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 universities and scientific institutes inside and outside the Muslim world, His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, and His Excellency Prof. Sharifuddin Shaarani, Rector of the University of Islamic Sciences Malaysia, signed a memorandum of cooperation between the two institutions, on Wednesday, 19 Muharram 1444H, corresponding to 17 August 2022G, in the Malaysian administrative capital, Putrajaya.

This new agreement aims to build a strategic partnership in the field of mutual benefit from the scientific and research capabilities and abilities of the two institutions, and a joint study of contemporary calamities and issues in order to direct and rationalize them. The agreement also aims to jointly organize conferences and symposia, hold workshops and training, exchange publications, and represent the two sides in conferences and symposia that are held with the knowledge of each in the field of common interest between them.

After signing the memorandum, His Excellency the Secretary General of the Academy expressed his great pleasure and great pride in completing this important agreement for both parties, praising the prestigious scientific level that characterizes Malaysian universities in general and the qualitative development witnessed by this university in particular, praising the promising programs and the well-devised plans included in its curricula, which calls for optimism for a prosperous future for Islamic sciences that combine Islamic and scientific disciplines. 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 is brimming with, by recruiting male and female researchers from its various faculties and institutes to participate in the Academy’s sessions, seminars and conferences, in order to enhance the close scientific and research cooperation between the two institutions in various domains.

For his part, His Excellency the Rector of the University expressed his sincere thanks and great appreciation to His Excellency the Secretary General for his endeavor to complete this agreement between the two parties, which serves Muslims in Malaysia and the region of Southeast Asia in general, praising the leading scientific position and the good international reputation enjoyed by the Academy inside and outside the member states of the OIC. His Excellency also expressed his aspiration for a prosperous phase of fruitful cooperation between the university and the Academy on all issues and topics of common interest, especially the joint organization of conferences and seminars, the exchange of scientific visits, and the joint preparation of research and studies concerned with guiding calamities in all fields, especially the field of fatwas, and the halal industry through its international center for fatwas and halal products. His Excellency concluded by expressing the University’s aspiration to make the most of the scientific expertise and capabilities of the members and experts of the Academy in the near future.

It should be noted that, in implementation of the terms of the memorandum, the two parties agreed to form a specialized committee to determine aspects of cooperation between them, and ways and mechanisms of implementation as envisaged in the memorandum itself.