Abu Dhabi, Sept. 17th, 2008 (WAM) -- H.H. Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, attended last night a lecture on ''Fatwa in the Era of Globalisation'' delivered by prominent scholar Abdullah bin Bea.

The lecturer elaborated on the meaning, stages and scopes of fatwa (religious ruling) and requirements of the authority of fatwa issuer (mufti).

He admitted that fatwa has become a global concern and represented the other face of the coin of terrorism. He also warned against the dire consequences of fatwa issued by non-recognised and non-authorised scholars.

''Globalisation has raised new questions for fatwa in as diverse fields as medicine, economy, politics, social life, cloning, loan womb, organ transplant, bourses and speculations, democracy, relation with the otherand other complicated issues of modern time,'' he told the audience.

He added that TV channels and internet were emerging as new sources of fatwabut he affirmed they were not credible because of the chaos that grippingthese modes of communications.

''The mufti should seek advice of politicians and economiststo identify complications they face and issue the right fatwa,''he added.

He announced that the fatwa centres he founded in Britain and Mauritaniawould be ready to cooperate with the fatwa and research centre of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf in the UAE.

He lauded the UAE efforts to train 40 scholars to become muftis over the next ten years. ''The term should be 20 years to have an open-minded, knowledgeable group of fatwa issuers,''he suggested.

The presentation, the fifth in a series of lectures organised by the Ramadan Majlis of Sheikh Mohamed, was attended by Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Lt.General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,Brigadier Dr. Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Deputy Inspector General at the Interior Ministry, H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamed, the President's Special Advisor, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, H.E. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works, H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and a number of Sheikhs, ministers, dignitaries and scholars.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2008.