Curriculum Vitae Minister of Islamic AffairsShaikh Hamza Abu Faris

Biographical Details: Born January 13, 1946 (Gregorian) / 1365 (Hijra) in Bani Walid, Adana Village

Education: 1959-1960: Completed primary school 1960-1963: Undertook elementary and middle school 1963: Received elementary education degree 1967: Awarded certificate in teaching (specialty: Arabic language and religion) 1971: Earned secondary (high school) certificate in Department of Literature Advanced to study at the Faculty of Education (previously the Teachers College for Higher Education), Tripoli Accepted to the Department of Languages (Arabic, English and French); specialized in French language and literature 2nd year at the Department of Languages involved studies in Paris; obtained Bachelors in French Language and Literature; taught at the high school level 1977-8: Studies in France / Summer 2008 Summer course in France 1979-80: Graduate studies, Faculty of Education, Tripoli 1980: Earned certification in Islamic Studies Undertook Masters degree studies under the supervision of Dr. Abd alSalaam Abu Naji (Masters thesis focused on the publication of alWanshirisis Adat al Baruq, a text concerning canonical legal diversity (the section on jurisprudential rules); subsequently completed the text. 1984: Defended Masters Degree described above. no date: Taught at the high school level before teaching at the Faculty of Law, University of Garyounis (Benghazi) and the Faculty of Law, Nasser University in Tarhuna. no date-present: Appointed to the Faculty of Law at Al Fateh University, Tripoli

1995-2000: Doctoral studies at the University of Zaytuna, Tunisia 2000: Defended doctoral thesis, entitled Judge Abdul Wahab al-Baghdadi and his approach to Exegesis [of the Prophetic Message]. 2000: Awarded Doctorate in Islamic Sciences, with a specialty in comparative Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence)

Religious Training: 1967: Relationship with Sharia sciences (knowledge and training in Islamic legal traditions) begins, at the hands of a local village Shaikh; began memorizing the Noble Quran 1982: Completed memorization of the Noble Quran Specialties: Maliki jurisprudence from (al Maliks) famous works, as well as works on Tawhid (principle of Gods oneness); expertise in the fields of logic, rhetoric, grammar, the science of Hadith (traditions concerning the life of the Prophet), Quranic exegesis; Muwatta (a foundational text in the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence); al-Zurqanis exegesis thereof; Sahih al Bukhari (canonical Hadith compilation); Sahih Muslim (canonical Hadith compilation); particular expertise for the fields of inheritance and jurisprudential knowledge.

Publications: Compilation and publication of 1011 books (involving both research and studies in varied philosophical, jurisprudential and historical topics) Other Experience: Participant in numerous local and international conferences, including Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Turkey, Britain Served as co-researcher for the Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League in Mecca, and the European Council for Fatwas and Research Participant in programming on Islam and Lifestyles on Jumahirriya Channel two, which broadcasts live on Fridays at 4:30 pm Tripoli time / Saturdays at 3:30 pm.

Participant in many discussions on the programs Insights of the People, and In the Shadow of Sharia (Divine Law), which are broadcast on the Libyan channels FM and Iman.