By Ahmed Al‑Saigh – Jeddah
Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef carried responsibility from a very young age. As children, he and his siblings assisted their grandfather—the merchant and scholar Muhammad Naseef—in receiving books, organizing and distributing them, and welcoming his guests arriving through the port or the airport, then escorting them to his majlis. His grandfather, may God have mercy on him, would receive both those he knew and those he did not.
Dr. Naseef recalled his mother, who served as principal of the Naseef School for Girls in Jeddah after the Naseef family obtained permission from King Saud—may God have mercy on him—to establish the first girls’ school in the city. A committee from the Ministry of Education conducted a personal interview with his mother to appoint her as the school’s principal.
He explained that he opened his eyes to the world seeing his mother offering great service to the nation by teaching girls from the villages surrounding Jeddah—Al‑Ruwais, Al‑Hindawiyyah, Al‑Nazlah, Bani Malik, and others. She also worked to correct religious understanding at a time when strange superstitions and innovations had appeared; she collected amulets and charms from the people and guided them toward proper belief. She played a significant role in education, religious guidance, and raising her children, and she was behind every success he and his siblings achieved.
Dr. Naseef added that during his primary school years, his teacher would often ask him to teach his classmates and deliver lessons in front of them, which strengthened his confidence and earned him the affection of his peers. He emphasized that he was deeply influenced by both his grandfather and his mother.
He completed his university studies in geology, noting that “we live in an oil‑producing country.” He was among the second graduating class in the field. He then worked as a professor at King Saud University in Riyadh from 1971 to 1973, followed by a position as assistant professor and head of the Geology Department at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah from 1974 to 1976. He later served as Secretary‑General and Vice President of King Abdulaziz University from 1976 to 1980, and then as its President from 1980 to 1983.
Dr. Naseef went on to become Vice Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council for ten years, Deputy Chairman of the Saudi National Dialogue Committee for ten years, and Secretary‑General of the Muslim World League for another ten years. He affirmed that he faced no difficulties during his work with the League, as he had learned from childhood the value of books, the importance of sitting with elders, and attending scholarly gatherings, lectures, and seminars with his grandfather Sheikh Muhammad Naseef.
He later became Chairman of the International Islamic Relief Organization in 2000, Chairman of the World Muslim Congress, Secretary‑General of the International Islamic Council for Da’wah and Relief, President of the World Federation of Muslim Scouts, and Chairman of the Abdullah bin Omar Naseef Charitable Foundation. He is also a member of the Executive Council of the World Muslim Congress.
Despite his long academic and administrative journey, Dr. Naseef never distanced himself from teaching and religious outreach. He has continued teaching at King Abdulaziz University for the past 30 years without financial compensation, finding joy in being close to young people who need guidance and support. He also remains active in scouting at the local, Arab, and international levels, and he maintained his commitment to teaching even during his tenure in the Shura Council. He strives to balance his work, travel, and family responsibilities by taking his family with him on his trips.
Abdullah Naseef