As part of the Secretary General’s official visit to the Republic of Indonesia to strengthen the relations of cooperation and partnership between the Academy and the prestigious religious institutions and the leading scientific centers of Indonesia, H.E. Sheikh Miftah Al-Akhbar, President General of the Indonesian Ulema Council, received H.E. Prof. Koutoub Sano on Tuesday 27 Shawal 1442 corresponding to 8 June 2021, at the Council’s headquarters in Jakarta, in the presence of the Council’s Executive Committee members.

H.E. Sheikh Miftah Al-Akhbar welcomed His Excellency and the accompanying delegation and thanked them for their visit, which is the first of its kind for a Secretary General of the Academy in the Republic of Indonesia and its Council of Ulema. His Eminence expressed his great appreciation for this initiative of the Academy towards the Council, which is sincerely aimed at strengthening the relations of cooperation and coordination with the Council in all fields, especially in the field of fatwas and guidance, as the Council is the highest religious authority in Indonesia, in charge of issuing fatwas and resolving issues concerning the religious affairs of the Republic. Its members consist of more than a thousand Indonesian scholars.

For his part, the Secretary General of the Academy expressed his profound thanks to the President General and the honorable members of the Council for the warm welcome and praised the Council’s efforts to guide public life following the teachings of the Shariah. His Excellency also praised the Council for adopting moderation and temperance in its fatwas and jurisprudence, which has had a tremendous impact in combating all forms of extremism and terrorism among Muslims in Indonesia.

On this occasion, His Excellency commended the essential role played by Indonesian scholars in Indonesia, as the most populous Muslim country in the world, calling them in this regard to actively participate in the Academy’s activities and programs, including sessions, conferences and seminars. His Excellency also called on the Presidency and the Council members to make the best use of the Academy’s publications and works, especially the resolutions and recommendations containing detailed religious rulings regarding contemporary calamities, developments and problems.

Wishing to provide the Council with the necessary legal, intellectual and administrative support to improve its performance, the Secretary General of the Academy expressed the Academy’s full readiness to sign a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions before the delegation returns to Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, His Excellency said his great hope that the Council will approach the Ministries of Religious Affairs and Finance to encourage the Indonesian government to host the next session of the Academy, which is expected to be held in October in Jakarta, in sha Allah.

At the end of th two hours meeting, the two sides exchanging memorial gifts and signed a memorandum of understanding. The meeting was attended by Dr. Omar Zuhair Hafez, Special Advisor to the Secretary General, Mrs. Sarah bint Amjad bin Hussein, Director of Family Affairs, and Mr. Khalid Al Ahmadi, Head of the Administrative Affairs Department at the Academy.