His Eminence the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and President of the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Ifta, issued a decree appointing several esteemed members of the Council of Senior Scholars to issue fatwas in various regions of the Kingdom. This strategic decision comes as a continuation of the implementation of the Royal Decree restricting the issuance of fatwas to members of the Council of Senior Scholars, with the aim of regulating religious rulings and ensuring they are derived from reliable and accredited sources.
List of assigned scientists and their geographical distribution
The decision included distributing scholars across the presidency's regional branches to ensure comprehensive geographical coverage that meets the needs of those seeking religious rulings. The following individuals were assigned to this task:
- Sheikh Dr. Yusuf bin Muhammad bin Abdulaziz bin Saeed: For the two branches of the Presidency in the Tabuk and Al-Jawf regions.
- Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Muhammad Al-Mukhtar bin Muhammad Mazid: For the Presidency branch in the Madinah region.
- Sheikh Dr. Jibril bin Muhammad bin Hassan Al-Basili: For the two branches of the Presidency in the Asir and Jazan regions.
- Sheikh Dr. Ghalib bin Muhammad bin Abu Al-Qasim Hamzi: For the two branches of the Presidency in the Al-Baha and Najran regions.
- Sheikh Dr. Sami bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Suqair: For the two branches of the Presidency in the Qassim and Hail regions.
- Sheikh Dr. Bandar bin Abdulaziz bin Siraj Balila: For the Presidency branch in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
- Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Ilah bin Muhammad Al-Mulla: For the two branches of the Presidency in the Eastern Province and the Northern Borders Region.
The importance of regulating fatwas and organizational dimensions
This measure represents a pivotal step in the Kingdom's religious and administrative organization, aiming to unify the authority for issuing fatwas and prevent individual interpretations that may not be based on sound scholarly grounding. This approach stems from the royal commitment to protecting society from aberrant or unregulated fatwas and to consolidating a Sharia-based methodology grounded in evidence and moderation. The presence of members of the Council of Senior Scholars in various regions enhances direct communication between established scholars and the general public, thus facilitating access to accurate religious information for those seeking it.
Digital transformation and partnership with SDAIA
In a related context, the Secretary-General of the Council of Senior Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Fahd bin Saad Al-Majid, affirmed that the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Ifta' does not merely rely on human presence, but also strives to empower these scholars through a comprehensive support system. This system includes a research staff comprising more than eighty researchers specializing in Sharia sciences, in addition to the implementation of advanced digital solutions.
The Presidency, in cooperation with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), has embarked on implementing strategic plans for comprehensive digital transformation. This partnership aims to facilitate access to knowledge services for beneficiaries through modern technological platforms, reflecting the religious institution's commitment to keeping pace with technological advancements and harnessing them to serve religion and society.
Vision 2030 and the consolidation of the values of moderation
These efforts complement the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, spearheaded by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, which emphasizes the importance of enhancing the efficiency of government performance and consolidating the values of moderation and tolerance. Regulating religious edicts (fatwas) through official channels is a fundamental pillar in combating extremism and promoting the values of tolerance and coexistence in accordance with sound Islamic principles.
Officials at the Presidency expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for the unlimited support that the Council of Senior Scholars enjoys, which enables it to perform its noble mission of enlightening people about matters of their religion and their world according to the highest standards of efficiency and reliability.
