Ahmed Kuftaro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ahmed Kuftaro |
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| أحمد كفتارو | |
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| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni Islam |
| School | Shafi'i |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | Syrian |
| Born | 1912 or 1915 Damascus, Syria, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 1 September 2004 Damascus, Syria |
| Spouse | Hawa Mili Sabah al-Jabri |
| Parents | Mohammed Amin Kuftaro |
| Relations | Asma Mahmoud Kuftaro (granddaughter) |
| Senior posting | |
| Title | Grand Mufti of Syria |
| Period in office | 4 November 1964 – 1 September 2004 |
| Predecessor | Muhammad Abu al-Yusr |
| Successor | Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun |
Ahmed Kuftaro (born December 1915 – died 1 September 2004) was a very important religious leader in Syria. He was known as the Grand Mufti of Syria. This means he was the highest official Sunni Muslim representative in the country. He was part of a special spiritual group called the Naqshbandi Sufi order.
Early Life and Family
Ahmed Kuftaro's family came from a village called Karma in Turkey. In 1878, his family moved to Damascus, the capital of Syria. They settled in a part of the city where many Kurdish people lived.
Ahmed's father was named Amin Kuftaro. He was also a religious scholar. Amin Kuftaro had a traditional education. He worked at the Sa'id Pasha mosque.
His Education
Ahmed Kuftaro's father wanted him to have a strong religious education. Ahmed studied important Islamic texts. These included the Quran, which is the holy book of Islam. He also studied Tafsir, which is the explanation of the Quran. He learned about Hadith, which are sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad.
Ahmed also studied Islamic jurisprudence. This is the study of Islamic law. He followed the Shafi'i school of thought, which is one of the main ways of understanding Islamic law. He learned from many wise Muslim scholars in Damascus.
His Career
In 1948, Ahmed Kuftaro started working as a mosque teacher. He taught in a town called Quneitra. In 1950, he moved back to Damascus.
Two years later, in 1952, he became a Mufti for the Shafi'i school of thought in Damascus. A Mufti is a religious scholar who gives advice and opinions on Islamic law. He also became a member of the Higher Ifta Council. This council helps guide religious matters in Syria.
Ahmed Kuftaro was also involved in Syrian politics. He supported the Syrian Baath Party in the 1950s.
Talking with Other Religions
Ahmed Kuftaro strongly believed in talking and understanding between different religions. This is called interreligious dialogue. He traveled to many countries to represent Syrian Islam. For example, in 1985, he visited the Pope in Rome.
He also signed something called the Amman Message. This was a statement that asked for tolerance and unity among Muslims around the world. It was issued in 2004 by King Abdullah II of Jordan.
See also
- Nuh al-Qudah
- List of Ash'aris and Maturidis
