Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Nasr, a scholar of Islamic law and graduate of Egypt’s Al Azhar University—regularly touted as the world’s most prestigious Islamic university—recently exposed his alma mater in a televised interview.
After being asked why Al Azhar, which is in the habit of denouncing secular thinkers as un-Islamic, refuses to denounce the Islamic State as un-Islamic, Sheikh Nasr said:
It can’t [condemn the Islamic State as un-Islamic]. The Islamic State is a byproduct of Al Azhar’s programs. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic? Al Azhar says there must be a caliphate and that it is an obligation for the Muslim world [to establish it]. Al Azhar teaches the law of apostasy and killing the apostate. Al Azhar is hostile towards religious minorities, and teaches things like not building churches, etc. Al Azhar upholds the institution of jizya [extracting tribute from religious minorities]. Al Azhar teaches stoning people. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic?
Nasr joins a growing chorus of critics of Al Azhar. Last September, while discussing how the Islamic State burns some of its victims alive—most notoriously, a Jordanian pilot—Egyptian journalist Yusuf al-Husayni remarked on his satellite program that “The Islamic State is only doing what Al Azhar teaches… and the simplest example is Ibn Kathir’s Beginning and End.”
Ibn Kathir is one of Sunni Islam’s most renowned scholars; his Beginning and End is a magisterial history of Islam and a staple at Al Azhar. It is also full of Muslims, beginning with Muhammad, committing the sorts of atrocities that the Islamic State and other Islamic organizations and persons commit.
In February, Egyptian political writer Dr. Khalid al-Montaser revealed that Al Azhar was encouraging enmity for non-Muslims, specifically Coptic Christians, and even inciting for their murder. Marveled Montaser:
Is it possible at this sensitive time — when murderous terrorists rest on texts and understandings of takfir [accusing Muslims of apostasy], murder, slaughter, and beheading — that Al Azhar magazine is offering free of charge a book whose latter half and every page — indeed every few lines — ends with “whoever disbelieves [non-Muslims] strike off his head”?
The prestigious Islamic university—which co-hosted U.S. President Obama’s 2009 “A New Beginning” speech—has even issued a free booklet dedicated to proving that Christianity is a “failed religion.”
In short, the phenomenon known as “ISIS” is not a temporal aberration within Islam but rather a byproduct of what is considered normative thinking for Al Azhar—the Islamic world’s most authoritative university.

Jaladhi says
Why are these stupid people criticizing Al Azhar – they are only following principles of true Islam. But alas, this is what our delusional leaders don’t understand or don’t want to understand because they(our leaders) have this false notion that Islam is peaceful and so they can’t see the murders and rapes done by ISIS as Islamic.
On the other hand these stupid leaders of the West should listen to Al Azhar and see the real violent, vicious Islam which it really is and practiced by ISIS instead of just fooling their citizens by saying ISIS is not Islamic!!
I wouldn’t trust any of the Muslim clerics who are blaming Al Azhar for not denouncing ISIS because these clerics are simply practicing taqiyya for their own agenda!!
Denis says
What are the true principles of Islam. There is none. This religion preaches HATE for all people who are not Islamic. They call US kafirs. (non believers) It is a religion of WAR and debasement of people. The difference between the philosophy of Islam and other religions is very easy to understand, Islam teaches and preaches OBEY the Koran or else. That or else is or we will kill you. All other religions is based on LOVE and/or enlightenment. There is no moral code in Islam that lays out rules of conduct when referring to kafirs. Islam has Sharia law, a barbaric leftover from sixth century and earlier of Hammurabi thinking. All other religions preach and teachings are based on three laws for god. one law for your parents and six laws for society. Islam is very racist but not based on color. Call it Islamoracism. At the top are Muslim men – Secondly – are Muslim women who are equal to one half a man. At the bottom of the Islamic racist thinking is all non believers. This is the religion El-Azhar teaches and preaches. I call it the religion of hate and despair and so should you.
carly says
I had to look closely. I thought he was wearing a santa hat! Well it is soon Christmas.
Jim Peters says
That dip-shit with the red and white hat “The Blind Cleric” gave the twin towers a nice present. He was such a bringer of joy with a van full of goodies for New York.
revereridesagain says
Oh good, Carly, I thought it was just me! “Allahohohoakbar”?
Whatever their personal motives are, it’s satisfying to hear these “Islamic thinkers”
expose the evil preached at Al Azhar to the rest of the world, including all the dhimmis trying to ignore the facts.
? says
“Terrorists are un-Islamic”- the media and Muslims. Well then, say ISIS, a TERRORIST group, is against the Koran. If such a statement is true then these scholars and learned Muslims shouldn’t have a problem denouncing ISIS and its affiliates because it’s not Islam right? But apparently this IS difficult because ISIS IS Islam, a very literal version of Islam.
? says
This is the reaping 666
Wellington says
So why is this guy still a Muslim? For that matter why is anyone? Being a Muslim is not only wrong, it’s stupid.
mortimer says
“Al Azhar University has NOTHING TO DO WITH ISLAM!” – Hillary Clinton
Donovan Nuera says
Back during Harvard University’s Tricentennial in 1936 (presided over by FDR ’01 and President (former chemist and future Manhattan Project official) James Conant Bryant), the convocation started with a regal procession of homage of both national and international university deans/presidents with the oldest ones leading in order of the year of their founding. Al-Azhar’s representative was given the honor of being the first one in line as it was founded in 970. ( The Universities of Padua, Bologna, Paris, Oxford, Cambridge, et. al then followed).
I wonder, if we prevail in this struggle against barbarity, during the upcoming Quadricentennial in 2036 if Al-Azhar will be allowed to even show up? I hope not. If we don’t, the academics in that procession may not be able to pass the memorial statue of John Harvard in front of University Hall and rub his bronze shoe for good luck…as it would have been melted down as a haram graven image a few years before and made into large ornamental footbaths at Memorial Mosque in Tercenterary Theatre…..
خَليفة says
It’s amazing how many people want to make themselves more “relevant” by claiming a stake in the creation of DAESH.
Normal people don’t go around claiming they were responsible for passing gas:
“I farted and that’s what you smell”
“I too farted, can you not smell the onions”
“but my fart was louder did you hear it?”
“I farted in this corner”
“I pledge allegiance to your farts and I will fart in the future”
“my fart Akbar”
“NO MY fart Akbar”
So we conclude that claiming stake in foul things means these people are a few genomes short of being human.
Angemon says
Not as much a byproduct as it is the primary product.
خَليفة says
Here you see this he fruits of Islamic reason and thinking. It is no wonder so much of the Islamic world is considered “3rd world”
my fart is bigger
baldi durtat hu ‘akbar
بلدي ضرطة هو اكبر