As part of the vision of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy to reach out to organizations for cultural engagement with the view to clarifying misconceptions and misrepresentations about Islam, its Secretary General HE Professor Moustapha Sano had a meeting with an Academic delegation from Japan on 15 Rabiu’l Awal 1444 corresponding to 11 October 2022. The delegation included the Consul general of Japan and its Representative to the OIC, HE Shimmura Izuru, as well as Professor Hosaka Shuji, Director of the Institute of Energy Economics in Japan and Professor Ikehata Fukiko, Ritsumeikan University Japan.

The Secretary general welcomed the guests and expressed his delight with their visit and the excellent relationships between Japan and OIC member countries. he also briefed the delegation of the visit the OIC delegation had to Afghanistan led by the Academy and that the visit was good and they had a positive response from the leadership of Afghanistan. In addition, he emphasized the importance of education to nation building and development, noting that education is a right that all should enjoy and that it is bedrock of any society. HE professor Sano added that the role of Japan in restoration of normalcy to Afghanistan and the relief efforts there are highly commendable and appreciated.

On his part Ambassador Izuru introduced the two professors he accompanied to the Academy noting the pivotal role of the Academy in promoting cultural engagement, moderation and dialogue. in his turn, Professor Shuki thanked Professor Sano and the academy for the warm welcome and hospitality reiterating the international reputation of the Academy in promoting dialogue and understanding among nations and civilizations.

Professor Fukiko, specialist in Islamic studies and international relations with interest in interfaith dialogue, consensus making in the Muslim world, collective ijtihad and OIC among others, thanked HE Professor Sano for the opportunity for this visit to the Academy and to be able to ask him questions with reference to collective Ijtihad, consensus building and the process of arriving at resolutions. Professor Sano briefly outlined the general parameters of collective ijtihad and the criteria for becoming a Mujtahid in terms of the deep understanding of the Shariah, its principles, supreme objectives and consequences of actions. he also pointed out the need to differentiate between culture and religion and activism and scholarship. Professor Sano also emphasizing the need to promote peaceful coexistence and rationality. He ended by saying “violence is an expression of failure and irrationality’ that is contradictory to Islamic values.

The Meeting was also attended by Mr. Mohammed Al-Mondher El-Chouk, Director of the Cabinet and legal Affairs Department, Ms. Sarah Badewi, Director of the Department of Family, Women, Childhood and the Elderly Affairs and Dr. Alhagi Manta Drammeh, Head of the International Cooperation and External Relations Division at the Academy