Official Statement and Endorsement from the Office of the Naqīb as-Sādāt al-Ashrāf of the Philippines
On the Appointment of the Grand Mufti of Region IX and Palawan بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ ❁ الْفَاتِحِ لِمَا أُغْلِقَ ❁ وَالْخَاتِمِ لِمَا سَبَقَ ❁ نَاصِرِ الْحَقِّ بِالْحَقِّ ❁ وَالْهَادِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمِ ❁ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَمِقْدَارِهِ الْعَظِيمِ ❁ Allahumma ṣalli ʿalā Sayyidinā Muḥammadini l-Fātiḥi limā ughliq(a), wa l-khātimi limā sabaq(a), nāṣiri l-ḥaqqi bi l-ḥaqq(i), wa l-hādī ilā ṣirāṭika l-mustaqīm(i), wa ʿalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa miqdārihi l-ʿaẓīm. O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammad, the opener of what was closed, and the seal of what had preceded, the helper of the truth by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path. May Allah send prayers upon his Family according to his greatness and magnificent rank. A New Chapter of Sunni Leadership and Regional Harmony It is with deep gratitude to Allah Almighty that we announce and affirm the appointment of Shaykh Walīd Abubakar al-Ashʿarī ash-Shāfiʿī as the Grand Mufti (al-Muftī al-ʿĀmm) of Region IX and Palawan. Shaykh Walīd Abubakar is a graduate of Damascus University, Faculty of Sharīʿah, and a scholar firmly grounded in the mainstream Sunni traditions of the Ashʿarī creed, Shāfiʿī jurisprudence, and the noble spiritual path of taṣawwuf , the same foundations that have historically guided Southeast Asian Islam for more than seven centuries. His appointment represents a revival of the authentic Islamic legacy of scholarship, moderation, and compassion , values that are deeply compatible with peace, coexistence, and civic cooperation in our pluralistic Philippine society. A Call for Unity, Peace, and Authentic Representation As Naqīb as-Sādāt al-Ashrāf of the Philippines, and as a servant of the Muhammadan light (nūr Muḥammadī) that unites rather than divides, I extend this announcement not only to the Muslim community but to our partners among government institutions, interfaith councils, academic bodies, and civil organizations. We affirm that the teachings of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamāʿah ,the mainstream Sunni orthodoxy , have always been the foundation of peace, education, and coexistence in the southern Philippines. This school of thought, based on balanced scholarship and ethical spirituality, stands distinct from the rigid and divisive interpretations that have caused discord both locally and globally. The recognition of Grand Mufti Shaykh Walīd Abubakar al-Ashʿarī ash-Shāfiʿī thus ensures that religious guidance and public religious consultation (fatwa) for Region IX and Palawan shall proceed from a tradition of moderation (wasatiyyah), compassion, and lawful cooperation with civil authorities , values shared by peace-loving Filipinos of all faiths. To Our Partners in Civil and Interfaith Work We invite all non-Muslim organizations, interfaith leaders, academic institutions, and humanitarian agencies to continue collaborating with the representatives of mainstream Sunni Islam, whose path embodies peace, education, and mutual respect. By engaging with scholars of the Ashʿarī–Shāfiʿī–Sufi tradition — the historical faith of the vast majority of Filipino Muslims — you strengthen the voices of those committed to social harmony, lawful governance, and moral reform, and help safeguard our communities from the influence of extremism and ideological fragmentation. This is not merely a religious appointment, but a gesture of partnership and national stability, ensuring that authentic religious leadership contributes to a safer, more united, and spiritually enlightened Philippines. Other Ahl al-Sunnah Scholars for Consultation and Partnership To promote clarity, interfaith dialogue, and authentic understanding of Islam, we recommend the following Sunni scholars and jurists, who may be contacted by local and national institutions, universities, and civil organizations for religious consultation, educational programs, and peace initiatives:
Sayyiduna Shaykh Khadzraji Tapsi:Founder and Ameer of Sabielal Muhtadin https://www.facebook.com/SabielAlmohtadeenFoundationinc
Sayyiduna Shaykh Abu Dzar Tapsi: son of Sayyiduna Shaykh Khadzraji Tapsi https://www.facebook.com/abudzarrin.tapsi.9
Sayyiduna Shaykh Ahmad Saif Imbing: Senior Alim, Al Makhdūmeen Islamic Center https://www.facebook.com/makhdumeen
Sayyiduna Shaykh Mufti Mohammad Haikar Amilhamja: Senior Alim, Darul Ulum As-Shareef Kareemul Makhdum Al-Faqeeh https://www.facebook.com/duksma , https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575650027905
Sayyiduna Shaykh Abden Mohammad Hawani Al Azhari: Senior Alim, Darul Ifta extension in Sulu https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573728360345
Sayyiduna Shaykh Khalid Ismael: Ameer and Representative, Naqshbandi Tariqa Philippines +63 955 947 8700, https://www.facebook.com/naqshbandiphilippines, https://www.naqshbandiphilippines.com/?page_id=1511
Sayyiduna Shaykh Al Johan Caluang Ilacad: Ameer and Representative, Alawī Ḥusaynī Ninowī Zawiya of the Qādirī Rifāʾī Shādhilī school of Sufism
Whatsapp: +63 905 517 2545, https://www.facebook.com/groups/alninowy/
A Prayer for Guidance and Success May Allah bless Grand Mufti Shaykh Walīd Abubakar al-Ashʿarī ash-Shāfiʿī, grant him divine assistance in his responsibilities, and make him a source of mercy, justice, and wisdom for all.
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ مِفْتَاحًا لِلْخَيْرِ، مِغْلَاقًا لِلشَّرِّ، نَاصِرًا لِلسُّنَّةِ، وَدَاعِيًا لِلسَّلَامِ وَالْوَحْدَةِ. “O Allah, make him a key to goodness, a lock against evil, a supporter of the Sunnah, and a caller to peace and unity.”
Issued by: Dr. Calingalan Hussin Caluang Naqīb as-Sādāt al-Ashrāf of the Philippines Zamboanga City, Philippines calhussin96@Gmail.com telegram:639102026391 10 October 2025