Egypt partners with Google to promote 'unmatched diversity' tourism campaign    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Taiwan GDP surges on tech demand    World Bank: Global commodity prices to fall 17% by '26    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    UNFPA Egypt, Bayer sign agreement to promote reproductive health    Egypt to boost marine protection with new tech partnership    France's harmonised inflation eases slightly in April    Eygpt's El-Sherbiny directs new cities to brace for adverse weather    CBE governor meets Beijing delegation to discuss economic, financial cooperation    Egypt's investment authority GAFI hosts forum with China to link business, innovation leaders    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's Gypto Pharma, US Dawa Pharmaceuticals sign strategic alliance    Egypt's Foreign Minister calls new Somali counterpart, reaffirms support    "5,000 Years of Civilizational Dialogue" theme for Korea-Egypt 30th anniversary event    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Angola's Lourenço discuss ties, African security in Cairo talks    Egypt's Al-Mashat urges lower borrowing costs, more debt swaps at UN forum    Two new recycling projects launched in Egypt with EGP 1.7bn investment    Egypt's ambassador to Palestine congratulates Al-Sheikh on new senior state role    Egypt pleads before ICJ over Israel's obligations in occupied Palestine    Sudan conflict, bilateral ties dominate talks between Al-Sisi, Al-Burhan in Cairo    Cairo's Madinaty and Katameya Dunes Golf Courses set to host 2025 Pan Arab Golf Championship from May 7-10    Egypt's Ministry of Health launches trachoma elimination campaign in 7 governorates    EHA explores strategic partnership with Türkiye's Modest Group    Between Women Filmmakers' Caravan opens 5th round of Film Consultancy Programme for Arab filmmakers    Fourth Cairo Photo Week set for May, expanding across 14 Downtown locations    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Ancient military commander's tomb unearthed in Ismailia    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM praises ties with Tanzania    Egypt to host global celebration for Grand Egyptian Museum opening on July 3    Ancient Egyptian royal tomb unearthed in Sohag    Egypt hosts World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay for 3rd consecutive year    Egyptian Minister praises Nile Basin consultations, voices GERD concerns    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



In Egypt, Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh backtracks on church donations
Published in Bikya Masr on 25 - 08 - 2009

CAIRO: The leading Sunni Islam figure, Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Mohamed Sayyed Tantawi has lashed out at media, saying that his comments reported on Monday, saying Muslims can donate money for the construction of Christian churches, was “misinterpreted” and only “Christians can donate” for this sort of effort. Reports on his statements had initially sparked widespread support for the often embattled religious leader, who had apparently bucked a conservative trend by supporting inter-religious action.
But it appears the country's optimism was short-lived, as Tantawi retracted his “misinterpreted” statements. Tantawi reportedly said that Muslims can donate money for the construction of churches. He added in statements carried by Egyptian newspaper Youm al-Saba’a that Muslims can make voluntary contributions to build churches, pointing out that the church is a house for “worshipping and tolerance.”
He had been responding to a fatwa – Islamic edict – attributed to the Egyptian House for the Issuance of Fatwas, that “building churches is a sin, therefore a Muslim may not donate money for the acts of worship that does not believe in monotheism.” Ironically, this fatwa does not single out Christianity, as Islam recognizes the faith as one of the three Religions of the Book, including Judaism.
The controversy has resulted in Tantawi`s retraction to correct what he described as “misinterpreted statements” and stressed that his remarks were misunderstood and that he “meant the donation of ‘Christians' for building of churches and not Muslims.”
Tantawi said that he did not criticize the fatwa. He added that he did not discuss the matter during a meeting with a delegation from the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) led by Naguib Gobriel and that he only spoke of the possibility for “any person to donate” for constructing any house of worship.
The Al-Azhar chief continued, arguing that it is forbidden for a person to donate money for the construction of “sinful” places, such as bars and nightclubs.
Egyptian newspaper al-Dustour reported that well-informed sources called the Sheikh of Azhar and Grand Mufti Ali Goma'a to resolve the crisis raised over the fatwa “in order to avoid any sectarian strife or an inconsistency between Al-Azhar and the fatwa organization.”
In related news, Naguib Gobriel reported that he has a recording of the meeting with the Sheikh and claims that Tantawi said a Muslim can donate for the construction of churches. Gabriel added that when those at the meeting asked the Sheikh whether this is his own personal opinion or this is the Islamic view, Tantawi said it is the “Islamic Sharia view.”
Tantawi also pointed out during the meeting that the building of churches is not a sin, calling on the Mufti to hold the signatories of the fatwa accountable.
**reporting by Mohamed Abdel Salam
BM


Clic here to read the story from its source.