Former Muslim World League Secretary-General Abdullah Omar Naseef Passes Away at 86

Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Abdullah Omar Naseef, former Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Deputy Chairman of the Saudi Shoura Council, passed away at the age of 86, leaving behind a distinguished legacy of scholarship, service, and leadership.

The funeral prayer was held on Sunday at Al-Juffali Mosque in Jeddah, followed by burial at Al-Asad Cemetery. Family members, colleagues, and members of the public attended the ceremony to pay their respects and honor his life of dedication to Islamic and humanitarian causes.

Faisal bin Muammar, Founding Secretary-General of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue, expressed his condolences on X, saying:
“My deepest condolences and sympathy on the passing of Abdullah Omar Naseef, who departed this life after a distinguished journey filled with scholarly and humanitarian contributions. We had the honor of working together on numerous occasions — in the National Dialogue, the World Scouting Organization, and other forums — where he was always a symbol of balance and wisdom, a model of noble character, and a man whose social and humanitarian legacy will be fondly remembered.”

Naseef held several prominent local and international positions, including President of King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Chairman of the International Islamic Relief Organization, President of the World Muslim Congress, and Secretary-General of the International Islamic Council for Dawah and Relief.

He was also active in the field of youth development and interfaith cooperation, serving on the World Scout Committee, leading the International Union of Muslim Scouts, and serving as a board member of the Saudi Arabian Scout Association.

Between 1983 and 1993, Naseef represented Saudi Arabia at numerous international conferences through the Muslim World League, promoting Islamic values, education, and dialogue among civilizations and religions. His tenure as Deputy Chairman of the Shoura Council was marked by his integrity, insight, and commitment to national development.

He was instrumental in establishing several educational and cultural institutions worldwide, including Dar Al-Islam in New Mexico, the Islamic College in Chicago, and the Islamic Academy in Cambridge. Naseef also served as Vice President of the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan, and chaired the boards of the Islamic Cultural Centers in Geneva and Sydney, the Institute for the History of Arabic and Islamic Sciences at the University of Frankfurt, the International Islamic University in Chittagong, Dar Al-Ihsan University in Bangladesh, and the Islamic University of Niger.

Naseef’s leadership extended to interfaith and humanitarian initiatives. He served as Vice President of the Saudi National Dialogue Committee for a decade, Secretary-General of the World Islamic Council for Dawah and Relief from 1998 to 2019, President of the International Union of Muslim Scouts, and Chairman of the Abdullah bin Omar Naseef Charitable Foundation.

In recognition of his contributions to Islam and education, Naseef was awarded the prestigious King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam in 1991.

Born in Jeddah in 1939, Abdullah Omar Naseef earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from King Saud University in 1964 and was later named a fellow of both the Geological Society of London and the Geological Society of America.

He is remembered as a visionary scholar, a global advocate for Islamic education, and a lifelong promoter of dialogue, peace, and understanding among nations.