Bilal Philips facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bilal Philips |
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Philips in August 2010
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| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Born | Dennis Bradley Philips July 17, 1947 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Honors | The 500 Most Influential Muslims (2009–2022) |
Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips (born Dennis Bradley Philips on July 17, 1947) is a Jamaican-born Canadian Islamic teacher and author. He is best known as the founder of the International Open University. He currently lives in Qatar.
Philips is a follower of the Salafi movement, which teaches a traditional form of Islam. He has written, translated, or commented on more than 50 Islamic books. Many of these books are available online in different languages. He has also appeared on TV channels like Saudi TV, Islam Channel, and Peace TV.
Throughout his career, Philips has been a controversial figure. Some of his views have led to him being banned from entering several countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Denmark.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Bilal Philips was born in Kingston, Jamaica. His parents were both high school teachers. He was raised as a Christian. When he was 11, his family moved to Toronto, Canada.
In 1967, Philips began studying biochemistry at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. During his travels, he became interested in Islam. He was inspired by the book Islam, The Misunderstood Religion by Muhammad Qutb. He converted to Islam in 1972.
After converting, he decided to study Islam more deeply. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Islamic University of Madinah in 1979. He then received a master's degree in Islamic Theology from King Saud University in 1985. In 1993, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Wales.
Career as a Teacher and Scholar
Philips taught Islamic studies for many years in schools and universities. He worked at a school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and at the American University of Dubai. He also lectured at Ajman University (AU) in the United Arab Emirates.
In 2002, he started an Islamic Studies department at Preston University in Ajman. In 2007, he founded the Islamic Studies Academy in Qatar.
During the first Gulf War, Philips held religious meetings for U.S. soldiers in Saudi Arabia. He says that many soldiers converted to Islam during these meetings.
International Open University
In 2001, Philips founded the Islamic Online University in Qatar. It is now known as the International Open University. The university offers online degree courses in Islamic Studies and other subjects. It has hundreds of thousands of registered students from around the world.
His Views on Islam
Philips's teachings focus on a traditional understanding of Islam. He often talks about the importance of tawheed, which is the core Islamic belief in one God.
The Importance of Tawheed
In his book The Fundamentals of Tawheed, Philips explains that this belief is the foundation of Islam. He teaches that tawheed means more than just believing in one God. It also affects how a person lives their life.
For example, he teaches about predestination (qadar). This is the belief that God has already planned all events in a person's life. Because of this, a believer should not believe in good or bad luck charms.
Philips also teaches that Muslims should follow Shari'ah, or Islamic law. He believes that in many countries, governments use laws that are not based on Islam. He says it is important for Muslims to support the use of Shari'ah.
Family and Society
Philips has specific views on the roles of men and women in society. He teaches that men and women have different but complementary roles. He believes that men are meant to be leaders and providers for their families.
He also teaches that a wife's main duty is to care for her husband and home. Philips supports the practice of polygyny, where a man can have up to four wives. He has written a book explaining his views on this topic.
Influence and Legacy
Bilal Philips is considered a very influential Muslim figure. The publication The 500 Most Influential Muslims has listed him multiple times.
He is seen as a key person in spreading Salafi ideas, especially among African American Muslims. He and other scholars who studied in Saudi Arabia helped connect Muslims in the West with scholars in the Middle East.
Philips has created many books and videos about Islam. His work is written in simple language, making it easy for people new to Islam to understand. He has a large online following, with millions of followers on social media and many subscribers on his YouTube channel.
See also
- List of Da'ees
- List of Islamic studies scholars
- Dawah
- Islam in Canada
- Zakir Naik
- Muhammad bin Jamil Zeno
- Yusuf Estes
