The Grand Mufti of Region IX and Palawan () 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 fatÃÂwÃÂ(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 Ifta', 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).
The Darul Ifta' - Region 9 and Palawan (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 âÂÂThe SPCPD shall be assisted by the Darul Iftah (Advisory Council) which shall be created by the Chairman of the SPCPD.â The same article defined the Special Zone of Peace and Development (SZOPAD) including Zamboanga Peninsula and PalawanâÂÂas the SPCPDâÂÂs jurisdiction. Consequently, the Darul Ifta' 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.Its main office is located within the Hji Ahmad Sakaluran Grand Mosque in Barangay Kasanyangan, Zamboanga City.
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. Its leadership plays a vital role in preserving the authenticity of traditional Islam while safeguarding Bangsamoro culture and heritage.
Since the arrival of Islam in the southern Philippines in the 14th century, the majority of Filipino Muslims, particularly in the ZAMBASULTA area (Zamboanga peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi)âÂÂhave followed Ahlus-Sunnah wal-JamÃÂ'ah, adhering to the Ashÿarë creed in theology (ÿAqëdah), the ShÃÂfiÿë school of jurisprudence (Fiqh), and the Sufi path of spiritual purification (Tasawwuf). Many also continue to practice the indigenous spiritual discipline known as ÿIlmu Kamaasan, a localized expression of Islamic ethics, moral excellence, and inner refinement.
The Grand Mufti:
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: âÂÂThe SPCPD shall be assisted by the Darul Iftah (advisory council), which shall be created by the Chairman of the SPCPD.âÂÂ
This clause formally institutionalized the religious advisory role of Islamic scholars within a national peace accord, a first in Philippine history.
As of October 2025, the following regional Muftis serve under the Grand Mufti of Region IX and Palawan, Shaykh Walid Abubakar, according to the official ceremonial presentation held at the Palacio del Sur, Marcian Garden Hotel, Zamboanga City:
This structure forms part of the Darul Ifta' councilâÂÂs regional leadership in Western Mindanao and Palawan, recognized during the 2025 ceremonial presentation.
The appointment of Sheikh Walid Abubakar as Grand Mufti has been officially supported by: