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Syria revives Grand Mufti post, forms Supreme Religious Council
(MENAFN) Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has brought back the position of Grand Mufti and created a new Supreme Fatwa Council, according to an announcement made by the Syrian presidency on Friday.
A presidential decree, numbered 8 and issued in 2025, designated prominent cleric Sheikh Osama al-Rifa'i as the Grand Mufti of Syria. He will also head the newly established council, which includes 15 senior religious scholars, mostly from Damascus.
The council's responsibilities will include issuing religious rulings, providing guidance on Islamic law, appointing religious leaders in different provinces, and offering direction to religious organizations across the country.
In a statement released by the presidency, al-Sharaa explained that this change is part of broader efforts to reconstruct Syria's religious and civic institutions. He emphasized that the authority of religious leaders should be based on collective scholarly work.
Al-Sharaa also stated that the new council intends to promote a consistent and unified religious message that respects Syria's Islamic traditions while also addressing current issues. It is also anticipated that the council will play a role in easing tensions between different religious groups and strengthening national unity.
The Grand Mufti position, which has historically been seen as a key symbol of religious authority in Syria, had been eliminated by the previous government in 2021.
A presidential decree, numbered 8 and issued in 2025, designated prominent cleric Sheikh Osama al-Rifa'i as the Grand Mufti of Syria. He will also head the newly established council, which includes 15 senior religious scholars, mostly from Damascus.
The council's responsibilities will include issuing religious rulings, providing guidance on Islamic law, appointing religious leaders in different provinces, and offering direction to religious organizations across the country.
In a statement released by the presidency, al-Sharaa explained that this change is part of broader efforts to reconstruct Syria's religious and civic institutions. He emphasized that the authority of religious leaders should be based on collective scholarly work.
Al-Sharaa also stated that the new council intends to promote a consistent and unified religious message that respects Syria's Islamic traditions while also addressing current issues. It is also anticipated that the council will play a role in easing tensions between different religious groups and strengthening national unity.
The Grand Mufti position, which has historically been seen as a key symbol of religious authority in Syria, had been eliminated by the previous government in 2021.
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