Conflict between Egypt's principal religious authority, Al-Azhar, and Egypt's Ministry of Culture is perennial. Over the last three decades Al-Azhar has attempted to ban books and films depicting prophets and “offensive to Islam”. Even Mustafa Akkad's 1977 The Message was not screened in Egypt because it features the character Hamza Ibn Abdul Muttalib, Prophet Mohamed's uncle. Among the many, many books banned by Al-Azhar was Nawal Al-Saadawi's The Fall of the Imam (2004) and Natana J. DeLong-Bas's Wahhabi Islam: From Revival and Reform to Global Jihad (2005). Such decisions were routinely opposed by intellectuals, represented by Egypt's Ministry of Culture, which accused Al-Azhar of standing against creativity. The rapprochement that seemed to take place 2013, when Al-Azhar and intellectuals were united on toppling the Muslim Brotherhood, seems to have been momentary indeed. Two months ago Al-Azhar banned Darren Aronofsky's Noah, on being asked to pass it by the Ministry of Culture. According to the Grand Imam, the Council of Senior Scholars and the Research Council, God's prophets, messengers and companions of Prophet Mohamed should not be figuratively depicted. Noah is a major prophet in Islam and a sura (or chapter) of the Quran, named after him, tells his story. Such films, the statement said, “violate the principles and fundamentals of Sharia, and provoke the ire of believers.” When Gaber Asfour was appointed minister of culture two weeks ago in the cabinet of Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb, he announced that he was not against screening Noah and expressed surprise at Al-Azhar's decision. “Had I been minister of culture I would have allowed the screening of the film without referring it to Al-Azhar because these are artworks which should be savoured in a spirit of freedom of expression,” Asfour announced in a statement, adding, “We are not controlled by Al-Azhar. We are acting according to the constitution.” Egypt's new constitution states that only the censorship board may approve or disapprove any cultural or artistic works including films. Asfour's argument is that clerics are prohibiting the screening without any basis in the Quran or Sunna. Former head of Al-Fatwa Committee at Al-Azhar Abdel-Hamid Al-Atrash criticised Asfour's statements, however, asserting that Al-Azhar is the Islamic world's second Kaaba and the fort of all Egypt's revolutions throughout history. “Asfour should not say that Al-Azhar does not rule Egypt,” he said. Al-Atrash pointed out that if Asfour wants to screen Noah he can but should expect a response from Al-Azhar. “Al-Azhar has a great position as it is the first institution to raise the banner of education and its slogan is moderation,” Al-Atrash said, adding that Al-Azhar spread the culture of religion around the world. A week after the rise of this conflict Asfour paid an unexpected visit to the Al-Azhar's Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb at his office. Asfour told Al-Ahram Weekly that he went to visit Al-Tayeb on the occasion of Ramadan, to return Al-Tayeb's congratulations on him taking office. “We've been friends since before Al-Tayeb became the Grand Imam,” Asfour asserted, adding that during their meeting they agreed that Al-Azhar should engage in dialogue with intellectuals through the participation of clerics and scholars in the Ramadan nights held by the ministry at the Small Theatre of the Cairo Opera House. Asfour also arranged the participation of eight preachers in the Ramadan nights with Minister of Endowments Mokhtar Gomaa. “Al-Azhar contributed in the first wave of culture and enlightenment in Egypt and we do not accept the separation of culture from Al-Azhar or the emergence of gap between them,” he explained. He went on to say that clashes between the two institutions reflect an exchange of points of view that requires discussion and debate. The ministry, he went on is seeking to work together with Al-Azhar, which represents the moderate strain of Islam. In the end there is no real conflict. For his part Al-Tayeb said that the Al-Azhar is not looking for a political role but to carry out its religious, national and constitutional duties: “Al-Azhar is not a prohibition authority but it delivers the verdict of religion in cases and problems it is asked about.” He pointed out that what is issued by Al-Azhar is the opinion of the Senior Council of Senior Scholars, the Research Council and Dar Al-Iftaa. His own view was to set aside anything with the potential to create sedition or undermine the peace and unity of the nation: “We need to shed light on the real problems that citizens are facing in their lives.” Hani Abul Hassan, the programmes and projects advisor to the minister of culture, told the Weekly that he feels Asfour's visit to Al-Tayeb in the framework of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi's initiative to set up an ethical committee with representation from the ministries of culture and education as well as Al-Azhar and the Church with the aim of coordinating efforts to raise awareness of the public on all the social ethics. As to whether the film would be screened or not, Abul Hassan said that the issue is still subject to discussion. Asfour reiterated the fact that he does not have a problem with screening the film but added that the decision must not be at the expense of “our respect for Al-Azhar, an institution,” he said, “that provides advice which we may or may not accept but must respect in every case.”
