Bayt al-Fatwa

10/13/2026

Are Shia Muslims?
Yes.
Sunni and Shia traditions have significant theological differences, but those differences do not automatically place someone outside Islam.
Dr Tarek explains where the major disagreements lie, and why the ruling remains clear.
Watch the full answer on YouTube.

10/08/2026

What question have you been looking for a clear Islamic answer to?
On Tuesday, October 13, Dr Tarek Elgawhary will answer questions live during the next Ask Dr Tarek session.
These sessions are where many of the fatwas behind Bayt al-Fatwa began. Today, those answers form part of the Fatwa Bank available to Muslims searching for reliable guidance.
📅 Tuesday, October 13
🕢 7:30 PM EDT
💻 Live on Zoom
Questions can be submitted anonymously to [email protected] by Monday night.

Come with your questions. Leave with an answer grounded in scholarship.

10/04/2026

A short commentary on Justice Alito’s opinion piece in the 03 October 2026 Wall Street Journal, “Even Organist Judges Make Mistakes.”

https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESkQEB6zswFSjonWIMPNl1iFoMXNnZCb8lStPbkH50l_d_dFOpx_fB0Ht0ZyqWzhRU4-K2cF_tK_1HUUFRiB4zCE3S1jDYC8QZLBFebnlQ7eDreGvwuZVnh6dShChtuN86uYgKUmeQrFMk5R3rTP6nFbuIHifFgE2MkFEGhO4lVuWK_hV5k9nWcNY5T3ECCeyUjnS6

10/01/2026

When a dispute reaches a point where both sides need an impartial perspective, a structured process can help.
Bayt al-Fatwa offers Dispute Resolution for family, business and inheritance matters, helping both sides work toward a fair resolution through Islamic guidance.
Request Dispute Resolution at baytalfatwa.org.

09/30/2026

A very important read that will help pave the way to how we think about AI and its implications through Islamic ethical and legal values.

Responding to Pope Leo XIV’s recent Encyclical on AI, Jordan’s HRH Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad critically examine AI’s true nature and argue that it is better to term it “Automated Information” than “Artificial Intelligence”.

Read this online exclusive @ https://islamicamedia.com/magnifica-veritas/.

09/28/2026

Islamic scholarship does not exist in isolation. It grows through serious dialogue, shared responsibility, and engagement with the questions facing the Umma.
This September, more than 70 scholars representing Islamic institutions and traditions from 30 countries gathered in Amman for the 19th General Conference of The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. The conference, held under Royal Patronage, examined “The Umma’s Priorities for the Next 25 Years: 2026–2050.”
Among those helping lead this work is Dr. Tarek Elgawhary, President of Bayt al-Fatwa and Director General of The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought.
The gathering brought together senior scholars and religious leaders from across the Muslim world to address contemporary Islamic questions, strengthen scholarly dialogue, and consider the responsibilities that lie ahead.
At Bayt al-Fatwa, this wider scholarly engagement is part of what informs our own work: grounding guidance in the Islamic scholarly tradition while remaining deeply attentive to the realities Muslims face today.
Rooted in tradition. Engaged with reality. Serving Muslims today.

09/24/2026

https://www.baytalfatwa.org/articles/fatwa-on-bank-interest

Is bank interest automatically the same thing as ribā?
The answer depends partly on a question that is often overlooked: How should modern banks, banking transactions and modern money itself be understood under Islamic law?
In our detailed fatwa on bank interest, Bayt al-Fatwa examines the legal status of institutions, the nature of fiat currency, the relationship between a depositor and a bank, and why qualified Muslim jurists have reached different conclusions on this question.
Our adopted position is that conventional bank interest is not equivalent to ribā and that using modern banking institutions is permissible.
But a fatwa is more than its conclusion.
Read the full reasoning, evidence and classical references in “Fatwa on Bank Interest” at baytalfatwa.org.

09/21/2026

Why wait until after a death to start thinking about inheritance?
Bayt al-Fatwa can help with both inheritance questions and estate planning — including Sharia guidance, family-specific planning, and coordination with local legal professionals where needed.
Plan ahead. Request Inheritance & Estate Planning support at baytalfatwa.org.

09/17/2026

What do you actually owe your in-laws?
Your obligations toward them are not the same as your spouse’s obligations toward their own parents.
The general rule: be respectful, don’t interfere with your spouse’s relationship with them, and remember that their advice is not automatically binding.
Watch the full answer on YouTube, and explore more guidance through the Bayt al-Fatwa Fatwa Bank.

09/14/2026

Before you sign a contract, there may be more to review than the legal terms.
Bayt al-Fatwa’s Contract Review service looks specifically at the Sharia implications of commercial agreements, finance, loans and other business arrangements — and helps identify workable alternatives where needed.
Request a Contract Review at baytalfatwa.org