Madinah Governor Highlights Visitor Facilitation At Second Fatwa Symposium

Governor of Madinah Region Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz attended the second edition of the symposium "Fatwa in the Two Holy Mosques and Its Impact on Facilitating Procedures for Visitors." The event was organised by the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, in collaboration with the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta at the Prophet's Mosque.

Secretary-General of the Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Dr. Fahad Al-Majid delivered a speech on behalf of the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh. He emphasised that development, expansion, and construction at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah and the Grand Mosque in Makkah highlight Saudi Arabia's prioritisation of these holy sites. This commitment is evident through meticulous planning, preparation, budgeting, resource allocation, monitoring, and execution.

A significant goal of Saudi Vision 2030 is to enable more Muslims to visit Makkah and Madinah for religious rituals. Sheikh Dr. Fahad Al-Majid highlighted this objective during his speech, underscoring its importance in national planning.

President of Religious Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais remarked that holding this symposium at the Prophet's Mosque underscores its significance. He noted that laws and rulings were historically issued here, enriching discussions on fatwas with specialist input.

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa spoke on behalf of participating entities. He discussed recent fatwas issued to facilitate pilgrimage and highlighted a decision by the Council of Senior Scholars regarding Hajj permits. This decision addresses difficulties faced by pilgrims without such permits.

The governor also witnessed agreements signed between various institutions including the Presidency of Religious Affairs at both mosques, Islamic University of Madinah, Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta, and Al-Maarefa University. These agreements aim to establish a Fatwa Chair for research at the Prophet's Mosque and adopt technological tools like AI for fatwas.

Technological Advancements

An exhibition held alongside the symposium showcased advancements in fatwas. Prince Salman observed robots providing explanations, guidance, and fatwas to visitors via video communication.

Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais stated that "the noble approval to hold this symposium reflects continuous efforts by our leaders to serve both holy mosques." He added that these efforts convey a noble message worldwide based on a moderate approach derived from the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

The event demonstrated Saudi Arabia's dedication to enhancing visitor experiences at its holy sites through modern technology and scholarly research.

With inputs from SPA