The plague of Islamic terrorism is based on “grievances” against Israel — so says Al Azhar, the world’s most prestigious madrasa (or Muslim “university”) that co-hosted Barack Obama’s 2009 “A New Beginning” speech. During a recently televised Egyptian interview, Ahmed Al Tayeb — Al Azhar’s grand imam, once named the “most influential Muslim in the […]
Robert Spencer: Pope Francis, Defender of Islam
My latest over at The Geller Report: Pope Francis received a noteworthy honor last week when Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Cairo’s al-Azhar, thanked him for his “defense of Islam against the accusation of violence and terrorism.” Has any other Pope of Rome in the history of Christianity ever been heralded as a “defender […]
Al-Azhar Grand Imam thanks Pope Francis for his “defense of Islam”
In reality, Islam is unique among world religions in having a developed doctrine, theology and legal system mandating warfare against unbelievers. Unless and until that is confronted, Muslims will continue to commit acts of violence against non-Muslims, including Christians. The Pope is betraying the Christians of the Middle East and the world, and all the […]
‘The Real Bomb Is in Islam’s Books’
During his visit to Egypt last week, “Pope Francis visited al-Azhar University, a globally respected institution for Sunni Islamic learning,” and “met with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the imam of the government-run Al-Azhar mosque and an Islamic philosophy professor.” This has been reported by several media outlets, often with much fanfare. Unfortunately, however, Sheikh Tayeb, once […]
Pope in Egypt: “Let us say… ‘No!’ to every form of violence…carried out in the name of religion”
It’s hard to be Egyptian: water turning to blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, diseased livestock, boils, hailstorms, locusts, darkness, death of firstborn, and now Pope Francis. Seriously, Francis notes the “incompatibility of violence and faith” and says: “Let us say once more a firm and clear ‘No!’ to every form of violence, vengeance and hatred […]
After Palm Sunday jihad massacres, Pope Francis to Egypt to reach out to Muslims
“A main reason for the trip is to try to strengthen relations with the 1,000-year-old Azhar center that were cut by the Muslim side in 2011 over what it said were repeated insults of Islam by Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict.” What did Benedict say? Andrea Gagliarducci of the Catholic News Agency explains that after a […]
Christianity and Judaism Breed Terrorism Just Like Islam?
Egypt’s top Muslim cleric and head of Al Azhar, Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb, recently spoke before the religious representatives of some 50 nations during a Cairo-based conference. The sheikh demonstrated once again that he is a master of exhibiting one face to fellow Muslims — one that supports the death penalty for “apostates,” calls for the […]
Egypt: All art is “immoral,” says top cleric, known as a “moderate” around the world
Art has a largely negative impact on human morality. So says Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Egypt’s Al Azhar madrassa and arguably the “most influetial Muslim in the world.” In a recent televised interview, Tayeb was asked “To what degree does art influence the morals of the youth.” The sheikh responded that art […]
Top Muslim university rejects reform, stands by “terrorist curriculum”
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 […]
Dialogue between Vatican and al-Azhar to restart in April after five-year lull
Why has there been this “five-year lull”? Because “Al-Azhar froze talks with the Vatican in 2011 to protest comments by then-Pope Benedict XVI.” What did Benedict say? Andrea Gagliarducci of the Catholic News Agency explains that after a jihad terrorist murdered 23 Christians in a church in Alexandria 2011, Benedict decried “terrorism” and the “strategy […]