Within the framework of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy’s (IIFA) endeavor to achieve intellectual convergence and knowledge integration between the leading scientific institutions in the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and a desire to benefit from the expertise and experiences that are rich in prestigious and well established universities and scientific institutes inside and outside the Muslim world, His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, and His Excellency Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mohamed bin Zayed University for Human Sciences, signed a strategic cooperation agreement between the two institutions on Sunday 07 Shawwal 1443H corresponding to 08 May 2022G, at the university’s headquarters in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

This new agreement aims to build a strategic partnership in the field of mutual benefit from the scientific and research capacities and capabilities of the two institutions, and a joint study of contemporary calamities and issues for their proper direction and rationalization. The agreement also aims to jointly organize conferences and symposia, hold workshops and training, exchange publications, and represent the two sides in the work of conferences and symposia that are held by each of them in the field of common interest between them.

After signing the memorandum, His Excellency the Secretary General expressed his great joy at the clear development and steady progress that this young university is witnessing, praising the insightful message that this university aims to achieve, and praising the promising programs and the excellent plans included in its curricula, which calls for optimism for the future of its graduates each year. His Excellency also expressed his aspiration that this agreement would be an opportunity for the Academy to benefit from the expertise and scientific capabilities that this university has, by recruiting researchers from its various faculties and institutes to participate in the Academy’s sessions, seminars and conferences, in order to enhance close scientific and research cooperation between the two institutions in various fields. His Excellency concluded by calling to start implementing the first joint work represented in a comprehensive review of the new revised edition of the largest contemporary encyclopedia of jurisprudence and fundamental principles, which is ” Zayed’s Encyclopedia of Fiqh and Usuli Maxims “, in an effort to enable scholars and researchers around the world to benefit from this unique scientific treasure.

For his part, His Excellency the President of the University expressed his great pleasure on the occasion of signing this memorandum in order to enhance relations of cooperation and partnership between the University and the Academy, which is the largest scientific body for contemporary collective ijtihad. He also expressed his great appreciation and admiration for the impressive scientific position occupied by the Academy in the Muslim world and beyond, and for its distinguished jurisprudential and intellectual contributions in the field of rationalizing religious discourse, spreading the values of moderation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, strengthening belonging and commitment to the requirements of citizenship, and rejecting all forms of extremism, fanatism and violence. His Excellency added that Mohamed bin Zayed University is looking forward to making the most of the renowned expertise and scientific capabilities of the members and experts of the Academy, noting the university’s readiness to start activating all provisions of the agreement in scientific and research fields of common interest, and to exchange knowledge sources and publications.

In implementation of the terms of the memorandum, the two parties agreed to form a specialized committee to define aspects of cooperation between them, and the methods and mechanisms of implementation as envisaged in the agreement.

The signing ceremony was attended from the University side by His Excellency Dr. Khaled Al Dhaheri, President of the University, and His Excellency Dr. Khalifa Al Dhaheri, Vice President of the University for Academic Affairs. On the side of the Academy, Mrs. Sarah Amjad Badewi, Director of the Family and Women’s Affairs Department, and Mr. Amjad Ibrahim Al-Mansi, Head of the Protocol Division.