During his participation in the inaugural Advisory Panel meeting for Singapore’s Islamic Studies University project, H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, spoke at the “Fatwa Workshop 2025” organized by Singapore’s Mufti Office and Islamic Religious Panel on June 23, 2025.

In his intervention, H.E. Prof. Koutoub Sano highlighted AI’s potential benefits for contemporary fatwa issuance, noting its capacity to accelerate research, compile religious texts, and connect legal maxims to emerging situations. However, His Excellency cautioned against over-reliance on AI without proper scholarly oversight, emphasizing that AI lacks the qualifications for independent Ijtihad and cannot properly weigh conflicting evidence. His Excellency stressed that fatwas must only be issued by qualified scholars with comprehensive knowledge of Quran and Sunnah, deep understanding of Maqasid objectives and expertise in juristic differences, describing AI as a communication tool between questioners and muftis rather than a replacement for human scholars. Drawing from medical field analogy, H.E. Prof. Sano compared issuing fatwas without proper qualifications to practicing medicine without a license – both potentially harmful to people’s wellbeing, whether spiritual or physical. His Excellency particularly warned against individual fatwas on complex public matters like economics, medicine or environmental issues, recommending these be handled by specialized juristic councils due to their far-reaching implications.

The speech was well-received by participants, who appreciated its balanced perspective on embracing technological advances while maintaining traditional scholarly standards in Sharia rulings.