Mohamed Issa: “Ibadites and Malikites derive legitimacy from Holy Koran and Prophet’s Sunnah”

Algerian minister of religious affairs and Wakfs, Mohamed Issa has asserted that the Ghardaia-based Ibadite and Malikite communities derive both their legitimacy from the lofty precepts of the holy Koran and the noble Sunnah of Prophet of Islam Mohamed, (God’s peace and blessings be upon him).

Speaking during a visit to the province of Ghardaia in southern Algeria, Mr Mohamed Issa, brought into focus the two communities’ salient religious contribution extended throughout the ages for the sake of the unity and cohesion of the Algerian people.

The religious affairs minister urged the two communities to heed the calls of wisdom and tolerance and to brush aside their current divergences and usher in a new era of peace, harmony and solidarity as they ancestors used to live in peaceful communion with no inter-community problem being reported.

On the spot, Mr Mohamed Issa will perform the Friday prayer in the city of Ghardaia with members of the two communities in a bid to clear the air and pave the way for peace and reconciliation in the province which has witnessed over the past months a wave of inter-communal violence.

Meanwhile, the biannual meeting of the National Scientific Council of Religious Affairs got underway Thursday in Ghardaia (600-km south of Algiers).

Several issues relating to the compliance of the credits granted by Zakat Fund with Islam precepts, the impact of coronavirus on the performance of the rituals of Hajj (pilgrimage to the Holy places of Islam) and Umrah (small pilgrimage), as well as the electrical stunning (electronarcosis) of livestock before slaughter and the penal responsibility of drivers in road accidents, will be “thoroughly examined” during this meeting.

These issues will be debated before the release of Fatwas, based on the Islamic principles and Shariah Law, in order to allow the decision-makers to promulgate laws that comply with the Islamic religion in all its diversity, the organizers said.

Over 200 Ulama (religious scholars), academics and specialists in the interpretation of the Holy Qur’an and in different scientific and technical fields, are working together Thursday and Friday for the release of fatwas in the form of recommendations.

The two-day meeting, which has brought together chairmen of local councils of Ulama of the 48 provinces of Algeria, professors and specialists in Qur’an and Shariah sciences.

 Minister of Religious Affairs and Wakfs Mohamed Aissa, underlined to this effect the need to attach great importance to consultation and dialogue between specialists in Fikh for jurisprudence complying with Shariah Law.