With Allah’s help and success, the Secretariat of the Academy held on Tuesday 23 Rabi` al-Awal 1442, corresponding to 9 November 2020, the first scientific Forum entitled “Towards a scientific partnership between the International Islamic Fiqh Academy and Shariah Boards to strengthen the Islamic Financial Industry”.

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, President of the Council of the Academy, Adviser to the Saudi Royal Court, Imam and Khateeb at the Grand Mosque chaired the Forum, which was attended by the heads, secretaries and members of the Shariah boards in banks and financial institutions in the country of headquarters, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

H.E. Sheikh Dr Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid delivered the opening speech at the Forum, which is the first of its kind since the establishment of the Academy forty years ago. His Excellency spoke of the importance of this Forum to build bridges of cooperation and coordination between the Academy and scientific councils and institutions in the headquarters country. His Excellency also thanked Their Eminences for their participation and their suggestions.

H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary-General of the Academy, delivered a speech in which he praised the generous support and patronage the Academy receives from the wise Saudi leadership. He also expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Excellency the Secretary General of the OIC, and to His Excellency the President of the Academy for his guidance and leadership of the Academy. His Excellency then thanked Their Eminences for their response to the invitation of the Academy to participate in this Forum, which is considered as the first of the periodic scientific meetings with the main institutions and scientific councils in the headquarters country.

During the meeting, Their Excellencies Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Manea, Adviser to the Royal Saudi Court, member of the Council of Senior Scholars, and Sheikh Dr Abdullah Al-Mutlaq, Advisor to the Royal Saudi Court, member of the Council of Senior Scholars addressed the Forum. Honorable participants also took the floor such as Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Qari, Dr. Abdullah bin Khanin, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Atram, Dr Yousef Al-Khalawi, Dr. Omar Zuhair Hafez, Dr. Al-Ayashi Fadad and Dr. Abdullah Al-Ammar.

Following the deliberations and comments, the Council issued a statement and recommendations, which will be published at a later date.