Shaykh Mufti Dr. Mohammed Farid Ali al-Fijawi
Shaykh Mufti Dr. Mohammed Farid Ali al-Fijawi bin Mohammed Anwar Khan bin Mohammed Hanif Khan bin Abdul Hafiz Khan bin Afzal Khan is originally from the Fiji Islands. He moved to Auckland, New Zealand, in 2022 after residing in Malaysia for nearly 20 years.
Dr. al-Fijawi completed his ‘Ālamiyyah in Arabic Language and Islamic Studies at Jamia Ashrafia Lahore in 1998, followed by a Specialization in Higher Islamic Jurisprudence (Iftā’) from the same institution in 2002, under the supervision of the late Mufti Hamidullah Jaan, then Head of Darul Iftā’ Jamia Ashrafia. He received formal authorisation (ijazah) to issue fatwas.
He pursued higher education at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), where he obtained a Master of Arts in Islamic Civilization (2006) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in World Contemporary Muslim Issues (2011).
Academic and Professional Career
Dr. Farid began his career as a trainee mufti at Jamia Ashrafia Lahore (1999–2001), later serving as Imam, Religious Advisor, and Mufti at the Fiji Muslim League Headquarters and Samabula Mosque (2001–2003).
After completing his postgraduate studies, he worked as a Research Fellow at the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia (2012–2014), under the mentorship of Professor Hashim Kamali and Professor Karim Douglas Crow.
He later joined ISTAC, IIUM (2014–2015) as an Academic Fellow (AF2) in the Research and Publication Unit, mentored by Professor Dr. Syed Ajmal Al-Aidrus. In 2015, he joined IIUM as an Academic Fellow, and in 2017, was promoted to Assistant Professor (DS51) at the Faculty of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (KIRKHS).
He taught in both the Department of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Studies and the Department of Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh Studies. Dr. Farid also served as Faculty Coordinator for Islamization of Human Sciences (2018), and later as Head of Responsible Research and Innovation (2019–2021). He has supervised several MA and PhD dissertations and served as an external examiner for doctoral theses.
Publications and Scholarly Work
Dr. Farid served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Islam in Asia (2016–2021).
He is the author of several books, including:
The Position of Custom (‘Urf/‘Adat) in Issuing Fatwa: In the Works of Ibn ‘Abidin al-Shami (d. 1252/1836)
Forty Hadith on Riba
Forty Hadith on Leading the Way
He has contributed chapters to numerous edited academic volumes and published over 30 research articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Current Role
Currently, Dr. Farid serves as CEO of Ulul Albāb Islamic Institute New Zealand (UAIINZ). Under his leadership, the institute has established several key programs, including:
Ulul Albāb Fardul-‘Ayn Madrasah Program
Ulul Albāb Lifelong Learning Program
Ulul Albāb Community Learning Development Program (UCLD)
Ulul Albāb Professional Learning Development Program (UPLD)
Ulul Albāb Women, Children & Family Development Program (UWCFD)
He is also the Chief Editor of Bulletin on Islam and Muslims, the institute’s first academic and research publication. Dr. Farid is assisted by two young scholars who support program design, delivery, and management, while also receiving his mentorship in academic and intellectual development.