His Excellency Professor Emeritus Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of OIC, participated in the 9th International Conference of the World Fatwa Authorities, titled “Fatwa and Ethical Construction in a Rushing World,” which took place on Monday and Tuesday, 23-24 Muharram 1446 (29-30 July 2024) in Cairo.

In his address during the opening session, His Excellency spoke on behalf of the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He began by saying, “From Jeddah, the Gateway to the Two Holy Mosques, where the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Secretariat General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy are headquartered, I bring you greetings from H.E. Mr. Hussein Taha Ibrahim, Secretary General of the OIC; H.E. Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, President of the Academy; and the greetings of the Ummah’s scholars.” He then expressed the OIC’s and its organs’ deep appreciation to H.E. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, for his generous patronage of the conference, and to the Egyptian government and people for their warm hospitality, praying for continued stability and prosperity for the country.

His Excellency underscored the importance of this conference in the context of the rapidly changing world: “This conference is being held at a time when the world is witnessing rapid developments in thought and behavior, shifts in concepts and premises, changes in attitudes and values, and above all, a fierce struggle between right and wrong, light and darkness, mercy and cruelty, justice and injustice. These challenges have led to the outbreak of catastrophic wars and bloody conflicts, claiming the lives of innocent women and children… The Ummah’s resilience today, as peoples, societies, and nations, in facing such tragedies and disasters, lies in uniting around ethics and morals, which are the cornerstone of development, renaissance, and progress.”

He highlighted the profound impact of high morals on the spread of Islam and global peace, stating, “Ask history, and it will confirm that our authentic religion was not spread by the sword or bullets, but by the unique values that drew people across the East and West to embrace Islam. History is the best witness that the civilization under which humanity once thrived and where tolerance and cooperation flourished was built on high morals and good character. History also shows that the decline of civilizations was due to the deterioration of morals, as they are the spirit that gives strength and immunity to civilizations; their collapse leads to the loss of this strength and immunity.”

His Excellency emphasized that today, ethics and morals are more threatened than ever before: “Morals are being mocked everywhere, as seen in the events surrounding the Paris Olympics, which reflect the moral decay affecting the image of Jesus Christ, PBUH. The erosion of moral values in the contemporary world order is why the world watches in cold blood as Palestinian children are murdered and starved by Zionists. It is the fragility of moral values in the hearts of those who control the dominant world order that allows them to indifferently witness the suffering of Palestinian women subjected to violations and aggression. Indeed, the lack of moral values among the arrogant on earth has led the world to observe passively the trials, tribulations, and displacement of Palestinian elders. The absence of these values among Zionist aggressors is what enables them to persist in bombing hospitals, places of worship, universities, and schools, and in destroying infrastructure, day and night, targeting the sick, infirm, and elderly.”

He continued, “The OIC renews its call to the Ummah and the free world to urgently put an end to the abhorrent occupation and brutal injustice that occupied Palestine has faced for decades at the hands of Zionists devoid of humanity, mercy, and justice. It renews its call to international organizations and institutions, as well as Al-Azhar, to cooperate and show solidarity in addressing the challenges that confront values and principles today by promoting high morals among younger generations and by strengthening these morals in school and university curricula and activities.”

His Excellency concluded by congratulating Egypt’s leadership and people, represented by the Egyptian Dar al-Ifta, on hosting this timely and significant conference. He urged the world’s fatwa boards and authorities to enhance awareness of high morals by emphasizing their importance in the advancement of nations, the progress of peoples, and the achievement of stability, development, and progress. He expressed confidence that Allah’s promise is certain, that His victory for His believing servants is inevitable, and that colonization, oppression, and tyranny will soon end. “On that day, the believers will rejoice in the victory of the Almighty, as He wills, though most people do not know.”

Finally, His Excellency closed his speech by reciting a selected poem by Poet Ahmed Shawqi:

“Your character shapes your fate;

Straighten your morals, and your soul will be straight.

A nation can not stand if morals decay;

When they are lost, mourn the day.

If people’s morals fall apart,

Build no more; they’ve lost their heart.

You laid a foundation, strong and sure,

But they betrayed it, so it endures no more.

Once revered, now stripped of awe,

For morals are what command respect and law.

When morals guide, hands reach the stars;

People thrive by the light of their guiding stars.

Nations last while morals stay;

If they vanish, nations fade away.”