Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt passes new law regulating fatwas
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has signed a new law aimed at organizing the process of issuing Islamic religious edicts, known as "fatwas," in Egypt. The new legislation, Law No. 86 of 2025, had been approved earlier by the Egyptian Parliament and was published in the official gazette.
Key points of the new law:
- The law defines who is permitted to issue religious edicts (fatwas) in Egypt, with the goal of ensuring that such guidance is provided by qualified experts.
- Only recognized religious institutions will be able to issue public fatwas. These include:
- The Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar
- The Islamic Research Academy
- Dar al-Ifta (the Egyptian Fatwa House)
- For private or specialized fatwas, these bodies, as well as certain accredited electronic platforms and qualified Imams from the Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf), are authorized.
Who can issue fatwas?
The new law sets strict conditions for individuals who wish to join committees that issue fatwas. Applicants must:
- Be at least 30 years old
- Hold a degree from one of Al-Azhar’s Islamic colleges
- Have a clean disciplinary record
- Be of good character and known for their integrity
- Have published academic work in Islamic jurisprudence
- Pass specific training and qualification programs overseen by Al-Azhar’s senior scholars
The law also calls for joint committees representing Al-Azhar, Dar al-Ifta, and the Ministry of Awqaf to oversee fatwa activities, ensuring coordination and high standards.
What is the aim?
By clearly defining who can issue official fatwas, Egypt hopes to prevent unauthorized or unqualified individuals from providing religious guidance, thus promoting social harmony and combating extremism.
The executive regulations for this law will be developed soon by a committee comprising top leaders from Egypt’s key Islamic institutions.