ABU DHABI // A new federal council will counter controversial and hardline fatwas that are spread on the internet by unauthorised sources.
The UAE will bring the rulings under a single body to ensure reasoned and moderate judgments.
Experts described the Council for Fatwa as a proactive step towards eliminating sources from which extreme religious teachings could evolve.
“In the age of social media where people are well aware of what is going on in other countries it is all available online,” said Abaas Yunas, head of the Futures Initiative at the Tabah Foundation, which promotes moderate Islam in education and society.
“Given that the UAE has adhered to the traditional understanding of Islam, it is a very sensible and natural step to take.
“And at the same time, it closes the door for people to offer opinions, ideas and rulings on Islam that may stem from themselves or a tradition that is not known in the UAE.”
Mr Yunas said he was not aware of random fatwas being issued in the country, “but I don’t think they should have waited for a situation to occur”.
“Often governments are not known to deal with issues before they occur, but with this step they have taken the initiative to streamline the process,” he said.
In 2015, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, stressed the need for muftis who issued fatwas that bolstered the moderation and tolerance of Islam.
Dr Kaltham Al Muhairi, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders and assistant professor at Zayed University, said that while the country already had official fatwa bodies in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, not everyone resorted to them for religious advice.
“Some people have certain convictions and they do not follow official sources, they rely on scholars from abroad,” Dr Al Muhairi said.
“The fatwa council will oversee the seven emirates and there will be a consensual agreement to control the situation.
“The council will be able to educate people on the reality of the ad-hoc fatwas they come across.
“I cannot measure the size of the problem but I believe it is big enough and requires action to be taken.”
The fatwa department at Cairo’s Al Azhar University – the global seat of Sunni Muslim learning – had complained of “fatwa chaos”, with some religious leaders seeking to shape the actions of the faithful across the Muslim world.
Edicts have governed topics ranging from sex to politics to home life. One by India’s largest Islamic seminary a decade ago that ruled Muslims should not watch television.
The four emirates that don’t have their own fatwa centres follow the Abu Dhabi Islamic Affairs, or Awqaf, centre. The council will bring the process under one umbrella for all emirates.
Dr Mohammed Al Kaabi, head of Awqaf, said the authority’s muftis and scholars welcomed the move to unify fatwa sources.
“The UAE Council for Fatwa will issue Islamic ruling on various issues at the request of government entities, institutions, or the general public, resorting to a defined mechanism to issue, announce and archive rulings,” the state news agency Wam reported.
“In addition, it will regulate the right to exercise the issuance of fatwa and ensure compliance to required licensing and training, with the aim of eradicating all extremism and ill-motivated practices.”
hdajani@thenational.ae
