King Faisal Prize in Service to Islam

The King Faisal Prize in Service to Islam is an annual award granted by the King Faisal Foundation to those who have made intellectual or scientific efforts to serve Islam and Muslims. The prize was awarded for the first time in 1979. It is based in Riyadh City, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and is one of the categories of the King Faisal Prize.

Eligible for the King Faisal Prize in Service to Islam is anyone who has served Islam and Muslims through their knowledge and advocacy or has made a significant effort beyond what is required, resulting in a significant benefit for Islam and Muslims, and achieved one or more goals of the prize, according to the evaluation and judgment of the selection committee.

On September 1 of each year, the King Faisal Prize chooses a specific subject for each prize category, except for Service to Islam. The nomination period commences on September 1 and extends through to the end of March of the following year, with nominations concluding on March 31.

Between April and January, referees receive nominated works for thorough study and production of comprehensive reports. Come the first week of January, selection committees for each prize convene to review the nominated works and referees' reports, culminating in the final decision by selecting winners, who are subsequently announced at the conclusion of these meetings. In March of each year, the annual prize ceremony, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is held to honor the laureates and present them with their prizes.

The King Faisal Prize in Service to Islam is one of the categories of the King Faisal Prize, established in 1977, and was awarded for the first time in 1979. It recognizes individuals and institutions for their distinguished achievements across five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Sciences.

The prize aims to enrich human thought, contribute to the advancement of humanity, establish and highlight Islamic values, and honor science and scholars. Laureates are selected based on their scientific competence and research excellence, in light of precise scientific criteria overseen by several specialized committees. These committees bear the responsibility of examining the nominations and evaluating the scientific output of the nominees.

From its establishment until 2023, 290 laureates from forty-five nationalities won the five categories of the King Faisal Prize, including fifty-three in Service to Islam, forty in Islamic Studies, fifty-seven in Arabic Language and Literature, seventy-five in Medicine, and sixty-five in Sciences.