Q. Who is Ali Gomaa?
A. His full name is Ali Gomaa Muhammad Abdel Wahhab. He is currently the Grand Mufti of Egypt, the second highest religious position in the country. As part of his official duties, he heads the National Fatwa Office (Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah) which issues over 3,000 legal opinions (fatwas) per day in answer to questions that come in from all across the world. He is a jurist by training, a writer, an orator, and a spiritual guide. more...
Q. What is a fatwa?
A. A fatwa is a non-binding, Islamic legal opinion issued by a qualified scholar, in response to a question concerning an existent issue posed by a member of the public. As such, fatwas provide practical guidance in an ever-changing world. more...
Q. What is a mufti?
A. A mufti is an Islamic scholar who has a deep understanding of both Islamic law and everyday life, and has gone through the rigorous training necessary to link the two. more...
Q. Who is qualified to issue a fatwa?
A. Only muftis who have gone through the proper training are qualified to issue fatwas. Opinions issued by anyone else are mere opinions.
Q. How are fatwas issued?
A. The first step in issuing a fatwa is for the mufti to have a clear understanding of the question; this is acquired through consultation with the person requesting the fatwa. The mufti then examines the traditional Islamic legal corpus for guiding principles and precedents relevant to the question. The mufti takes into consideration the specific conditions surrounding the case in question, and taking into account what is in the individual's interest. He then gives the ruling most appropriate for the person asking the question.
Q. What are his views on terrorism?
A. Sheikh Ali Gomaa has been an outspoken opponent of violence of every form, especially under the false pretense of religion. He has gone to great lengths to paint terrorists not as Muslim activists, but deluded criminals who need to be stopped. Before his appointment to the position of Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Gomaa spent much time with jailed extremists in Egypt and helped them through a process of rehabilitation in which they renounced their extremist views.
Q. What are his views on women?
A. Sheikh Ali Gomaa has been a champion of women’s rights, especially in the cause of uprooting the practice of FGM. In 2006 he hosted a conference in Cairo condemning the practice and issuing a fatwa outlawing it according to Islamic law. He has also championed the rights of women to be judges and heads of state.
Q. Can organizations request fatwas or do they have to be requested by individuals?
A. Fatwas can be officially requested by individuals, institutions, and organizations alike.
Q. Can fatwas be requested in languages other than Arabic?
A. Sheikh Ali Gomaa, through Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah, answers fatwas in Arabic, English, French, and German.
Q. Does Sheikh Ali Gomaa issue fatwas concerning matters outside of Egypt and the Middle East?
A. Sheikh Ali Gomaa and the institution he runs, Dar al-Ifta, employs a number of consultants and experts who posses the requisite understanding needed to issue fatwas concerning matters in all parts of the world.
Q. What is Sheikh Ali Gomaa’s relationship with the Egyptian Government?
A. Sheikh Ali Gomaa is the head of Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah which is officially part of the Egyptian Ministry of Justice, however he retains complete autonomy in his rulings, opinions, and fatwas.
Q. What is Dar al-Ifta's relationship with al-Azhar?
A. There is no official link between Dar al-Ifta and al-Azhar. However, all of the Muftis are Azhar graduates and the Grand Mufti is a member of al-Azhar's Council for Islamic Research.