Salafi illusions about Shia threat / US puppets in the region
I do not care about attacks by Persian Gulf-backed Salafi movement which aims expansion of Wahhabism because they are struggling to expand extremist thoughts and carry out US-Zionist plots in the region.
Share It :
It is not long ago when prominent Al Azhar professor of comparative Fiq’h, Sheikh Ahmed Karima, announced launch of proximity institution, a decision which has drawn various agreeing and disagreeing reactions.
In an interview with Iraqi Al Zaman daily, Egyptian cleric repeated his determination to take the beginning steps for the center after Fitr Eid.
Following is the interview with professor of Al Azhar University on Shiaphobia, negative campaign against Shia community and also Egypt’s plans to resume interfaith dialogues.
Q: What is the reason behind moves to launch proximity institution amid the current situation?
A: Dispersion and sectarianism are in ambush for the Arab world particularly when certain groups, in pursuit of realizing US-Zionist ambitions, are spreading Shia-Sunni division. This is the main objective behind launch of the center for proximity in Egypt thought the idea is not a new one and actually it dates back to 1918 when Sheikh Shaltout took the beginning steps to launch an institution for Islamic proximity.
Q: Has Al Azhar made contributions for the Proximity center?
A: This society is quite independent from Al Azhar and the Ministry of Awqaf (endowment bureau) and it will start after Fitr Eid.
Q: Following the announcement of the news on launching a proximity institution, the idea was attacked by some. How did you react to the oppositions?
A: I do not care about attacks by Persian Gulf-backed Salafi movement which aims expansion of Wahhabism because they are struggling to expand extremist thoughts and carry out US-Zionist plots in the region.
Q: Some religious institutions are reported to take unfriendly stances in regards to the Shia community. What is your comment on these stances?
A: That is true some are struggling to fight Shia and win the pleasure of some Persian-Gulf states at the price of fueling the fire between Shia and Sunni communities. This is a real threat which has to be maintained because religious institutions should think of closeness and filling the gap between these denominations and not distancing them.
Q: Some say that friends of Iran in Egypt are at work to expand Shia in the Arab country. What is your comment on that?
A: Unfortunately the Salafi movement which has ruined the culture of religion is struggling to pretend that some are busy spreading Shia ideology. This is an accusation and they are exaggerating the issue. What is said about the Shia community in Egypt is Salafi-grown illusions which are highlighted in a bid to receive satisfaction of Salafi movements at home and out of Egypt.
Q: There has been a report on a decision made by Egyptian President appointing you as a member of the new committee for renewal and expansion of interfaith dialogue. To what extent is it true?
A: I have not been officially noted on that though I find that a great honor and believe that appointing me beside a group of reformists who are quite capable in the field of interfaith dialogue is not mere accident because I have already thought of plans for reforming the structure of religious context.
Q: Based on your plan, when is your view on meaning of renewal of interfaith dialogue?
A: A religious dialogue should follow an educational structure which maintains its originality without any prejudice. It should also be presented in a modern language without losing its originality. Expansion of mosque campaigns, specialist media on religion and proximity of Islamic denominations, status of religious minorities in Islamic sharia should also be maintained within this framework.
Q: What is your view on the criticisms on Al Azhar regarding this issue?
A: Unfortunately Al Azhar follows a traditional and outdated approach in regards to change and innovation in interfaith dialogue. Al Azhar and the endowment bureau of Egypt take their separate routes and that has led to lack of a trusted director for the institutes. I should confess that Al Azhar has failed in its strategies for renewal of interfaith dialogue. This necessitates an independent civil board to pursue the issue.
Q: What is your idea on those who criticize anti-extremism and counter-terrorism conferences in Egypt as futile?
A: Unfortunately these conferences do not propose practical approaches because several of the course books in Al Azhar are filled with Salafi ideology. For instance Al Azhar proposed launching a base for confronting extremist thoughts which was set in a list of programs but was never followed in practice.
