EGYPT: The Sabah Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on fatwa affairs and development of knowledge with Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta, a renowned and authoritative fatwa institution that serves as an international reference.
The MoU, which covers cooperation in fatwa expertise as well as scholarly training and development, was signed by Sabah Minister of Local Government and Housing who is also the State Executive Councillor for Religious Affairs Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif and the Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt Prof Dr Nazir Mohamad Ayyad at the Dar al-Ifta office in Cairo here, Thursday.
Mohd Arifin said the MoU marked the realisation of a long-term vision to enhance Islamic knowledge and expertise based on Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah (ASWJ) (or known as Sunni Islam – for those who follow the Sunnah (teachings, practices and sayings) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“I had previously paid courtesy calls and submitted proposals to the Mufti of Egypt. Alhamdulillah, continuous efforts were carried out through Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS), Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains), the Sabah Mufti’s Office, the Sabah Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo and Yayasan Sabah officers here.
“These efforts have finally borne fruit with the signing of the MoU,” he said to reporters here on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Prof Dr Nazir expressed hope that the collaboration would serve as a platform to foster closer ties and Islamic brotherhood, while strengthening syariah, dakwah, research and Islamic scholarship through the sharing of expertise among scholars from Dar al-Ifta.
Also present at the signing ceremony were Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Isnin Aliasnih, MUIS head Datuk Seri Yahya Husin, Deputy State Secretary Datuk Hanafiah Kassim, the Deputy Ambassador of Malaysia to Egypt, and Sabah Mufti Datuk Bungsu Aziz Japar.
