Grand Mufti of Darul Ifta Region 9 and Palawan: Difference between revisions

Sunni clerical office in Southern Philippines

The Grand Mufti of Region IX and Palawan (Arabic: المفتي العام لمنطقة ٩ وبالاوان) is the highest Sunni juristic and religious authority in the Zamboanga Peninsula and in the province of Palawan, Philippines. The office oversees the issuing of fatāwā(legal opinions), provides Islamic guidance on matters of law and faith, and serves as a moral and spiritual advisor to Muslim communities within Western Mindanao.

The institution operates under the Darul Iftah, the official Islamic advisory council recognized in the Final Peace Agreement on the Implementation of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).^[1]

The Darul Iftah (Islamic Advisory Council) was formally institutionalized under the Final Peace Agreement on the Implementation of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement signed on 2 September 1996 between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The agreement established the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) and mandated that “The SPCPD shall be assisted by the Darul Iftah (Advisory Council) which shall be created by the Chairman of the SPCPD.”^[2]
The same article defined the Special Zone of Peace and Development (SZOPAD) including Zamboanga Peninsula and Palawan—as the SPCPD’s jurisdiction.^[3]
Consequently, the Darul Iftah of Region IX and Palawan operates as the regional realization of this provision, headed by the Grand Mufti, who provides Islamic legal and moral guidance across Western Mindanao and Palawan.

The Grand Muftiship upholds and represents this classical Sunni tradition, serving as both a juristic authority and a moral guide for Muslim communities across Western Mindanao and Palawan.^[4] Its leadership plays a vital role in preserving the authenticity of traditional Islam while safeguarding Bangsamoro culture and heritage.^[5]

Since the arrival of Islam in the southern Philippines in the 14th century, the majority of Filipino Muslims, particularly in the ZAMBASULTA area (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi)—have followed Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama‘ah, adhering to the Ashʿarī creed in theology (ʿAqīdah), the Shāfiʿī school of jurisprudence (Fiqh), and the Sufi path of spiritual purification (Tasawwuf). Many also continue to practice the indigenous spiritual discipline known as ʿIlmuh Kamaasan, a localized expression of Islamic ethics, moral excellence, and inner refinement.^[6]

The Grand Mufti:

• Heads the Darul Iftah, a council of ʿUlamāʾ that issues fatāwā (Islamic legal opinions)
• Serves as chief Islamic legal authority for Region IX and Palawan
• Advises the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) on religious and ethical matters
• Promotes wasatiyyah (Islamic moderation), unity, and peaceful coexistence among Muslims and non-Muslims
• Oversees the training and accreditation of local imāms and muftīs under the Darul Iftah framework.

The Final Peace Agreement on the Implementation of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement (1996) explicitly recognized the creation of a Darul Iftah as part of the peace and governance architecture of Southern Philippines, stating: “The SPCPD shall be assisted by the Darul Iftah (advisory council), which shall be created by the Chairman of the SPCPD.”^{[7] [8]}

This clause formally institutionalized the religious advisory role of Islamic scholars within a national peace accord, a first in Philippine history.

• AbdulGani L. Yusop Al-Azhari (1989 – early 2000s) : Founder of the Darul Iftah in Southern Philippines; graduate of Al-Azhar University; Ash’ari in Creed,Shafi’i in Fiqh and Sufi, peace mediator and advocate of interfaith dialogue.
• Abdulbaki Abubakar Al-Azhari (early 2000s – 2025) : Scholar of Arabic, history, and Shariʿa from Al-Azhar; also Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs of the MNLF;Ash’ari in Creed,Shafi’i in Fiqh, advanced Islamic education and diplomacy for the Bangsamoro.^[9]

• Walid Abubakar Al-Azhari (2025 – present) : Graduate of Damascus University (Islamic Law – Shariʿa);Ash’ari in Creed,Shafi’i in Fiqh, endorsed by the Ulama Supreme Council of Zamboanga Peninsula, MNLF, and local Islamic institutions.

#	Portrait	Name
			Term
1		Abdulgani Yusop Al Azhari	1989
2		AbdulBaki Abubakar
3		Walid Abubakar	2025

The appointment of Sheikh Walid Abubakar as Grand Mufti has been officially supported by:

• The Darul Iftah Region 9 and Palawan in accordance with the 1996 Peace Agreement.
• The Provincial Government of Tawi-Tawi;
• The Ulama Supreme Council of Zamboanga Peninsula
• The Sabiel Al-Mohtadeen Foundation Inc. under Shaykh Khadraji “Guru Bata” Tapsi
• The Naqshbandi Tariqa under Shaykh Khalid Ismael
• The Palawan Muslim Consultative and Da’wah Council (PMCDC)
• The Royal Sultanate of Sulu, represented by Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, one of the recognized claimants to the historic Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.
• The Naqib al-ashraf of the Philippines Dr. Calingalan Hussin Caluang

• The Final Peace Agreement on the Implementation of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement Between the GRP and the MNLF. Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front. 1996. pp. 9–10.
• Prof. Ali T. Yacub, Remembering the Grand Mufti AbdulGani L. Yusop Al-Azhari, Golden Crescent Consortium, 2016.
• Moro National Liberation Front – Official Statements, 2024.
• Provincial Government of Tawi-Tawi, Official Endorsement, 2024.