H.E. Prof. Koutoub Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, received in his office in Jeddah, on Tuesday 10 Sha’aban 1442, corresponding to 23 March 2021, a delegation from the International Center for Research and Studies (MEDAD), compromising Dr. Yahya Muhammad Zamzami, Chairman of the Center’s Board of Directors, and Dr. Khaled Abdullah Al-Suraihi, Secretary General of the Center.

The meeting opened with a speech by Dr. Khaled Al-Suraihi in which he introduced the Center known as MEDAD as a non-profit research center established in 1427 H by H.E. Sheikh Saleh Al-H’assayn -may Allah the Almighty grant him mercy- along with some personalities at that time, to be an intellectual center concerned with enriching charitable activities through research and information that supports charitable initiatives that are based on scientific and professional foundations and that enter in permanent partnership with charitable and philanthropic organizations, be they governments, institutions or individuals.

For his part, Dr. Yahya Zamzami explained that the Center is currently working on the preparation of a series of studies on Shariah norms for charitable activities and works, expressing in this regard the willingness of the Center to organize joint conferences and seminars with the International Islamic Fiqh Academy on a regular basis to discuss contemporary problems, calamities and developments relating to charitable works in order to provide appropriate Shariah solutions.

H.E. Prof. Koutoub Sano welcomed the delegation and thanked them for their visit, praying to Allah to reward H.E. Sheikh Saleh Al-Hussain and his fellow collaborators with the best reward- for establishing this Center and laying its solid foundations, sensing at an early stage the importance of mature scientific research in the field of supporting, remunerating and directing charitable works. His Excellency also welcomed the delegation’s proposal to organize conferences and seminars in partnership with the Academy to advance charitable works, stressing the Academy’s willingness to cooperate with research, scientific and intellectual centers and institutions that serve Islam and humanity worldwide.

On this occasion, His Excellency commended the ongoing cooperation between the Academy and the Regional Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, in addition to the importance of holding regular and special seminars to raise the public’s the jurisprudence and Shariah-related awareness on the importance of charitable activities and their urgency in the modern era.

On his part, His Excellency, the Secretary General of the Academy, warmly welcomed the proposal of Dr. Khaled Al-Suraihi regarding the creation of an electronic platform attached to the website of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy in order to communicate with charitable associations and centers, find and solve their problems with appropriate legal solutions based on Shariah. His Excellency concluded the meeting by inviting MEDAD to present a proposal for a cooperation agreement with the Academy.