President al-Sharaa’s speech on the occasion of forming the Supreme Iftaa Council and the appointment of the Grand Mufti of the Republic

Speech from the President of the Republic, Mr. Ahmad al-Sharaa, on the occasion of the formation of the Supreme Iftaa Council and the appointment of the Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic:

“Sham (Damascus) has always been a scientific and civilizational land -a beacon, radiating goodness to the entire nation, until Syria fell into the hands of the corrupt gang, bringing forth evil and widespread calamity, and working to demolish Syria piece by piece.

Today, we are all striving to rebuild Syria with its cadres, scholars, and children. It is no secret to anyone the responsibility of issuing fatwas, their trustworthiness, and their role in building the new state, especially after the office of the fatwa was subjected to violations by those unqualified to hold it.

It was necessary for us to restore what the fallen regime destroyed in every field, and one of the most important steps is the reinstatement of the position of the Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic. Today, this position is entrusted to one of the finest scholars of Sham, Sheikh Osama bin Abdul Karim al-Rifai, may God protect him.

Furthermore, the issuance of fatwas should become a collective responsibility through the formation of a Supreme Iftaa Council, from which fatwas will be issued after diligent research and inquiry, for issuing fatwas is a great trust and a divine responsibility.

The Iftaa Council also aims to regulate the moderate religious discourse, blending tradition and modernity, while preserving our identity, resolving disputes that lead to division, and closing the doors to evil and conflict.

I ask Almighty God, in this blessed month, to assist us in rebuilding our beloved Syria into a just, merciful, strong, and trustworthy state with dignity and pride for its people. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.”