The new Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), H.E. Hussain Ibrahim Taha, received the Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday 24 Jumada al Ula 1443H correspondent to 28 December 2021G, at the headquarters of the OIC in Jeddah.

His Excellency the Secretary General of OIC welcomed His Excellency the Secretary General of IIFA and his accompanying delegation, thanked them for the visit, and expressed his strong desire to give all the support that the Academy needs as one of the important affiliates of the OIC that is given the task of issuing fatwas (religious and juristic verdicts) on new developments and challenges that concern Muslims around the world. The Secretary General of OIC also expressed his full confidence in the ability of the Secretary General of Academy to uplift the Academy to higher heights by further enhancing its performance and diversifying its activities and programmes. H.E. the Secretary General of OIC called upon H.E. the Secretary General of the Academy to strengthen cooperation and collaboration with all academic, educational, and religious institutions inside and outside the Muslim world in order to organise collaborative and targeted programmes and activities aimed at presenting the true image of Shariah and combatting extremism, violence, and terrorism.

On his part, the Secretary General of IIFA, on behalf of the Presidency, General Secretariat of the Academy, its members, and experts thanked the Secretary General of OIC for his hospitality and warm welcome congratulating him once again on his assumption of the General Secretariat of OIC praying for him all success. The Secretary General noted that this is demonstration of the confidence the royal highnesses and excellencies of member states bestowed on his person. His Excellency the Secretary General of the Academy hoped that, through the Secretary General of OIC, the Academy would receive from the OIC more financial and moral support so that it could achieve its vision and implement its mission and goals through the organisation of programmes that are aimed at cross-fertilisation of ideas and integration of knowledge between the jurists of different Islamic schools of jurisprudence on one hand and the scholars and experts of the Ummah in natural and human sciences on another. Thus, the Academy would be able to reach tangible solutions and answers to challenges and questions of the contemporary world that concern Muslims everywhere.

The Secretary General highlighted that the aim of such activities and programmes is the eagerness of the Academy for the collaboration between the jurists and experts of the Ummah in promoting moderation and strengthening the culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence between communities and nations. They are also intended to rectify misconceptions and stereotypical misrepresentations about Islam and its teachings.

The Secretary General concluded his speech by giving an overview of the Academy, its inception, mission, and administrative structure, as well as its latest Strategic Plan. He called upon H.E. the new Secretary General to kindly invite the member countries and organisations inside and outside the Muslim world to give their generous support to the Academy in order to finance and implement its Five-Year Strategic Plan and to the Academy Waqf Fund. The Academy hopes that the Waqf Fund would soon be the permanent source of funding for its activities.

Finally, His Excellency the Secretary General of the Academy presented a souvenir and a number of the Academy’s publications to His Excellency the Secretary General of OIC.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohamed Kalbo, Director General of the Office of the Secretary General of the OIC, Mr Mohamed Al-Mondher El-Chok, Director of the Office of the Secretary General of the Academy, and Ms. Sarah Bint Amjad Hussein, Director of Family and Women’s Affairs at the Academy.