Saudi Grand Mufti Urges Utilizing Technology for Islamic Authorities’ Coordination

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti presided over the twenty-third assembly of the Islamic Fiqh Council and the Muslim World League (MWL) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: MWL
Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti presided over the twenty-third assembly of the Islamic Fiqh Council and the Muslim World League (MWL) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: MWL
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Saudi Grand Mufti Urges Utilizing Technology for Islamic Authorities’ Coordination

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti presided over the twenty-third assembly of the Islamic Fiqh Council and the Muslim World League (MWL) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: MWL
Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti presided over the twenty-third assembly of the Islamic Fiqh Council and the Muslim World League (MWL) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: MWL

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh, has highlighted the adaptability of Islamic law in addressing contemporary issues and stressed the increasing responsibility of Islamic scholars amid technological advancements.

Speaking at the twenty-third assembly of the Islamic Fiqh Council and the Muslim World League (MWL) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Al-Sheikh stressed the importance of Islamic scholars tackling modern challenges.

The Grand Mufti emphasized the need for rigorous research, encouraging the use of technology to enhance collaboration among religious authorities.

The gathering, led by Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, included scholars from across the Muslim world.

The assembly aimed to address contemporary issues faced by Muslims and minorities and issue rulings on them.

These rulings will be translated into various languages and shared through media channels to clarify Islamic principles and showcase the adaptability of Islamic jurisprudence.

The opening session emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among scholars and religious bodies to tackle emerging challenges and promote societal stability and happiness.

Secretary-General of the MWL Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa highlighted the assembly’s focus on contemporary legal issues and the preceding research conducted by distinguished scholars.

Al-Issa stressed that it’s crucial for top Islamic scholars to tackle new challenges as part of their scholarly duties.

He emphasized the need for thorough research and interpretation to clarify the legal rulings, aligning with religious responsibilities.

Al-Issa also highlighted the importance of showing that Islamic jurisprudence can handle any emerging issues.

He noted that the Islamic Fiqh Council is the oldest of its kind in Islamic history, and membership is based on academic merit.

The MWL chief reiterated that the assembly has gained trust over its long history and its contributions are highly regarded and discussed in academic and research circles.

Hissein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), highlighted the importance of Saudi Arabia hosting this significant meeting of top religious figures and scholars from the Islamic world.

He emphasized Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting positive trends and safeguarding the Muslim community from various challenges.

Taha stressed the need for contemporary scholarship to keep the Islamic world aligned with global developments. He praised the unity among Islamic scholars from different countries, emphasizing their collective service to their faith.



Saudi Leadership Congratulates President of Pakistan on Independence Day

(R) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, (L) Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
(R) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, (L) Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
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Saudi Leadership Congratulates President of Pakistan on Independence Day

(R) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, (L) Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
(R) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, (L) Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The Saudi leadership congratulated Pakistan on its Independence Day, reaffirming the strong and longstanding ties between the two countries and their peoples, the Saudi Press Agency said Friday.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent a cable of congratulations to President Asif Ali Zardari, wishing him continued good health and happiness and the government and people of Pakistan steady progress and prosperity.

King Salman also praised the strong relations binding the two countries and peoples, highlighting the shared commitment to advancing cooperation across all fields.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, also sent a cable of congratulations to President Zardari on Pakistan’s Independence Day. The Crown Prince similarly wished the Pakistani president good health and happiness and the government and people continued progress and prosperity.

 

 

 


UAE Condemns ‘Hostile Iranian Attack’ on 2 ADNOC Vessels in Hormuz Strait

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 10, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 10, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
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UAE Condemns ‘Hostile Iranian Attack’ on 2 ADNOC Vessels in Hormuz Strait

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 10, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 10, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

The United Arab Emirates on Friday blamed Iran for attacks on two vessels linked to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as they passed through the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.

The UAE foreign ministry denounced what it called "the hostile Iranian attack" targeting two vessels affiliated with ADNOC "with no injuries reported.”

