Field Marshal Abdurrahman Mohamed Hassan Swaruddahab was born in the city of Umdurman, Sudan in 1935 to a great family remotely related to AI-Abbas Bin Abdulmottaleb.

His grandfather, the renewed Islamic scholar Issa Swaruddahab, had come from Mecca in the fifth century AD. This family had played a prominent role in the history of Sudan as Islamic scholar Mohamed lssc Swaruddahab had introduced the Abu Omar AI-Darawi's style of Quran recital prevailing in northern and central Sudan.

 

Field Marshal Swaruddahab received his early schooling in AI-Obayed city where his father had settled down. He then graduated at the Sudanese Military Academy with the rank of Lieutenant in 1955. He had a brilliant military career and furthered his military education in Britain, the USA and Jordan. He also gained Fellowship of Nasser Higher Military Academy, a prominent Egyptian military institution offering the highest specializations for military commanders. He also progressed in rank and position, ultimately becoming Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army and Minister of Defence.

 

Field Marshal Swaruddahab became Head of State in 1985 as a popular uprising broke out demanding change of government.

 

He declared the Sudanese Army's allegiance to its people, thus thwarting the sedition and dismemberment that were threatening Sudan.

He had won support from political parties and public opinion leaders in Sudan. He later conducted free elections and handed over power to the elected government, giving such a rare example of a leader who so voluntarily gave up the authority that has been handed to him unopposed. 

Field Marshal Swaruddahab then devoted himself entirely to charity and humanitarian work. He also contributed to the Islamic call through the Islamic Call Organization of which he was Board Chairman, acting voluntarily and without pay, and through several local, regional and international organizations, which he had established, or was member thereof. He effectively contributed to the establishment of many schools, universities, colleges, hospitals and clinics. In addition, he had many wells drilled in several areas. While conducting the Islamic call using gentle reasoning, he maintained good relations with leaders of non-Muslim communities. 

 

Through his chairmanship and/or membership of several Islamic and world committees and agencies, Field Marshal Swaruddahab contributed to relief campaigns involving many afflicted peoples, including the Palestinians, the Chechens Bosnians, Somalis, Azerbaijanis, Kosovans, Albanians and several African people. He has also contributed to resolving conflicts of Muslim factions in or between Islamic countries, such as Senegal, Afghanistan, and Mauritania. He was also an active member of the Arab Committee entrusted with ending the Iraq-Iran war. 

Field Marshal Swaruddahab is also member of international scientific organizations functioning in the realm of relief and promoting peace, such as the Summit Council for World Peace. He has also contributed papers related to humanitarian services, action for peace, and the spreading of education. It is therefore, for these outstanding contributions that Field Marshal Abdurrahman Mohamed Hassan Swaruddahab deserves the Hamdan Award for Volunteers in Humanitarian Medical Services for the term 2007-2008.