Imam Alhassan commends King Mohammed VI for organising symposium on Fatwa

Alhaji Mohammed Awal Shuaib Alhassan, the Imam of Takoradi Metropolis, has commended the King of Morocco Mu­hammed V1 for organising an international symposium on Fatwa (rulings) to empow­er and sharpen the skills of Ulemas (Muslim Scholars) in the fight against extremist tendencies and misleading interpretations.

Imam Alhassan, also a Deputy Imam of the National Mosque, who represented the National Chief Imam, Sheikh (Dr) Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, at the symposium told the Gha­naian Times on arrival that the initiative “will serve and yield a major global Islamic peace.”

The three-day Internation­al scientific symposium on “Fatwa rules in the African context,” organised by the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema, ended in Marrakech, in the Kingdom of Morocco, last Wednesday.

More than 350 Ulemas from 72 countries from Africa, Asia, Europe and South America, attended the symposium and deliberated on the scientific norms and principles of Fatwa and the reality of Fatwa in the African context.

Imam Alhassan expressed the appreciation of the Nation­al Chief Imam to the King of Morocco, King Mohammed VI, the President of the Moham­med VI Foundation in Ghana, Sheikh Ibrahim Mustapha of ICODEH, Morocco Ambassa­dor to Ghana, Imane Ouaadil; and other members of the Foundation, Dr Ahmad Taufe­eq, Dr Saeed Mohammed Rifki and the General Coordinator, Dr Aatika Abdul-Rahaman.

Fatwa which means “expla­nation or clarification” and Muslim scholars apply the prin­ciples of sharia–related Fatwa rulings to address matters affecting the socio-cultural life of the Muslim community, in­cluding marital relations, inheri­tance, lifestyles, and allegiance owed to a country.

Fatwa is solicited when there is doubt over a conduct or when Muslims are engaged in a dispute and do not want to stray from the path of righ­teousness, but stay within the confines of God’s dictates.

In a message to the gath­ering, the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI said the con­ference sought to deepen the meaning of moderation among Muslims, consistent with what Almighty God says in the Holy Qur’an.

“The divine decree re­flects the need today to avoid extremism and division. It is urgent call to make sure people embrace moderation, to reassure them when it comes to disagreement about certain details, and to highlight the firm determination to cooper­ate, and hold regular consulta­tion among African religious scholars,” he said.

 BY ALHAJI SALIFU ABDUL-RAHAMAN