Al-Tayeb’s call for reform here is not genuine. He has shown himself over the years to be a doctrinaire literalist: he has justified anti-Semitism on Qur’anic grounds; called for the Islamic State murderers of the Jordanian pilot to be crucified or have their hands and feet amputated on opposite sides (as per the penalty in Qur’an 5:33 for those who make war against Allah and his messenger or spread “mischief” in the land); and broken off “dialogue” with the Vatican after Pope Benedict XVI dared to criticize the jihad massacre of 21 Christians in Alexandria on New Year’s Eve 2011. Al-Azhar was only recently revealed to be offering free copies of a book that called for the slaughter of Christians and other Infidels.
So what is he doing in this call for reform? Combating the Islamic State. Al-Azhar and al-Tayeb want to present a good front for the al-Sisi regime. So this is not all it appears to be, but is more the result of political calculation than of a genuine impulse for reform.
“Al-Azhar top cleric calls for religious teaching reform,” BBC, February 22, 2015 (thanks to Harry):
The Grand Imam of Egypt’s top Islamic institution has called for a radical reform of religious teaching to tackle the spread of Islamic extremism.
Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb of Cairo’s al-Azhar University said that a historical misreading of the Koran had led to intolerant interpretations of Islam.
Speaking at an anti-terror conference, he called for unity among Muslims.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said that a pan-Arab military force is needed to combat terrorism.
He told Egyptian state TV that the need for such a unified force was “growing and becoming more pressing every day” because of the huge challenges faced by the region.
“We will be able to overcome such challenges when we unite together,” he said.
Mr Sisi added that several countries, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, had offered military assistance against Islamic State (IS) after the militants released a video that appeared to show the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians.
The beheadings prompted Egypt to bomb alleged IS targets in Libya.
President Sisi said that the Egyptian military had no interest in attacking or invading other nations but that it would defend Egypt and the region.
‘Bad interpretations’Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb condemned terrorism at the opening of a three-day counter-terrorism forum in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
In his speech, he linked extremism to “bad interpretations” of the Koran and the life of the Prophet Muhammad.
“The only hope for the Muslim nation to recover unity is to tackle in our schools and universities this tendency to accuse Muslims of being unbelievers,” he said….
Jaladhi says
You cannot trust a Muslim, sheikh or anybody else. They just lie to to placate infidels.
Islam can never be reformed nor will it ever reform. The only solution is its total eradication from this planet!!
mortimer says
The Grand Imam of Al Azhar is the top Muslim.
mortimer says
Jeh Johnson needs to read this article.
Some one who knows him should place it in his hand.
The Doctor says
It is interesting that they hold the conference in Mecca, a city which non-Muslims are forbidden to enter. Thus, we are even at the mercy of Muslims for any reports about this conference and what is proposed there.
M S case says
How can he speak of koranic reform and want to hold on to it’s teachings……………….WOW?????
mortimer says
TAQIYYA ARTIST!
Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb is a COMPLETE fraud.
Angemon says
I don’t doubt that first comes the islamic state, then comes Israel.
mortimer says
“a pan-Arab military force” would probably see many join ISIS!
They have not stopped the source of the problem: POLITICAL ISLAM.
As someone here said: First turn off the tap. Then clean up the mess.
jewdog says
It’s guys like this that make me appreciate the Islamic State. That’s because I like it when my enemies have distractions, particularly in the form of their fellow thieves and criminals. Thanks to IS, those Egyptian jets flew west instead of east, and the Jordanian jets flew east instead of west. Yes, things are getting very murky in dar-el-Islam, what with the Sunnis versus the Shiites and the true believers versus the takfiris. It’s like throwing firecrackers into a barrel of cats. Go to it fellas.
ECAW says
Yes, I welcome the Islamic world tearing itself to bits except for one thing – its relocation to Europe, aided and abetted by the Pope, the EU and (aaargh) the Guardian.
mariam rove says
Taqqia. That is it. He is lying through his teeth. M
AJ Liberphile says
Why is al Toerag wearing a Father Christmas hat?
pumbar says
It’s bad enough he’s wearing it but why draw attention to it by pointing at it like that!
cs says
It seems like the peace conference in Norway.
For the few ones who did not watch it, please do now, it is the funniest and one of the true videos about Islam without taqiyya.
Babs says
This wretch is lying through his teeth, but for effect and to impress fellow-Muslims. He must know full well that we wouldn’t believe a word he said.
As for Sisi’s call for a pan-Arab force to fight Islamist terrorism, that would cause immense cognitive dissonance. Muslims are commanded to protect their brothers and stand with them against kufr and the concept they follow – Al-wala’ wa-l-bara’ (Arabic: الولاء والبراء) is generally referred to as the Islamic concept of friendship toward fellow Muslims, and never loving nor praising the Non-Muslims. It mirrors the dichotomy of the Muslim view of the world as being divided into the house of war (against kufr) and the abode of peace where Islam reigns and their dichotomous thinking in general.
I cannot believe that this Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb is telling us the truth. If he were it would go against all the teachings of Islam.
Baucent says
The Grand Imam is a devious fellow. I well remember his fury when Pope Benedict dared to criticize Islam. One might ask just what the Imam has done to date to project a peaceful message in mosques in Egypt? The truth is more likely along the line that “these brash and unruly ISIS are causing the world to scrutinize and question the Islam means peace propaganda”