazem Al-Nouri, a committee was formed to compile his scattered writings and manuscripts. The publications were categorized into three types, with each group assigned a unique barcode as follows:

The all-encompassing compilation, known as the autobiography volume, consists of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri’s complete collection of writings, including manuscripts handwritten by the Sheikh himself. Additionally, there exists a selected collection that encompasses the autobiography volume along with a carefully chosen assortment of books from the complete collection.

In conclusion, let us offer our heartfelt prayers for the departed soul of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri, seeking mercy and forgiveness. Furthermore, I extend my sincere gratitude to Mr. Hazem Al-Nouri for his generous contribution to Sheikh Al-Nouri’s written works. Anticipating an upcoming article, we look forward to acquainting ourselves with another distinguished trailblazer among Kuwait’s esteemed pioneers.

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