Dr. Muhammad Abdul Wahhab Zahid Al-Haq, the Grand Mufti of South Korean Muslims left his homeland carrying the mission of his call, traveling through countries as a student and learner until he settled in South Korea as a preacher to Allah. Many people accepted Islam through him. He is the Syrian-born preacher Muhammad Abdul Wahhab Zahid Al-Haq, the Grand Mufti of Muslims in South Korea. "Al-Mujtama" magazine conducted this interview with him.

To begin, could you introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Muhammad Abdul Wahhab Zahid Al-Haq. I am Syrian, born in 1941 in the city of Aleppo. I studied Islamic jurisprudence and traveled to India to study under the esteemed Indian scholar Abu Hasan Al-Nadwi in Lucknow, where I was one of his most distinguished students. Later, I moved to Pakistan and obtained certification in Islamic jurisprudence and Hadith from its leading scholars. I earned my master's degree with top honors from Karachi University and completed my PhD in comparative jurisprudence at Sindh University in Hyderabad, where I finished my book Fiqh of the Four Imams. Subsequently, I traveled to Egypt and graduated from the Faculty of Usul Al-Din at Al-Azhar University.

I then served as an imam and preacher at Al-Bakhti Mosque in Aleppo, later becoming a teacher at the city's Fatwa Department and the director of the Sharia School in Afrin. I also worked as a professor of Islamic jurisprudence at Umm Al-Qura University in Mecca and the Faculty of Sharia in Taif, before heading the postgraduate studies department at Al-Faruqia University in Karachi, Pakistan.

Why did you choose South Korea specifically?

• While working in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Awqaf in Kuwait invited me to contribute to the Fiqh Encyclopedia. I traveled to Kuwait in 1982, and while I was there, a visiting South Korean minister spoke to Kuwaiti officials and said, "People in Korea die in disbelief. Why don't you come and invite Koreans to Islam?" The Kuwaiti Minister of Awqaf relayed this statement to us, and I felt compelled to take on the mission.

Unfortunately, my request was initially rejected, but with persistence and enthusiasm, I gained approval to travel—though only after completing all my assigned work. Two years later, in 1984, I finally arrived in South Korea and began my mission of calling Koreans to Islam.

Did you encounter difficulties in spreading Islam in Korea?

• Of course, there were challenges and obstacles, but Islam teaches us patience and endurance in spreading the message of monotheism. This was the approach of the Companions and their followers. As for the official authorities, we did not face any restrictions; we were given great freedom to travel and meet Koreans to invite them to Islam.

Were there any Arabs who participated with you in the mission to spread Islam in Korea?

• Unfortunately, no. There was a person from Libya and another from Saudi Arabia, but they did not stay long and returned to their countries. Arab countries have been largely negligent in this regard.

How were you chosen as the Grand Mufti of Korea?

• I was elected by the Muslim imams in Korea, and the Korean Muslim Federation endorsed the decision. However, this position is not my primary concern—my true goal is calling people to Islam and faith in the one and only God.

Is there an entity that supports your salary?

• Yes, the Ministry of Awqaf in Kuwait covered my salary for years, and later, the Muslim World League took over and continues to provide for me to this day.

Could you tell us a bit about the Korean Muslim Federation?

• Yes, the federation was established in 1976, following the founding of Korea’s first mosque that year. The state donated the land, and several Turkish officers who had participated in the Korean War in the 1950s, along with some Koreans who had embraced Islam, contributed to building the mosque. After its completion, the federation was officially announced. It is responsible for Muslims in Korea and their activities, organizing seminars from time to time to invite Koreans to Islam.

How many mosques are there in Korea today?

• There are over 150 mosques and prayer halls spread across many Korean cities, mostly concentrated in Seoul, Gwangju, and Jeonju.

Are there any well-known Korean Muslim figures?

• Yes, quite a few, including Dr. Abu Bakr Kim, President of the Korean Muslim Federation; Dr. Hamid Shin, translator of the Quran into Korean; Mustafa Na So-Yang, a prominent businessman who owns multiple companies and factories in Korea and actively supports Muslims; Dr. Sumayya Swa-Mira, a professor at Chonbuk National University—one of Korea’s largest universities—and a well-known Muslim personality in Korea; Dr. Muhammad Chun Yang-Chul, who converted to Islam at the age of 70 and became a preacher; Sheikh Abdul Wahhab Jo and his wife, who are among the most prominent Islamic preachers in Korea, having embraced Islam in 1985 and dedicated themselves to calling Koreans to the faith.

Have you authored any books in Korea?

• Yes, I have written over 30 works on Islamic jurisprudence, Hadith, Da‘wah, and biography, in Arabic, English, and Korean. Some of these include Rules of Fasting, Rules of Hajj, A Look at Pre-Islamic Times, Islam’s View of Non-Muslims, Islam: The Religion of Peace, Encounter with Human Nature, Series of Prophets and Messengers, and Friday Sermons Series, among others.

Are there social activities practiced in Korea?

• No, only occasional seminars and meetings organized by the Korean Muslim Federation. During religious occasions such as Ramadan, gatherings and seminars for Da‘wah are held. On one occasion, I conducted a seminar on the Arabic language, during which an elderly Korean man stood up and recited the testimony of faith. Many attendees followed his lead, making it a truly blessed gathering. Praise be to Allah.

Are there any challenges facing Islam in Korea?

• I prefer not to discuss this matter in detail, but I will say that there are no disagreements among Korean Muslims. If any jurisprudential disputes arise, I serve as their reference and promptly address their concerns. However, we always need support and assistance from Arab countries.

South Korea has strong trade relations with Arab nations. Do Arab merchants engage in Da‘wah efforts or provide financial support for mosques or the Korean Muslim Federation?

• Unfortunately, no. We hardly notice their presence. Some come for prayer or to visit mosques, but they do not engage in any religious activities.

Is there communication between you and Arab or Islamic institutions?

• No, unfortunately, there is no communication.

Are there Arab imams in Korea?

• There are some imams from Egypt and Turkey, and during Ramadan, a few come from Saudi Arabia. However, they lack financial support, relying on assistance from local Muslims.

Are you permanently residing in Korea, or do you visit Syria or Arab countries occasionally?

• No, I have not left Korea since arriving in 1984. I have lived here for 40 years without leaving. Recently, I received an invitation to visit Kuwait after Ramadan, and if I make the trip, I will discuss the Da‘wah mission in Korea with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Awqaf.

What is the status of the Arabic language in Korea? Does it play a role in spreading Islam?

• There are universities in Seoul and Gwangju that teach Arabic. I was previously invited to teach Arabic, but when they noticed my Da‘wah efforts, they did not allow me to continue. Even a Christian university invited me to teach Arabic, but after seeing my approach in calling people to Islam, they stopped me. Since then, I have not worked at any university.

Would you like to share any words with your brothers in the Islamic world?

• Yes, I urge them to support their fellow Muslims in Korea by sending preachers to spread Islam. Korea remains an untapped land for Da‘wah, and Koreans are extremely friendly and receptive to Islam when they find someone to guide them. I have been here for 40 years, tirelessly spreading the message of monotheism, and hundreds of Koreans have embraced Islam through my efforts. However, I fear for the future of Islam in Korea if this generation passes and there is no one left to carry on the mission.