The Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, has been named the winner of the King Faisal International Prize 2017 for Service to Islam.

The King Faisal International Prize honours exceptional achievements in five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science.

The winners were announced by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Emir of Makkah Region, CEO of King Faisal Foundation and chairman of King Faisal International Prize, at a press conference today at the Celebration Hall of Al-Khozama Center.

King Salman was awarded the prestigious Prize in its 39th session for his outstanding services to Islam and Muslims, and his unfaltering commitment to serving the two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims to these holy sites.

The selection committee of the prize observed that the King has shown allegiance to the Prophet’s Sira (Life of Prophet Mohammed), and supported the Historic Atlas of the Prophet's Sira and its implementation by King Abdulaziz Dara (Foundation for Research and Archives). He also founded King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah for preserving Arabic and Islamic heritage.

On the occasion, Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail, secretary general of King Faisal International Prize, said: “King Salman has ensured dedicated efforts to unite Arabs and Muslims in the face of daunting challenges currently unfolding in the Arabic and Muslim worlds. Over the decades, the King has stood for unwavering Arabic and Islamic support on the Palestinian issue and offered remarkable services to the needy in several Arab and Muslim countries.”

Islamic Studies: The prize in the Islamic Studies category was awarded to Professor Ridwan Al-Sayyid of the University of Lebanon in recognition of his specialised publications that have enriched the Arabic library. His research and studies have shown exceptional knowledge of the Arabic Islamic jurisprudential and political heritage, it was noted.

Arabic Language and Literature: The prize for Arabic Language and Literature for this year was awarded to Arabic Language Academy of Jordan for its distinguished efforts in the transfer of science and technology through translation, Arabization of technical terms. The Academy was also recognized for the publication of specialized glossaries and its relentless efforts to make Arabic the language of instruction, an objective sought by various scientific institutions throughout the Arab World.

Medicine: The King Faisal International Prize for Medicine for this year was awarded to Professor Tadamitsu Kishimoto (Japan), Professor, immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University and Emeritus professor, Osaka University, Japan. Professor Kishimoto was honoured with the award for his prominent role in developing a novel biologic therapy for autoimmune diseases.

Science: The King Faisal International Prize for Science for year 2017 was shared by Professor Daniel Loss (Switzerland), Professor of the Department of Physics, University of Basel, and Director of Basel Center for Quantum Computing and Quantum Coherence, University of Basel, Switzerland; and Professor Laurens Molenkamp (The Netherlands), Professor and Head, MBE Unit, University of Wurzburg, Germany.

Professor Daniel Loss won the award in recognition of his work on the theory of spin dynamics and spin coherence in quantum dots showing promise for practical applications in spin quantum computers. Professor Laurens Molenkamp was honored for his work in the experimental field of spintronics.

The King Faisal International Prize is awarded by the King Faisal Foundation, founded by the sons and daughters of the late King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, who passed away in 1975. The prize was launched in 1977 with its first session taking off two years later.  – TradeArabia News Service