| Grand Mufti of Syria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Syrian Islamic Council (from 2021) | |
| Type | Religious |
| Status | Abolished in 2021, re-established by opposition in the same year |
| Member of | Opposition groups (from 2021) |
| Reports to | The president (until 2021) |
| Appointer | The president (until 2021) Syrian Islamic Council (from 2021) |
| Term length | Indefinite |
| Formation | 3 August 1920 |
| First holder | Muhammad Atallah al-Kasm |
| Succession | Syrian Interim Government (from 2021) |
The Grand Mufti of Syria[a] is a legal religious representative in Syria, responsible for issuing formal legal opinions and advising on the Islamic legal code. It served as the official post until president Bashar al-Assad dissolved the office contentiously on 15 November 2021, transferring its duties to the state-aligned agency Supreme Council of Fatwa under the Ministry of Endowments.[1][2] However, the Syrian opposition subsequently re-established the office in territories outside government control in an attempt to maintain its historical presence.[3][4] The office is responsible for independent religious rulings and Sunni Muslim leadership amidst the ongoing civil conflict in the country.[5]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Syrian president abolishes position of Grand Mufti". Al Jazeera. 16 Nov 2021. Retrieved 5 Nov 2024.
- ^ "Syria's Assad scraps top Muslim cleric post". The New Arab. 16 Nov 2021. Retrieved 6 Nov 2024.
- ^ "احتفاء بقرار "المجلس الإسلامي" تعيين مفت عام لـ سوريا". تلفزيون سوريا (in Arabic). 21 Nov 2021. Retrieved 8 Nov 2024.
- ^ "الإفتاء في سوريا.. انتخاب الشيخ "أسامة الرّفاعي" رئيس المجلس الإ". Halab Today TV قناة حلب اليوم (in Arabic). 20 Nov 2021. Retrieved 8 Nov 2024.
- ^ "Syrian opposition appoints mufti after Assad abolishes post". The New Arab. 21 Nov 2021. Retrieved 6 Nov 2024.