ADNOC confirmed "two of its vessels were attacked while transiting" the waterway on Thursday evening, adding the situation was "brought under control,” Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

Continued attacks in the strait led to the collapse of an April ceasefire between the United States and Iran.


A British Firm Starts Containment of Oil Spill from Stricken Tanker off Oman

A satellite image shows the damaged vessel Caroline Bezengi and an oil slick off the Hallaniyat Islands, off the coast of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, August 5, 2026. Pléiades. CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS/Handout via REUTERS
A satellite image shows the damaged vessel Caroline Bezengi and an oil slick off the Hallaniyat Islands, off the coast of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, August 5, 2026. Pléiades. CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS/Handout via REUTERS
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A British Firm Starts Containment of Oil Spill from Stricken Tanker off Oman

A satellite image shows the damaged vessel Caroline Bezengi and an oil slick off the Hallaniyat Islands, off the coast of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, August 5, 2026. Pléiades. CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS/Handout via REUTERS
A satellite image shows the damaged vessel Caroline Bezengi and an oil slick off the Hallaniyat Islands, off the coast of Dhofar Governorate, Oman, August 5, 2026. Pléiades. CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS/Handout via REUTERS

A British company said Thursday it has been hired to salvage a grounded Russian shadow fleet tanker off Oman's coast and stop an oil spill that is threatening wildlife as it reaches the country's shoreline following its dramatic spread in recent weeks.

Satellite images have shown that oil from the tanker Caroline Bezengi has exponentially spread over hundreds of square kilometers during stormy weather, endangering a marine protected area. The region's “Khareef” monsoon season peaks in July and August.

Ambrey, a UK-based maritime risk and response company, said its personnel boarded the vessel with help from the Omani air force to assess its condition before stabilizing it.

The vessel has been grounded off Qabiliyah Island in southwestern Oman following an explosion of unclear cause in early June. Its cargo previously has been estimated at more than 800,000 barrels.

Satellite images also have shown that the tanker is increasingly submerged, and experts have warned of an unprecedented environmental disaster if the vessel sinks or breaks open and leaks its entire cargo.

“This is an extremely challenging situation, compounded by adverse weather conditions associated with the Khareef monsoon,” Ambrey's global response director Ed Wollaston said in a statement. The company did not immediately have any estimates of how long the salvage operation would take or cost.

Oman’s Environment Authority said Wednesday the oil spill has reached the shores of Ras Madrakah, more than 200 kilometers (more than 120 miles) north of Qabiliyah Island. Authorities said they estimated the spill could reach more than 100 kilometers further north, to Masirah Island.

Hanen Keskes, a campaigner for the environmental group Greenpeace, said it is “extremely concerning” that the oil has spread from an offshore spill to the shoreline where it can contaminate coastal sediments.

"It can make the cleanup significantly more complex than containment at sea,” she said. “Even after the slick has been contained and removed, the environmental impact can last for years."

The marine protected area of Qabiliyah Island includes coral reefs, seagrass meadows and endangered turtles, and offers breeding sites for migratory birds. The area is also home to the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale.

The remote area lacks infrastructure, making the salvage and containment more challenging and requiring more safety measures, Keskes said.

The 247-meter (899-foot) Caroline Bezengi is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and has been sanctioned by the British government and the European Union for carrying cargoes of Russian oil.

It had left the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, in Russia, in May, according to geospatial data tracking company SynMax Maritime. The vessel’s owners are believed to be Shanghai-based. The vessel is unflagged, and it is not clear if it is insured.

It is only one of the environmental crises affecting the region. Off the coast of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian authorities are cleaning up an oil spill off of Qeshm Island that has been attributed to the conflict between Iran and the United States.

Images distributed by Iran’s semi-official news agency ISNA show oil damage to the sandy beaches of Qeshm. It is not immediately clear what caused the spill.

Iran has said it should receive compensation for its efforts to contain the damage. But maritime tracking firm TankerTrackers.com posted satellite images on X saying it appears the spill was caused by an Iranian attack on a bulk container ship off of Oman. The spill drifted across the strait to Iran.