Dr. Mohd Al Adib Samuri is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and currently serves as the Children’s Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM). A scholar and advocate for children’s rights, he has over fifteen years of experience advancing legal and policy reforms that safeguard the welfare and dignity of children within Malaysia’s civil and Islamic legal frameworks.

Dr. Al Adib earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees from UKM, followed by a Ph.D. in Law focusing on the child justice system. He later completed postdoctoral research at Newcastle University, United Kingdom (2014–2015), where he examined the socio-legal challenges faced by Muslim youth.

Throughout his career, Dr. Al  Adib has played a leading role in strengthening Malaysia’s commitment to children’s rights through evidence-based advocacy, legislative reform, and institutional collaboration. He has spearheaded major national initiatives such as the drafting of Malaysia’s Plan of Action for the National Child Policy (2024), the Review of the National Strategic Plan on Ending Child Marriage (2024), and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on child marriage applications In Shariah Court (2019) and the determination of religious status in the Shariah Court (2020). His expertise has also contributed to the reform of several Islamic state enactments. He previously served as a member of the Malaysian National Council for Children under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (2019–2021) and the Technical Committee on Shariah and Civil Law at JAKIM (2019–2021).

Recognised as one of Malaysia’s leading experts in children’s rights and Islamic legal reform, Dr. Al Adib has led or collaborated on more than fifty internal, national, and international research projects. His work covers a wide range of topics related to children and Islamic law, including child marriage, the rights of children in detention centres, the development of Maqasid al-Shariah–based frameworks for Islamic institutions supporting Muslim refugees, the protection of refugee children, the right to education for students in religious schools, rehabilitation programmes for children in detention, and the formulation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling child suspects in Shariah cases.

An accomplished academic, Dr. Al  Adib has authored or co-authored over fifty publications (in books and academic journal articles) on Islamic law, child justice, family law, and human rights. His writings have informed national debates and legal reforms in Malaysia. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Contemporary Islamic Law at UKM and sits on the editorial boards of several international journals on Islamic law. He frequently presents at conferences, forums, and policy dialogues related to children’s rights and Islamic law.

Dr. Al Adib’s contributions have been recognised with numerous awards, including the UKM Young Researcher Award (2014), Excellent Service Awards (2014 and 2022), and the Faculty of Islamic Studies Excellent Teaching Award for eight consecutive years (2018–2024).

As both a scholar and an advocate, Dr. Al Adib remains steadfast in his commitment to building a Malaysia where every child is protected, respected, and empowered. His vision is inspired by the universal principles of human rights and the compassionate values of Islam, reflecting his lifelong dedication to integrating knowledge, service, and moral responsibility in advancing the cause of children’s rights.