As part of his official visit to the United Kingdom, H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, delivered the keynote speech at the opening session of a specialized scientific seminar titled: “Contemporary Issues and Developments in Marriage and Divorce in Western Contexts.” The seminar was organized by the Fatwa and Sharia Affairs Board of the Islamic Cultural Centre in London over two days, Friday and Saturday, 16–17 Muharam 1447, corresponding to 11–12 July 2025, in the presence of a select group of scholars, Sharia and legal researchers, imams, and representatives of Islamic institutions from across the UK and European countries.

The Secretary General of the Academy began his speech by congratulating the Islamic Cultural Centre on establishing the Fatwa and Sharia Affairs Board, commending the outstanding efforts of H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al-Dubayan, the Centre’s Director, in consolidating a moderate religious authority in Britain. He also extended congratulations to H.E. Dr. Fayid Said, Secretary General of the Board, for his blessed efforts in organizing this high-quality seminar, expressing his deep appreciation for the attendance of the esteemed imams from various European countries and commending their commitment to unifying fatwa authorities in Europe to promote harmony, moderation, and stability within Muslim communities. His Excellency emphasized the importance of institutionalized collective Ijtihad in addressing contemporary family issues, particularly those related to the validation and documentation of marriage and divorce, guardianship in marriage, electronic procedures of marriage and divorce, civil separation, and spousal rights in Western legal environments. He stressed that dealing with these issues requires balanced jurisprudence that considers Maqasid, accommodates the specificities of reality, while respecting the laws and regulations of the host countries.

Accordingly, His Excellency highlighted the necessity of avoiding individual fatwas on contemporary issues and being cautious of anomalous rulings that contradict the constants of religion and provoke confusion and division. He also warned against importing fatwas from foreign contexts and applying them to situations they do not recognize or suit, affirming that fatwas should inherently be locally rooted, emerging from their own environment and fully aware of their context and circumstances—not imported or exported.

The Secretary General of the Academy concluded his speech by affirming the readiness of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy to reinforce cooperation with the Islamic Cultural Centre and the Fatwa and Sharia Affairs Board through supporting academic, training, and research programs, striving to serve Muslims in the West and enabling them to adhere to their faith with awareness, balance, and constructive coexistence.