Doha, May 4 (QNA) - Under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the 26th Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), a subsidiary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), kicked off Sunday in Doha.

The five-day event will debate contemporary jurisprudential, economic, and medical issues of concern to Muslim countries and communities.

In his opening remarks, HE Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanim said Islamic Sharia gives comprehensive solutions to all questions concerning humanity and that the Muslim scholars gathering in Doha would exchange views on the most pressing issues and developments to formulate a vision that is accepted by the Muslim nation.

His Excellency added that the IIFA Council, along with all Muslim scholarly and legal bodies, must be further empowered to counter the dangers facing Muslims, including the destruction of the family structure, the negative impact on the young, the degradation of virtues, the disregard for values and morals, and the promotion of atheism, homosexuality, perversion, among others.

He noted that all the topics on the agenda would be extensively scrutinized to come out with a jurisprudential vision that all Muslim individuals and jurists are proud of.

His Excellency added that the IIFA's focus on jurisprudential issues and emerging issues has made it a leading jurisprudential platform for the Islamic world, leading to greater Islamic solidarity.

His Excellency highlighted the widely varied papers presented in the conference enriches the debate and boosts the public benefit for Islam and Muslims.

Meanwhile, HE OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha said the current international events, primarily the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, calls for greater solidarity with the victims of these attacks.

He praised IIFA's efforts to expose Israeli occupation crimes and strengthen international solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Extending thanks to the State of Qatar for its support to all OIC institutions and firm commitment to joint Islamic action, Taha called on OIC Member States to provide financial and academic support to the IIFA so that it can continue its successful journey in serving Muslims. 

IIFA President Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, said that the conference aims to consider and discuss a range of contemporary issues and developments that require collective Ijtihad that fosters integration among scholars and experts, bridges the gap between ideals and reality, and produces well-founded, precise, and applicable resolutions and recommendations.

Dr. bin Humaid added that emerging issues related to child care are among the most important topics to be discussed, in an effort to affirm children’s rights in Islamic law and highlight the importance of a sound educational environment.

 Moreover, artificial intelligence, one of the most prominent tools of the modern digital transformation, will be addressed, including AI-related rulings and regulations as well as weighing in on its benefits, harms, and consequences.

He explained that the session will also discuss Istishab being one of the most significant legal reasoning methods used to issue rulings on new matters.

It will also cover the topic of video games, relevant rulings and regulations, in addition to going over both their positive and negative impacts on behavior, ethics, and legality with regard to the individual, the family, and society.

He said that the conference will examine the effects of mental and psychological illnesses on legal capacity in Islamic law, affirming Sharia's justice and mercy, and clarifying the standards of legal responsibility. It will also address new issues in Islamic finance, such as third-party loan increases, fees for issuing letters of guarantee, and documentary credits.

He noted that the session will also discuss the principles and regulations of Sharia governance in Islamic financial institutions, in support of transparency, to reinforce Islamic jurisprudential standards and enhance the performance of these institutions.

The session will also review recommendations from several of the Academy's specialized seminars regarding recent developments in the halal industry, with the aim of issuing unified resolutions and recommendations.

Dr. bin Humaid said that the IIFA, being the highest Sharia reference body in the OIC, will continue its diligent efforts to enhance collaboration and coordination with academic institutions and fatwa and guidance bodies in OIC member states and Muslim communities, fulfilling its mission with determination, clarifying Islamic rulings on emerging issues and matters of importance to the Muslim world.

He further stressed that this session comes as a result of the trust placed in the Academy by the ummah and the leaders of Muslim countries, entrusting it with the responsibility of clarifying Sharia rulings on issues that concern Muslims globally and offering effective legal solutions to contemporary life challenges, based on the Holy Quran, the Sunnah, their derived sources, and informed by the higher objectives of Sharia and its general principles, while maintaining a moderate openness to modern scientific advancements.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the IIFA, Dr. Koutoub Moustapha Sano noted that 22 years have passed since Doha hosted the Academy’s 14th session back in 2003, which took place at a time when the Muslim ummah faced a historic turning point due to intellectual, social, economic, and political upheavals brought about by the then-emerging global order.

Dr. Sano said that Doha is once again hosting yet another of the Academy's conferences, also at a critical turning point, no less dangerous than the previous one, with intellectual challenges increasing at an astonishing rate, social changes accelerating alarmingly, technological and digital developments progressing rapidly, and political instability worsening in a disturbing manner.

He added that perhaps the most painful of all developments is the situation in Palestine, and in Gaza in particular, occurring amid shameful international silence that defies the very ideals of human rights, past and present.

The Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy said that in these dire circumstances, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy continues its diligent efforts to wisely and prudently address contemporary challenges and emerging issues through collective Ijtihad that adheres to the textual sources, considers higher objectives, grasps complexity and interconnections, remains true to foundational principles, and avoids rigidity, all while engaging with reality using evidence, compassion, justice, kindness, and balance.

Dr. Sano stressed that this conference will address urgent developments and challenges that affect people's daily lives and societies, especially topics such as artificial intelligence, video games, Sharia governance, and mental health issues.

He also praised OIC member states' financial support to the Academy and the Academy’s intellectual contributions in the form of seminars and conferences.

He expressed the Academy's appreciation to the State of Qatar, its leadership and people, for hosting this session. (QNA)