Accra:Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the UAE Council for Fatwa, emphasized the enduring relations between the UAE and Morocco and the significant role of institutional fatwas in fostering peace, trust, and coexistence.
According to Emirates News Agency, the remarks were made during the forum "Institutional Fatwa A Pillar of Peace and Coexistence," which involved collaboration between the UAE Council for Fatwa and Morocco's Supreme Council of Ulema. The relationship between the two nations was originally established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and King Hassan II and continues to thrive under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Mohammed VI.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah underscored the importance of shared scholarly traditions, particularly the Maliki school of jurisprudence, as the basis for cooperation between UAE and Moroccan fatwa institutions. He highlighted that institutional fatwas play a crucial role in preventing societal discord and enhancing public trust in the face of complex religious questions and challenges posed by technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence.
The Sheikh called for the integration of scholarly jurisprudence with specialist expertise, emphasizing the need for verifying sources and differentiating between individual rulings and public issues. He outlined a comprehensive approach involving diagnosis, jurisprudential assessment, and consideration of consequences to address crises and maintain social stability.
He also mentioned the UAE Council for Fatwa's initiatives on various contemporary issues, such as COVID-19, DNA-based paternity determination, and the use of insect-derived protein alternatives. He proposed collaboration in four key areas establishing joint fatwa standards, engaging in scholarly consultation and research exchange, monitoring AI-generated religious content, and training muftis and researchers. These efforts aim to strengthen scholarly integrity, respect legitimate differences, and promote peace and coexistence.
