Resolutions-of-Islamic-Fiqh-Council-1

various sources of Ijtehad. The Islamic Fiqh is full of rules andsources for Ijtehad and inference of rulings. The person who isengaged with Fiqh (understanding of the religion) has a highstatus in Islam. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) isreported to have said: “The person, whom Allah wants to dogood is blessed with Fiqh (understanding of religion).If the textual provision clearly implies a ruling on thehappening, the Fiqh scholar would adopt this ruling and apply it,and if there is no such textual provision which has a direct rulingon the happening, the Fiqh scholar would derive a ruling on thehappening on the basis of inference in accordance with theestablished methods of inference, which is called Ijtehad ininterpretation of the texts and their implications as well as inapplication of the basic rules and sources of Ijtehad on newdevelopments in the life of people.In this age when Muslims are in a large number and theircountries are spread from east to west and while a number ofthem are living in non-Muslim countries and their issues arenumerous, some of the issues being alien to the Islamic society,there is a dire need for collective Ijtehad of the Muslim scholars.The institutions of the Islamic Fiqh, where a number of Muslimscholars are taking part through their contributions, and speciallythe Muslim World League being a major Islamic organization atthe level of Muslim Ummah, are closely concerned withMuslims' affairs and issues. It established an Islamic FiqhCouncil in Makkah Mukarramah and selected distinguished Fiqhscholars of the contemporary age.On this occasion, I am pleased to highlight the good efforts,which the Islamic Fiqh Council has been exerting through itsactivities, studies, and discussions that resulted in more than 100decisions and resolutions. This was an outcome of 18 sessions ofthe Islamic Fiqh Council in a time-span of more than 25 years.18