A royal decree has been issued appointing Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan as 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, with the rank of minister. The decision reflects the stature of the institution of Ifta and its central role in establishing religious authority and regulating the issuance of fatwas in the Kingdom.
Text of the Royal Decree and its date
The decision was issued under Royal Order No. A/111 dated 30/4/1447 AH , after reviewing the Basic Law of Governance and related regulations, and based on the recommendation of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The order stipulated the appointment of Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan as Grand Mufti , and instructed the relevant authorities to approve and implement the decision.
Job duties and implications of the decision
of Grand Mufti is the highest authority for issuing fatwas in the Kingdom. The Grand Mufti oversees the issuance of general fatwas, coordinates scholarly and fatwa-related efforts, and promotes jurisprudential consistency with applicable laws. Furthermore, combining the chairmanship of the Council of Senior Scholars with the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Ifta provides a comprehensive institutional framework that ensures a unified methodology, enhances the efficiency of scholarly work, and develops its tools.
Council of Senior Scholars and the General Presidency for Scientific Research and Ifta
The Council of Senior Scholars plays an advisory and scholarly role in general Sharia matters, while the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Ifta' (Islamic for managing the issuance of fatwas, preparing research and studies, and providing approved rulings. This decision contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of this system through unified leadership that focuses on the quality of outputs and their relevance to the needs of society.
Corporate compliance and implementation
The royal decree stressed the need to inform the relevant authorities to adopt and implement the decision, which consolidates the stability of the organizational structure of religious institutions, ensures the smooth transfer of tasks, and enhances governance in managing scientific and fatwa files.
a summary
The appointment of Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan is a step that enhances the status of the fatwa authority and its role in religious guidance, and unifies scientific efforts within an institutional framework that keeps pace with the legal and societal requirements, and reinforces harmony between the fatwa and the applicable regulations.
