When looking for a way to commemorate the memory of their father, King Faisal, his sons decided on an Islamic waqf — an endowment that would symbolize their belief in continuous and beneficial work. In 1976, they established the King Faisal Foundation as an innovative philanthropic organization. It is not limited to charitable work but has gone further in investing in what guarantees its continued existence.
So many organizations that tried to extend a helping hand faltered; lack of self-sufficiency was their downfall. But the King Faisal Foundation’s investment activities were consolidated to include hotels, commercial centers, manufacturing companies and travel agencies, whose profits are plowed back into charity projects. This ensures that the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies continues to thrive, that the scholarships for higher education (which now number 73 students, male and female, of various races and religions) continue and that the various regions of Africa, Asia, Europe and even America are not deprived of the 160-plus charity projects.
The foundation has become inextricably linked to the King Faisal Award, which would have been worthy of detailed reporting considering that it has become the most high-profile of the foundation’s philanthropic project. Begun in 1977 following a decision by the board of trustees, the first award was presented in 1979 in three categories, Arabic literature, Islamic studies, and service to Islam, to be followed by medicine and sciences in 1981.
Given that 10 of the King Faisal laureates in physics, chemistry and biology within the year went on to win Nobel Prizes, it is no exaggeration to say that it is as if the Nobel Prize judges look to King Faisal Award choices when announcing the names of their own candidates. Suffice it to say that the Canadian journal Knowledge and Invention had this to say: “This prize paves the way for the Nobel Prize.” In its 26 years it has been able to bridge the 103-year gap between it and the Nobel Prize.
True, the prize is different from the Nobel Prize in its concern for Islam and Islamic studies instead of the peace and economics prizes Nobel is famous for.
But this only shows the different backgrounds of the prizes. In any case, what does peace mean to Nobel? Our peace is the one the Prophet (peace be upon him) called for.
Does Nobel use a similarly exacting yardstick? Consider that while the great advocate of peace Mahatma Gandhi was nominated five times for the peace prize he never won it, but in 1978 it went to Israel’s Menachem Begin. The King Faisal Award is unique in that it has not been politicized.
I ask again: Why is it being ignored? It is as though in the eyes of others we Arabs excel only in killing or vengeance, but when it comes to knowledge and the appreciation of it, we are not worthy of mention. Since for every accusation there should be a defense, why can’t the King Faisal Award be ours?
When I met Egyptian Nobel Prize laureate Ahmed Zewail in 2000, I asked him why before being nominated for the Nobel Prize he was reluctant to mention he had won the King Faisal Award. He referred to an interview he gave on Egyptian television mentioning the King Faisal Award. He came away feeling that the media here does not give the King Faisal Award the prominent coverage it deserves and only settles for a small item. It was as if he was saying: “Why blame me if I did not mention the prize?”
Since we cannot expect those in charge of the foundation to both pay the prize money — no less than $200,000 per winner — and then go to the expense of publicizing it as well, it is up to the Arab media, and specifically the Saudi media, to bear witness and let the world know of the prize and the values it holds. The foundation’s public relations division should be more proactive throughout the year and not expend its efforts solely on the awards ceremony.
Strangely enough it is in the Western media that the prize received its just dues. Periodicals, scientific magazines and even newspapers highlighted the prize; here is an excerpt from the Harvard University Magazine: “The King Faisal Foundation is the biggest charitable organization in the Middle East and is concerned with preserving Islamic heritage, helping needy groups, bestowing scholarships and encouraging research especially in the fields of science, medicine, literature and Islamic studies.”
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— (Suraya Al-Shehry is a Saudi writer. She is based in Riyadh.)
