Much of the curriculum of Al Azhar—the Islamic world’s most prestigious university, located in Cairo—is based on Islamic books written in the medieval era or earlier. These books—histories, biographies of Muhammad, hadith (words and deeds of the latter), tafsirs (Koran exegeses), etc.—are often criticized by more reform-minded Muslims for being too backwards, teaching things such as unrelenting jihad and hatred for non-Muslims.
During a recent televised interview, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, Egypt’s highest authority on Islam and Grand Imam of Al Azhar, was asked about his university’s reliance on these books. His responses left many reformers disappointed.
Tayeb insisted that all books used by Al Azhar are fine: “Our heritage books are innocent and being abused by those ignorant or indecent among us—and that’s all they can be: either ignorant or indecent.”
Settling the question in such black and white terms completely overlooks the fact that many of these books are indeed loaded with problematic teachings. It is from these books—in this case, one of the histories of the prophet—that ISIS justifies burning people alive.
He continued his apologia: “Some say, do away with the other, ancillary books of Al Azhar. Okay, but then how can I understand the Koran and Sunna?” He explained that if Al Azhar got rid of the other books, every Muslim would be free to interpret the Koran any which way they want—claiming that that’s what ISIS does. Tayeb even attacked using one’s brain, or reason, to understand the Koran, claiming again that that is what ISIS does.
This was another strange assertion: it is ISIS that most criticizes the free use of the brain, and insists on slavishly following the teachings of those ancillary books—which teach anything from eating the flesh of infidel captives to selling women and children on slave markets.
But the most telling portion of the interview came when Al Azhar’s Grand Imam said:
When they [reformers] say that Al Azhar must change the religious discourse, change the religious discourse, this too is, I mean, I don’t know—a new windmill that just appeared, this “change religious discourse”—what change religious discourse? Al Azhar doesn’t change religious discourse—Al Azhar proclaims the true religious discourse, which we learned from our elders.
As all Egyptians know, the one man that made the phrase “change religious discourse” famous is President Sisi. He too has publicly called on Al Azhar to reconsider its usage of ancillary books—most notably on New Year’s Day, 2015—in an effort to change the international image of Islam, from one of war and enmity, to something more tolerant.
Now the highest Muslim authority in Egypt has made clear that Al Azhar never had any intention of changing anything, that the “religious discourse” articulated in the Medieval era—one of hostility and violence for the other, in a word, jihad—is the only “discourse” Muslims can accept.
Anything else is apparently quixotic—“tilting at windmills.”

Michael Laudahn says
Subhuman arselifters
Keys says
mortimer, Wellington, gravenimage and othe JW posters will be shocked – wholly unpredictable based on Islamic foundational texts, history and past proclamations !
Unbelievable !
sarc off
Angemon says
Well, imagine my surprise…
Westman says
Sacré bleu! Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose…
Alea Iacta Est says
This is a “University” ?
What DO they teach ?!
Does their Science Faculty teach that radiocarbon dating is a decadent Western pornsite?
1. Possibly
2. Probably
3. Likely
4. Very Likely
5. Most likely
6. Usually the case
7. Ripley’s Believe it or not
8. Yes
9 Yes Yes Yes !!!
10 No No No It Can’t Be True but…!!!!!!
Damocles Junior says
Does this or any other Islamic University have an observatory? The Vatican has an observatory, I think the Jesuits operate it.
Does this University have a science faculty, I too just wonder what they would teach? Then there are disciplines such as international law, diplomacy, journalism, archaeology and the list could go on.
Ron says
The words Islamic and scholar should never be used in the same sentence.
eur says
All the Muslims who have defended the idea of reforms within Islam have had to flee to Europe. That says everything . Fear is the glue of Islam, unreason its dogma, terrorism the tool it uses. There is no possible conciliation between Islam and a rule of law with separation of powers and civil laws.
Jaladhi says
It is obvious Islam teaches terrorism and all these Muslim terrorists(ISIS, al Qaeda, al Shabab, Boko Haram, Indian Mujahideen, and other Pakistani terror outfits) are acting in accordance with Islamic teachings. Will the West ever admit it or follow the lies and narrative of Islamic apologists?
Ron says
Will somebody please tell Hillary and Obama?
Vic says
Caramba! Que sorpresa!
If I understand correctly, there is only one way to change anything stated in the Quran and the Sunna. It’s abrogation. And the only ones who could conceivably abrogate any verse and/or insert a new one is Allah himself through Mohammed. Since they are now unreachable, the answer is NO Reform.. Ever!
In a way, I feel sorry for the many millions of people incarcerated by this evil ideology and the willfull blindness of the Western world. It becomes increasingly difficult to extend a saving hand to them while they remain Muslims and if so, those of us who can’t see the truth are doomed as well. We won’t be able to save them or ourselves if we don’t wake up. Shine your light upon us all Lord!
Rob says
..and this is the U that Obama spoke at 8 years ago.
How ungrateful not to align itself with the Great Ones’ vaulting rhetoric on that occasion.
Carolyne says
And I believe a lot of US taxpayers’ money was wasted in rehabilitation work on it’s mosque.
common sense says
Medieval ideology will meet western technolgy.
http://www.google.com/search?q=true+lies&hl=en-US&source=android-browser&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjq08ii1dbQAhWqllQKHYGJB0gQ_AUICA
Noel says
The link doesn’t work for me
Stan Lee says
After all, what could anyone expect of a “modern, highly accredited”, university in Cairo, Egypt?
Lesley says
Santa? Santy Claus??
Noel says
It’s a joke to call places like this Universities. They are more like bible colleges than anything else. No knowledge is taught, just scripture with a magnifying glass.
Carolyne says
Referring to Lesley’s post, it does seem that this idiot is wearing a Santa Claus hat.