For all its talk about “combatting radicalism,” Al Azhar University—perhaps Sunni Islam’s most authoritative voice—will not even denounce the Islamic State as “un-Islamic.”
When pressed on it, an Al Azhar spokesman, Abbas Showman, recently said: “As an official entity, Al Azhar has never in all its history proclaimed anyone or any organization as un-Islamic …. being occupied by this question will not lead to anything,” because “Al Azhar will not judge ISIS or its Islam as un-Islamic, for it is not its right, neither concerning ISIS or anyone else.”
But, as one human rights advocate in Egypt was quick to quip: “What, didn’t the ulema and sheikhs of Al Azhar denounce as un-Islamic Naguib Mahfouz and Farag Foda and others from among the intellectuals and writers whose activities were stopped and some of whom were assassinated due to Al Azhar’s position?”
Holy Prophet APF says
Finally, some intellectual integrity. Prez Barack Hussein should return to ol’ U of Azhar and give another apology speech. Except this time they might not welcome him even in the half-assed way they did last time, angry about how he sold out the Mo-Bro-Hood to the generals.
mortimer says
Al Azhar would denounce ISIS in two cases 1) the caliph is not enforcing Sharia 2) the caliph is promulgating false doctrines (innovations or deviation from Sunnite Islam).
ISIS is meticulously Islamic and virtually above criticism on all points…well, maybe they enforce Sharia a little too strictly, but they are obviously VERY Islamic.
Obvious to everyone, but not JOE BIDEN who ‘knows’ Islam is peaceful.
Jay Boo says
Their silence is an admission that trumps all the insincere self-serving imams in the West.
Angemon says
I think they need to have a nice, long chat with sheik Hussein and imam Cameron…
Nicolai Sennels says
Graphic showing that Al Azhar is right: http://10news.dk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/ComparingQuranIS.png
More news: 10news.dk
Geppetto says
No matter! Repeat 10 times (at least). Saudi Arabia is our friend. Saudi…………..
Mat says
This is the crux of the matter