RIYADH: Madinah Gov. Prince Salman bin Sultan attended the second Fatwa Symposium on Tuesday evening at the Prophet’s Mosque.

The forum was organized by the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

Sheikh Fahad Al-Majid, secretary-general of the Council of Senior Scholars, delivered a speech on behalf of Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, in which he said the development and expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and the Grand Mosque in Makkah demonstrated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the Two Holy Mosques.

A key objective of Saudi Vision 2030 was to enable more Muslims to visit Makkah and Madinah for religious rituals, he said.

Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League, spoke about the recent fatwas that facilitate pilgrimage and the Council of Senior Scholars’ decision requiring permits for Hajj, addressing difficulties faced by pilgrims without permits.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, president of religious affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, said the symposium reflected the ongoing efforts of the country’s leaders to serve the Two Holy Mosques and convey their message globally.

Prince Salman attended the signing of agreements between the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, the Islamic University of Madinah, the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta and Al-Maarefa University.

The agreements aim to establish a fatwa chair for research and studies at the Prophet’s Mosque and adopt technological tools for fatwas, including AI.

An exhibition on the sidelines of the symposium showcased the evolution of fatwas. Prince Salman also observed how robots provided explanations, guidance and fatwas to visitors via video communication.