Cairo: The UAE Council for Fatwa participated in the conference titled "Making of the Competent Mufti in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," organized by the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide in Egypt. The Council's delegation conveyed the greetings of Shaikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the Council, and expressed hopes for the conference to achieve effective outcomes that strengthen the message of moderate, legitimate fatwas.
According to Emirates News Agency, Shaikh Abdullah bin Bayyah emphasized the conference's significant role in developing the fatwa system. He highlighted the necessity for global efforts to achieve institutional ijtihad (independent reasoning) and to issue fatwas that are moderate and flexible, supporting stability, citizenship values, and comprehensive development.
The UAE delegation, comprising Dr. Omar Habtoor Al Derei, Vice Chairman of the Council; Dr. Saba Salem Al Kaabi, Acting Secretary-General; Dr. Khalifa Mubarak Al Dhaheri; and Dr. Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Haddad, participated in various sessions and workshops. These discussions addressed the role of artificial intelligence in fatwa issuance and explored ways to align technological advancements with legitimate principles and national considerations.
Dr. Al Derei underlined the importance of safeguarding the fatwa system from fragility and preparing for AI-related challenges with institutional approaches. He emphasized the need to preserve legitimate constants and prevent the exploitation of fatwas for extremism or ideological purposes, while effectively utilizing technical expertise and building secure, reliable databases.
Dr. Kaabi noted the conference as a vital platform for exchanging expertise on employing AI technologies in institutional fatwa issuance. He stressed that the digital revolution necessitates adopting a moderate methodology that keeps pace with technological developments while maintaining the authenticity of the fatwa message.