His Excellency Professor Dr. Koutou Moustapha Sano, Secretary‑General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, delivered a speech at the opening session of the 17th Islamic Finance Symposium organized by the Saudi National Bank on Wednesday, 2 Sha‘ban 1447 AH, corresponding to 21 January 2026, in Riyadh, with the participation of a distinguished group of scholars, members of Shariah boards, experts, and specialists in the Islamic financial industry.
At the beginning of his speech, His Excellency expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Shariah Board of the Saudi National Bank—its chairman and members—for their blessed supervision of this pioneering scientific symposium, which has become a model to be emulated and a solid scholarly reference for strengthening integration and coordination among Shariah boards in Islamic banks and financial institutions. He noted that such efforts contribute to unifying (ijtihad) juristic reasoning, reinforcing the principles of Shariah governance, and supporting the progress of the financial industry.
His Excellency also called on Shariah boards in Islamic banks and financial institutions to strengthen cooperation and integration with the International Islamic Fiqh Academy and to make full use of its resolutions and recommendations, as they represent the product of rigorous collective institutional ijtihad and serve as a supreme juristic reference for the operations of Islamic banks and financial institutions. This, he emphasised, enhances Shariah compliance, keeps pace with industry developments, and strengthens stakeholders’ confidence.
His Excellency extended special thanks, praise, and gratitude for the great support and generous patronage that the Islamic financial industry receives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and from His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. He noted that this noble support paves the way, God willing, for Riyadh to become, in the near future, a global capital of the Islamic financial industry, given its leading scientific, institutional, and legislative capabilities.
At the conclusion of his speech, His Excellency expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to His Excellency Professor Dr. Saad bin Nasser Al‑Shathri, Chairman of the Shariah Board of the Saudi National Bank, for his tireless efforts and outstanding contributions in guiding the work of the Board and supervising this scientific symposium, thereby enhancing its standing and affirming its pivotal role in serving and developing the Islamic financial industry.
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Secretary‑General of the Academy Visits the Consulate General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan His Excellency Professor Dr. Qutb Mustafa Sano, Secretary‑General of the Academy, paid an official visit on 29 Sha‘ban 1447 AH, corresponding to 17 February 2026, to the Consulate General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Jeddah. His Excellency and his accompanying delegation were received by His Excellency Ambassador Mohammed Salah Sobhi Hameed, Consul General and Permanent Representative of Jordan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, who welcomed him warmly and expressed his pleasure at the visit. He praised the distinguished intellectual efforts undertaken by the Academy under His Excellency’s leadership in addressing numerous religious and intellectual issues of concern to the Islamic world, affirming his personal honor in meeting His Excellency again and Jordan’s keenness to strengthen channels of communication and cooperation with the Academy, especially in areas of mutual interest. For his part, His Excellency expressed his deep gratitude and great appreciation to the Ambassador for the warm reception and generous hospitality. He commended the tremendous support, gracious care, and continuous attention the Academy has received from the leadership and people of Jordan since its establishment. He also conveyed his sincere appreciation for the Ambassador’s recent visit to the Academy, affirming the Academy’s full readiness to do everything that would enhance partnership, cooperation, coordination, and communication between the Academy and Jordanian religious and academic institutions. His Excellency was accompanied by Mr. Mohammed Al‑Mundhir Rida Al‑Shawk, Director of the Office and Protocol; Mr. Mohammed Waleed Al‑Idrisi, Director of Media and Public Relations; Ms. Sarah Amjad Badawi, Director of the Department of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly; and Mr. Amjad Ibrahim Al‑Mansi, Head of the Protocol Section.
