The King Faisal International Prizes for 2008 were presented at a ceremony in Riyadh last night. Prizes were awarded in four categories: Arabic Language and Literature, Science, Medicine and Service to Islam. 

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz won the prize for Service to Islam recognition of his service to Muslims both in Saudi Arabia and abroad.

In remarks on the occasion, King Abdullah said that he accepted the prize on behalf of every Muslim man and woman who served Islam out of the limelight without expectation of any reward.

“The Muslim scientist in his laboratory, the soldier defending his homeland, the preacher calling for moderation, the impartial employee who refuses inducements, the fair and equitable judge, the worker who works with his hands and masters his work and the student who perseveres in his study, all those are serving Islam,” King Abdullah said.

Other winners include: Professor Rüdiger Wehner of Germany (Science), Professors Donald D. Trunkey and Basil A. Pruitt, Jr. of the United States (Medicine), and Professor Ahmad Matloob Al-Nasiri of Iraq and Professor Muhammed Rashad Al-Hamzawi of Tunisia (Arabic Language and Literature). The prize for Islamic Studies was not awarded this year due to a lack of merit among nominees.

For more information about the King Faisal Foundation International Prize and this year’s winners, please see the King Faisal Foundation website.