Yesterday, the UAE's Islamic Affairs Authority opened its official fatwa center, which provides religious rulings in English, Urdu and Arabic. UAE residents can obtain fatwas over the toll-free phone line or via SMS (text message). The center is the first of its kind; it is now the only place in the UAE authorized to issue fatwas. In the words of one UAE official:

"This centre will put an end to individual fatwas issued here and there, which can cause doubt and trouble among people," said the authority's general manager, Dr Mohammed Mattar al Kaabi.
This is a pretty clear integration of religion into the state apparatus. For better or for worse, the wide difference between fatawa on the same subject minimized the power of each individual edict. Now that they are standardized, their authority (at least within the UAE, and possibly outside the UAE) could be enhanced. And, conveniently, they are now under the purview of a government organization.

Of course, this initiative may backfire. If the rulings are perceived as politically, rather than religiously, motivated, then their credibility may be undermined. The UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi and Dubai, also benefit in this case from a very cosmopolitan and constantly renewing population; it is not as if the fatwa center is operating behind an iron curtain. Traffic in people corresponds to traffic in ideas, and if the fatawa issued are dramatically out of tune with the rest of the Islamic or Arab world then they may be less influential rather than more.

Certainly a development to follow.

For a little background on fatawa, you can take a look at this piece from the International Herald Tribune of last year on fatawa in Egypt. It details several issues - primarily the negative impact of silly rulings - that would prop up an argument in favor of fatwa standardization.