Awn AlSharif Qasim was a prolific Sudanese writer, encyclopedist, a prominent scholar, a powerful community leader, a man of charity and one of Sudan's leading experts on Arabic language and literature.
He was a strong advocate of Arabic/Islamic culture and its interweaving with Sudanese culture. Qasim authored more than 70 books in the area of Islamic history and civilization.
Background
Professor Qasim was born in Sudan's ancient city Halfayat Almilook in 1933. His father immigrated to Sudan from Yemen in 1925 and settled in the city of Halfayat Almilook in Khartoum North and became a known religious figure in the area teaching and educating on Islamic sciences. Due to this background, Qasim was exposed to a heritage of Islamic and Arabic culture education since his early childhood that later on shaped his life.
Education
He graduated from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Khartoum in 1957. He earned his masters degree in 1960 majoring in Arabic and Islamic studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. In 1967, he earned his PhD from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Career
Qasim Served as a minister of religious affairs for 10 years (1971-1981) the longest period served by a minister in all Sudanese governments. During this period he demonstrated exceptional qualities as a leader and political religious figure and soon became one of the most popular and beloved ministers in Sudan's 1970s government for his strong work ethics, humbleness and honesty. He was able to connect with different religious groups and to promote ideas of peace and harmony among these groups. Qasim continued to write during this period and published dozens of books for the public.