Researcher Sarah Abdulrahman Ali Al-Khatri was awarded a Master’s Degree in Islamic Studies for her thesis titled: Rules Governing Islamic Legal Fatwas across Schools of Jurisprudence: A Comparative Study, which was submitted to the Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, – Sana’a University. The MA defense was held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
·Assoc. Prof. Ali Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ashmouri – Amran University – External Examiner and Chair.
·Prof. Huda Ali Al-Emad – Sana’a University – Main Supervisor and Committee Member.
·Dr. Ashwaq Hamoud Mohammed Al-Mekhlafi – Sana’a University – Supervisor, Internal Examiner, and Committee Member.
The study aimed to highlight the common rules governing Islamic legal fatwas across the various schools of jurisprudence, compile and comparatively examine them, analyze differences among the schools concerning the qualifications of Mufti and the circumstances warranting changes in fatwa, and clarify their connection with the objectives of Islamic Sharia and their role in regulating ijtihad and maintaining a balance between scriptural texts and evolving circumstances.
The study concluded that the rules governing fatwas constitute an integrated scholarly methodology that regulates the process of issuing legal opinions, beginning with accurately conceptualizing the case and culminating in applying the relevant Sharia ruling to it. It also found that a fatwa may change in matters subject to ijtihad and capable of change in accordance with recognized Sharia principles. The study emphasized the importance of determining the precise applicability of a ruling (tahqiq al-manat), seeking clarification, accurately examining the circumstances of each case, and taking into account differences among individuals and circumstances.
The study recommended compiling and systematizing the rules governing fatwas in specialized publications, incorporating them into postgraduate study programs, encouraging applied research addressing contemporary issues, providing Mufti with rigorous scholarly and methodological training, and strengthening institutional approaches to the practice of issuing Islamic legal opinions.
The thesis defense was attended by faculty members, researchers, students, and interested participants as well as the researcher's colleagues and family members.
