Egypt’s Mufti Calls for Fatwa Code of Ethics

During his participation in the 26th session of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy currently taking place in Doha, Dr. Nazir Mohammed Ayyad, Egypt’s Grand Mufti and President of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, emphasized the importance of regulating fatwa issuance by grounding it in sound Islamic scholarship and aligning it with contemporary realities. 

He stressed that fatwas should be issued exclusively by qualified scholars and underscored the need to distinguish between personal and public fatwas to safeguard the integrity of religious discourse.

Dr. Ayyad called for enhanced coordination among fatwa institutions and proposed the development of a Fatwa Code of Ethics to curb unregulated and arbitrary rulings. He also announced that Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta will host its 10th International Conference in Cairo under the theme: “Shaping the Enlightened Mufti in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Reaffirming Dar al-Ifta’s commitment to supporting African nations—particularly Burkina Faso—in confronting extremist ideologies, the Mufti expressed readiness to provide training and intellectual development for scholars in the region. 

He also reiterated Egypt’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, describing Jerusalem as both a matter of faith and a cause of universal justice, and praised the resilience of the Palestinian people. He emphasized the vital role religious institutions play in championing just causes.

On the sidelines of the conference, Dr. Ayyad held key meetings with several prominent figures, including Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Humaid, President of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy and Advisor to the Saudi Royal Court; Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Zaid, Deputy Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Secretary of its Islamic Fiqh Council; Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Hussein, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories; and Dr. Aboubacar Doukouré, Islamic Affairs Advisor to the President of Burkina Faso.

 Their discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in fatwa training, unifying religious discourse, combating extremist ideologies, and developing advanced tools for fatwa in response to modern intellectual challenges.