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| Union of Muslim Scholars | |
|---|---|
| Name | Union of Muslim Scholars |
| Formation | 2004 |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Headquarters | Doha, Qatar |
| Region served | International |
Union of Muslim Scholars
The Union of Muslim Scholars is an international Islamic scholarly association formed in the early 21st century linking leading clerics, jurists, and academics across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and Asia. It brings together figures associated with religious institutions, universities, mosques, and think tanks to issue fatwas, position papers, and scholarly communiqués on contemporary issues. The organization interacts with entities such as the Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, United Nations, European Union, and national ministries in multiple states.
The formation followed debates after the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the aftermath of the Second Intifada and the September 11 attacks, drawing figures from networks tied to institutions like Al-Azhar University, Zaytuna College, International Islamic University Malaysia, and the Islamic University of Medina. Early meetings involved scholars linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, the Qatar Foundation, and independent jurists from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. The union convened conferences in capitals such as Doha, Cairo, Riyadh, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and London, engaging with universities like Oxford University, Harvard University, University of Cambridge, and Aligarh Muslim University. Over time it addressed crises including the Iraq War (2003–2011), the Syrian Civil War, the Libyan Civil War, the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present), and the rise of groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram.
The union adopted a council model with a General Assembly, an Executive Council, and specialized committees mirroring structures in organizations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab Parliament, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Committees focus on jurisprudence, interfaith relations with bodies like the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, humanitarian response coordination with International Committee of the Red Cross, and education partnerships with institutions such as Al-Quds University and Georgetown University. Administrative headquarters have coordinated regional branches and legal registration in jurisdictions including Qatar, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Turkey.
Membership comprises senior scholars, muftis, professors, and imams drawn from networks linked to Al-Azhar University, Zaytuna College, Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah, Dar al-Ifta al-Lubnaniyya, and national fatwa councils in Morocco and Tunisia. Notable associated figures have been connected with personalities from Yusuf al-Qaradawi's milieu, jurists trained at the University of al-Qarawiyyin, academics from Cairo University, and clerics from the Shaykh al-Azhar office. Leadership roles often include individuals who have held positions in institutions such as the King Abdulaziz University, Al-Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, University of Jordan, Ain Shams University, Lebanese University, and research centers like the International Institute of Islamic Thought.
The union issues collective fatwas, statements on conflicts such as the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and guidance on social issues engaging with jurisprudence from schools represented at Dar al-Mustafa, Al-Mustafa International University, and seminaries in Qom and Najaf. Activities include convening conferences, publishing journals, and coordinating humanitarian appeals with organizations such as Islamic Relief, Mercy Corps, and Red Crescent societies in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Somalia. It also runs educational workshops in collaboration with universities like New York University (NYU), University of Toronto, McGill University, and think tanks such as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Brookings Institution, and Chatham House.
The union has influenced public debates on issues involving leaders and entities including Mahmoud Abbas, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Mohammed Morsi, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, and policymakers in capitals like Cairo, Riyadh, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Ankara, and Tehran. Statements have intersected with media outlets such as Al Jazeera, BBC Arabic, Al Arabiya, The New York Times, The Guardian, and Le Monde. The union’s positions have been cited in parliamentary debates in bodies like the UK Parliament, the European Parliament, and various national assemblies, and have intersected with civil society movements including Arab Spring actors and refugee advocacy groups concerned with crises in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Critics have linked the union to ideological currents associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, leading to scrutiny from governments in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain that have designated Brotherhood-affiliated organizations as hostile. Accusations of politicization have arisen in coverage by outlets such as Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP), and from NGOs like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International when statements touched on issues involving extremism and wartime conduct by groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Legal and reputational disputes have involved sanctions, derecognitions, and contested registrations in jurisdictions with differing counterterrorism and association laws like those in France, Germany, and Switzerland.
The union has maintained ties with international bodies and academic partners including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Council on American–Islamic Relations, and universities such as Columbia University, Boston University, SOAS University of London, and University of California, Berkeley. It has engaged in dialogue with faith-based organizations such as the World Council of Churches and participated in intergovernmental fora alongside delegations from Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Qatar, and Pakistan. Its international footprint intersects with funding channels, think tanks, and diaspora networks active in cities like London, Paris, Berlin, New York City, Toronto, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur.
Category:Islamic organizations