President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has initiated a significant step towards streamlining the issuance of fatwas in the UAE by forming the UAE Council for Fatwa through two federal decrees. This newly established body, chaired by Abdullah bin Bayyah with the rank of Minister, is set to centralize and harmonize fatwa-related efforts, policies, and legislation across the nation.
The Council comprises an array of esteemed members including Dr. Omar Habtoor Al Darei as Vice Chairman, along with Dr. Khalifa Mubarak Al Dhaheri, Dr. Ahmed Abdel Aziz Al Haddad, Jamal Salem Al Turaifi, Dr. Ibrahim Obaid Ali Al Ali, Abdul Rahman Ali Humaid Al Shamsi, Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tunaiji, and Dr. Fatma Al-Dahmani.
Charged with the authoritative role of issuing fatwas, the Council aims to provide coherent and unified guidance on various religious matters. Its responsibilities span issuing general, urgent, and novel fatwas, conducting in-depth studies, offering legal opinions on related legislation, regulating the practice of fatwa issuance, and fostering the development of mufti skills through targeted training programs.
By establishing this council, the UAE seeks to ensure a consistent and well-regulated approach to Islamic legal opinions, thereby enhancing the clarity and effectiveness of religious guidance within the country.
