CAIRO: Sheikh Youssef El Badry, who attacked Egypt's Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa's new book entitled "Al-Bayan Lama Yashgal Al Azhan, (Knowledge for all that Crosses your Mind) in an article published in Al-Masry Al-Youm, was never a member of the Islamic Research Center and is an unreliable source, said Sheikh Mohmoud Ashour, former deputy for Al-Azhar and member of the Islamic Research Center. Ashour's statement to The Daily Star Egypt was a reaction to a press report claiming that El Badry had requested that Gomaa withdraw his new book from the market. He accused it "of prohibiting some religiously acceptable actions. Gomaa's reply indicated that his book is meant to fight terrorism and extremism. On the other hand, Ashour stressed that El Badry's opinion "should not be taken into consideration as he is untrustworthy. Gomaa's books have caused controversy in recent weeks. In an earlier book he claimed that Prophet Mohammed's (PBUH) companions used to drink his urine, considering it a blessed act. Gomaa stuck to his position despite criticism, claiming that everything which emanated from the Prophet is pure and sacred. Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawy requested that Gomaa withdraw his book.
