Egypt's Dar al-Ifta is an Egyptian Islamic advisory, justiciary and governmental body established as a centre for Islam and Islamic legal research in Egypt in 1313 AH / 1895 CE. It offers Muslims religious guidance and advice through the issuing of fatwas on everyday and contemporary issues. :ar:دار الإفتاء المصرية|Dār al-Iftā' draws upon the Qur’an and Prophetic literature, and consults the opinions of jurists throughout history to help Muslims live their lives according to the principles of Islam so they may find happiness in this life and obtain the best reward in the afterlife.
Status of Dar al-Ifta
Since it was first established, Egypt's Dar al-Ifta has been the premier institute to represent Islam and the international flagship for Islamic legal research. It fulfills its historic and civil role by keeping contemporary Muslim in touch with religious principles, clarifying the right way, removing doubts concerning religious and worldly life, and revealing religious laws for new issues of contemporary life. Egypt's Dar al-Ifta is among the pillars of the religious foundations in Egypt which include Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Al-Azhar University, Ministry of Religious Endowments, and Egypt's Dar al-Ifta. It plays a significant role in giving rulings to the masses and consultation for the judiciary in Egypt. Egypt's Dar al-Ifta started as one of the divisions of the Egyptian Ministry of Justice. In view of its consultancy role, capital punishment sentences among others are referred to the Egypt's Dar al-Ifta seeking the opinion of the Grand Mufti concerning these punishments. The role of Dar al-Ifta does not stop at this point; it is not limited by domestic boundaries but extends beyond Egypt covering the entireIslamic world. This leading role is best expressed by its records of fatwas from its inception until the present day. Dar al-Ifta receives inquires from all over the Islamic world, as well as foreign students of Islamic law for training. This leadership developed from Dar al-Ifta's role as scholarly reference and for adopting a moderate methodology in understanding rulings derived from the inherited Fiqh creating a consistency between Islamic law and the needs of the society. In keeping pace with the huge developments in the field of communications, Dar al-Ifta undertakes huge tasks imposed by the qualitative transition brought about by the new era of means of communications and transportations.
