Islamic scholars convene during 23rd session of Islamic Fiqh Council

Riyadh, Apr. 21 (BNA):  Headed by Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Al Shaikh, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President of the Council of Senior Scholars and General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, the senior scholars of the Islamic nation gathered under the umbrella of the Islamic Fiqh Council in Riyadh, in the presence of prominent Islamic figures and senior scholars.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), senior Islamic scholars and researchers came from Islamic and minority countries in the world to attend the 23rd session of the Islamic Fiqh Council to discuss contemporary issues and to make legal rulings regarding them. These rulings, along with recommendations, will be translated into several international languages and disseminated via media outlets.

The Islamic Fiqh Council focuses on clarifying Sharia rulings for Muslims on many different issues, highlighting the creativity of Islamic jurisprudence, and promoting Islamic jurisprudential heritage, along with explaining its terminology in modern language.

Al Shaikh emphasised that Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh), with its general principles, comprehensive rules, vast wealth of jurisprudential branches, fatwas, and research on various topics inherited from our ancestors, would give extensive flexibility and broad horizons for contemporary scholars.

Al Shaikh expressed great appreciation to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, for their commendable efforts in serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors and for generous support provided to the scholars.

The Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Shaikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al Issa, Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, noted that the 23rd session reviewed a number of contemporary Islamic Sharia issues under consideration, preceded by in-depth academic research surveys conducted by distinguished researchers.

He also expressed deep appreciation for the generous hospitality and great respect extended to the esteemed scholars of the Islamic nation by the leadership of Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince.

Hissein Brahim Taha, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), said that his session is being held during a critical period for our Islamic world, filled with profound intellectual and political challenges.

He considered the Kingdom’s hosting of this important meeting, with the participation of esteemed scholars and dignitaries, the heads of major scholars’ councils and muftis in the Islamic world, as a reaffirmation of its pivotal role in supporting positive trends for the nation.

Shaikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, the President of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), the Imam and Preacher of the Grand Mosque, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, and Advisor at the Royal Court and member of the Islamic Fiqh Council, said that the topics discussed by agencies and councils include Sharia, family, medical, economic, financial and intellectual politics and all of them are interested to the nation.

Dr. Koutoub Mustapha Sano, Secretary-General of the IIFA of the OIC, said, “We are all required to work to unify rulings in Islamic countries in all matters of life, in accordance with the provisions of Islamic Sharia. That is the only way to accomplish Islamic unity among Islamic peoples”.

The work of the session will continue until April 22, featuring several scientific sessions to review a number of contemporary jurisprudential issues and calamities.   Decisions and statements will be released concerning these issues as a response to the need of the Islamic nation for reliable, jurisprudential approach of the issues and its developments.

S.M