The socio-political situation marked by terrorism in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso is linked to “bad fatwas”, these legal consultations given by interpreters of Islamic law who do not have the knowledge religious, estimated, Sunday, the dean of advanced studies and scientific research at the University of Niamey, doctor Ali Yacouba .
"I will say that all the problems we have in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso emanate from these bad fatwas", argued, on Sunday, the dean of advanced studies and scientific research at the University of Niamey, also a member from the Niger section of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulemas (FM6OA), Doctor Ali Yacouba.
Doctor Yacouba, who was giving a lecture during the work of the international symposium on "the rules of the fatwa in the African context", in Marrackeh, alluded to the interpretations of people who "have no religious knowledge or knowledge of the Arabic language" and who have proclaimed themselves muftis, that is to say interpreters of Islamic law.
For him, this category of Muslim scholars and theologians is a source of problems, particularly for West African states because of “the controversies and allegations they maintain because of their lack of culture”.
"There are so many of them and they are the ones who create a lot of discord", he insists, specifying that on the contrary, the "official" muftis, members of Islamic associations or federations who are appointed, recognized and consulted by governments issue fatwas based on religious precepts.
Dr. Ali Yacouba recommends to resolve the "crisis of the fatwa", in this case in the countries of the Sahel, among other things, the creation of a council of fatwa within the religious sections, the unification of the source of the fatwa and the banning of self-proclaimed muftis.
The international symposium on the practice of the fatwa in Africa which is being held from July 8 to 10, 2023 in Marrakech, at the initiative of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulemas, brings together more than 350 Ulemas from 72 African countries, Europe, Asia and South America.
Source: Burkina Information Agency