Mufti Menk Biography
Ismail ibn Musa Menk, born on June 27, 1975, is a prominent Islamic speaker from Zimbabwe. He serves as the Grand Mufti of Zimbabwe’s Muslim community and leads the fatwa department for the Council of Islamic Scholars of Zimbabwe.
Recognized for his influence, Menk was named one of The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan in 2013, 2014, and 2017. Despite his acclaim, Menk has faced controversies throughout his career, leading to bans in countries like Singapore and Denmark.
Early Life
Mufti Menk was born on June 27, 1975, in Salisbury to Gujarati Indian Muslim parents from the Bharuchi Vohra Patel community. His father, Maulana Musa Ibrahim Menk, was a respected Muslim preacher in Zimbabwe. Growing up, Mufti Menk learned Gujarati and Urdu alongside his studies with his father, which included memorizing the Quran and mastering Arabic.
For his secondary education, he attended St. John’s College in Harare. Later, he pursued his religious education and Mufti course at Kantharia Darul Uloom in Gujarat, India, and also in Madinah.
Menk’s religious affiliations include identification as a Deobandi as well as a Salafi.
Award & Achievement
Menk received an Honorary Doctorate of Social Guidance from Aldersgate College, Philippines, and its collaborative partner Aldersgate College – Dublin, Ireland, on April 16, 2016. Additionally, he was honored with the KSBEA 2015 Awards – Global Leadership Award in Social Guidance by the Cochin Herald.
Furthermore, Menk was recognized among The 500 Most Influential Muslims in both 2014 and 2017.
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