CAIRO - The recent meeting between the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Badie and Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayyeb has positive reverberations, say observers. The former regime of Hosni Mubarak often referred to the Brotherhood as a banned group that threatened the country's stability. But the well-organised group has had widespread appeal for the past eight decades, thanks to its grassroot political and social programmes, they add. “Following the January 25 revolution, Egypt is experiencing historic moments,” said Montasser el-Zayyat, a lawyer for Islamic groups. “This process of rapprochement between Al-Azhar, a formal moderate Islamic institution, and the Brotherhood, a public moderate Islamic group, is a must. Their dialogue and co-operation will weaken extremist religious groups in Egypt,” added el-Zayyat. Al-Azhar, the highest and most prestigious institution of Sunni Islam, has played an important role over hundreds of years. During the last three decades, the Mubarak regime put pressure on Al-Azhar and limited its role. “It was very positive,” said Essam Derbala, a member of the Shura Council of al-Gama'a al-Islamiya (an Islamic group), referring to the recent meeting of Al-Azhar Sheikh and the Muslim Brotherhood boss. “The country will benefit from ongoing meetings between Al-Azhar and various Islamic groups. None of these groups can be responsible for spreading moderate Islam on its own,” added Derbala. “Al-Azhar has now the golden chance to re-establish its supreme role. I hope they will communicate with all Islamic groups,” Derbala added. Hassan el-Banna, a sheikh and primary school teacher, founded the Brotherhood in 1928. “The Muslim Brotherhood is the most moderate Islamic group in Egypt. The rapprochement will lead to moderation and has a positive impact on Brotherhood members, who will be closer to Al-Azhar than other Islamists,” stated Hossam Tammam, an expert on Islamic groups. Grand Sheikh el-Tayyeb also met with Salafist Sheikh Mohamed Hassan. “I encourage Al-Azhar to approach all Islamist groups with an open mind,” Tammam said. The Muslim Brotherhood recently formed a political party, pledging the party's independence from the influential group. “The Brotherhood and other organisations have the right to participate actively in the political life,” said Abdel-Moe'ty Bayoumi, the former dean of the Faculty of Theology at Al-Azhar University. “Dialogue between the Brotherhood and Al-Azhar is nothing out of the ordinary, since both are on the same wave length – advocating moderate Islamic culture,” Bayoumi added. “Al-Azhar is distancing itself from the former regime's policies which banned the Brotherhood. This strengthens the Brotherhood's role in society,” said Abdel-Ghaffar, a leading figure of the leftist Tagammu Party. For its part, the Brotherhood says it has no issues with Al-Azhar. “The Muslim Brotherhood does not have any serious disagreements with a respected institution like Al-Azhar. Sometimes we have differences of opinion,” said Hussein Ibrahim, a member of the group. “We support Al-Azhar's independence from the State and want it to lead the Islamic nation,” Ibrahim added.
