Fehmi Naji El-Imam AM

Order of Australia

The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...

  (born 1928) is the Grand Mufti

Grand Mufti

The title of Grand Mufti refers to the highest official of religious law in a Sunni or Ibadi Muslim country. The Grand Mufti issues legal opinions and edicts, fatwā, on interpretations of Islamic law for private clients or to assist judges in deciding cases...

 of Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. His predecessor, Taj El-Din Hilaly

Taj El-Din Hilaly

Sheikh Taj El-Din Hamid Hilaly , is an Imam of the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney and an Australian Sunni Muslim leader. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils appointed him Mufti of Australia in 1988. His name is alternatively spelt Tajeddin Hilaly, Hilali, Al-Hilaly, Taj el-Din al-Hilali, Aldin...

, retired on 10 June, 2007. He is secretary of the Victorian Board of Imams. Sheik Naji is currently the Grand Mufti and highest sunni leader in Australia, however there has been disputes whether the Mufti is a representative of whole Muslim community of Australia. The Mufti is not recognized as the highest Muslim leader by all Muslim denominations neither by all Sunni Muslims. Fehmi Naji El-Imam however has received wider support from the Muslim community than his predecessor had.

Biography

Born in Lebanon

Lebanon

Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

, he arrived in Australia in 1951. He is currently the Head Imam of Preston Mosque

Preston Mosque

The Preston Mosque is a mosque in Preston, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It is the seat of Australia's leading Muslim cleric, Sheik Fehmi Naji El-Imam...

 in Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

.

External links

• The Sheikh of Melbourne Transcript of ABC TV
  ABC Television
  ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
  
   programme (2001)