Farabi International Award

At the closing ceremony of the 14th Farabi International Award, renowned scholar, Professor Muhammad Al-Asi was honored with the esteemed Farabi International Distinguished Research Award in the International section for his groundbreaking Tafsir of Quran entitled “The Ascendant Qur'an: Realigning Man to the Divine Power Culture”.
The ceremony was held on Monday, July 10, 2023, in the presence of Iran's professors, researchers, and high-ranking officials.

Muhammad al-Asi was born in Michigan in 1951. He completed his primary education in the United States, then went to Lebanon for high school. Afterward, he attended the Arab University of Beirut, where he studied the Arabic language. Upon completing his education, he returned to the United States and pursued Government and Politics at the University of Maryland. After earning a master's degree, he was appointed as the Imam of the Islamic Center in Washington.
Al-Asi contributes articles to the Crescent International news magazine while also holding discussions on Islamic topics at universities throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. He has held positions as the scientific director of the Islamic Education Center, a member of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, and a member of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought (ICIT). Some of his noteworthy works include "The Awakening Islam," "Ascendant Qur'an: An Advanced English Translation of the Meanings of the Qur'an," and "The Ascendant Qur'an: Realigning Man to the Divine Power Culture," which is a 14-volume Tafsir of the Quran.
Tafsir of the Qur'an by Al-Asi, a native speaker of both English and Arabic, who is also familiar with Islamic and Quranic studies, is considered a unique Tafsir for English speakers.
The author made a diligent effort to ensure that the interpretation of each verse reflects the intended meaning of the words within the context of the verse.
He has endeavored to offer an interpretation that aligns with contemporary world issues and the requirements of modern-day Muslims. He utilized resources such as Shia and Sunni Tafsirs, hadiths, jurisprudence, and historical, political, philosophical, social sciences, and natural sciences books to achieve his goal.
He made sure to reference these sources within the interpretation text. The way he interprets the Qur'an is selective in nature. This means that he does not emphasize the verses' characteristics, shapes, structures, and chapters in his Tafsir. This tafsir stands out with its emphasis on "active meanings" relevant to today's society, politics, and daily interactions. This unique approach is often overlooked in both classical and contemporary interpretations of verse. This Tafsir is distinct because it is composed directly in English, unlike other English tafsirs which are translations of other tafsirs.