Spiritual Management of Muslims of Kazakhstan to start issuing fatwas by Shariah laws

The Spiritual Management of Muslims of Kazakhstan will start issuing fatwas on Shariah laws, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev as saying at the meeting with representatives of the Muslims spiritual management. “A new chairman of the Spiritual Management of Muslims of Kazakhstan has been appointed. Yerzhan Mayamerov graduated from one of the most famous Islamic universities in the world, Al-Azhar University in Egypt. He is well experienced, as he used to chair the oblast division of the spiritual management. I believe that you all will be performing a successful work together,” Kazakhstan President said. In this relation Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed several tasks set to the Spiritual Management and noted that sufficient attention has to be given to enhancement of cooperation in spiritual-educational and social sectors between the spiritual management and state authorities. The President noted that the Spiritual Management has to start issuing fatwas under the Shariah laws on the current issues in the community. Fatwa in Islam is the decision on some issue made by Mufti or faqih based on the Islamic principles and precedents of the Muslim legal practice. “The Spiritual Management of Muslims of Kazakhstan is the only recognized traditional Islamic structure in our country. A recently adopted law regulating religious relations states that the state acknowledges the place and the role of Hanafiyah in the spiritual life of our people. This is correct. Kazakhstan is a secular state; that’s why our policy in religious sector is aimed at enhancing inter-confessional peace and tolerance. Our Constitution guarantees religious freedom,” the President stressed. Nursultan Nazarbayev called the new heads of the Spiritual Management of Muslims of Kazakhstan to enhance the traditions of mutual understanding, tolerance and religious toleration with other religious unions. Besides, he noted the necessity to further continue the work on enhancement on inter-ethnic and inter-confessional accord. “Representatives of the Spiritual Management should improve their literacy not only in the religious sector, but also in other important activities. As you know, in the recent State-of-Union Address we have set forth the Strategy-2050. This is not just the planning known from the Soviet time; this is a long-term document outlining the main directions of the country’s development, ways to achieve goals and our vision of our future. And here the religious officials have to tell the people about the necessity of further work in the best interests of our country,” the President told the religious leaders. Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed that Islam has been the spiritual wealth of the people of Kazakhstan for many centuries. “With the independence we once again turned to the religion of our ancestors. The spiritual management that joins together 2,228 mosques became the center of cohesion of Muslims. The conditions were created for consolidation of our people around spiritual values and goals. The society, especially young people, have started turning to religion. We need to keep explaining that commitment to Islam should not be a tribute to fashion,” the President stressed.