Dr Omar Abdullah Naseef was a rare Saudi personality to be remembered for his approachability, forbearance, gentle manner and sincere commitment to Islamic causes. He belonged to a distinguished Hejazi family, with links to Hindustan on his maternal side. While studying for a PhD in Geology at the University of Leeds, he served as the President of its Islamic Society in 1968, and Vice-President of FOSIS (Federation of Students Islamic Societies) in 1969-1970. At the time, his presence at committee meetings was always noticeable because his mini would be in the car park – it was a time when barely any university students could afford a car!
On his return to Saudi Arabia, he was appointed rector of King Abdul Aziz University. In 1972 he led the Saudi delegation at the Pensee Islamique conference in Algiers. Under his patronage, the King Abdul Aziz University in Jedda attracted much talent from Britain and also offered a niche to experienced scholars facing difficulties in their own homelands. With the backing of some like minded colleagues in the Saudi power hierarchy, the University helped organise the first international Islamic Economics conference in 1976, and in 1977, the first World Conference on Muslim Education. He was later President of King Abdul Aziz University, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, 1983-1993 and Vice-President of the King’s Shura Council.
Abdullah Naseef was passionate in his support of the Scouts movement, which he had joined as a teenager in 1956. He was later Chief Scout, Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association. He became a member of the World Baden-Powell Fellowship in 1982 and the following year was awarded the Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting. He joined the WSF Board in 1990.
He was Secretary-General of the International Islamic Council for Dawa and Relief (IICDR). In his speech on receiving the King Faisal Award and Prize for Service to Islam in 1991, he noted, “the state of affairs of the Islamic Nation [. . .] has become more complex and demanding [. . .] This comes after suffering colonisation, tyranny and injustice and after experimenting with secular philosophies which turned them away from the path of Allah and caused them to become victims of poverty, ignorance, disease, disunity and division, notwithstanding the immense material and human resources that Allah has bestowed upon them.”
Abdullah Naseef championed Dr Farhan Nizami’s vision of establishing a centre for Islamic studies associated with the University of Oxford. At a speech welcoming the Prince of Wales’s visit in 2012, he provided much historical background to the circumstances of the founding of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS),
When I was Secretary General of the Rabita, Dr. Farhan Nizami came with a big ambitious project. Alhamdo lillah, it came through and it was a big dream for him and for us. It’s a blessing of Allah the Almighty. He had made it to come through. Maulana Hasan Nadwi came to visit Rabita, the first chairman and then met the Late King Fahd and told him about the centre that this is the centre in the heart of colleges in Oxford. Historically, it is very important and the Late King Fahd gave the support, Alhamdo Lillah
His other connection with Islamic scholarship in Britain was as an advisor of the Islamic Foundation, Markfield.
May Subhanahu Ta’ala raise his status, insha Allah. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun.
JS