Fatwá

Dr. Sa‘d al-Dīn Ibrāhīm, chairman of Ibn Khaldūn Center for Development Studies reports on his paper that was presented to a conference that was held in Rome under the title: ’The Cross, the Crescent and the Ballot Box.’ Ibrāhīm’s paper discussed Islam and democracy. In the following lines Ibrāhīm refers to what he believes to be the Christian opposition of democracy at a certain period of time and foretells that the change that took place in the Catholic Church’s stance can also take place in Arab countries, asserting that the problem of democracy is not related to Islam but to the Arab identity and some Arab rulers.

While the majority of Muslims call to boycott The Netherlands because of the offensive movie ’Fitna,’ some extremists attacked Dutch interests in certain countries. However, Dr, ‘Alī Jum‘ah, the muftī of Egypt explained the way he reacted: “I carried the Glorious Qur’ān, kissed it and read it for over an hour.”’

In an interview with Mahmūd ‘Īsá, Muslim thinker Jamāl al-Bannā elaborates on many of his controversial stances and honors the Qur’ān as the only authentic point of reference for Muslims. He also declares that the divine influence of the Qur’ān is not in the human interpretation of the Qur’ānic verses, but in the influence that the word of God itself has on the listener.

In his interview with al-Sharq al-Awsat, Shaykh Yūsuf al-Qaradāwī reveals the reasons why he is forbidden from entering the U.K., expressed his opinion about the unremitting Western offenses against Islam and called on Muslim countries to react to the offenses.

The author warns of the imminent danger of extremist religious tendencies that have negatively influenced the tolerant nature of Egyptians.

The recent controversial Egyptians Against Religious Discrimination conference was prevented from taking place by force. The following lines shed light on the conference’s recommendations and the press controversy it aroused.

The author highlights the tense relationship between the muftī of Egypt Dr.‘Alī Jum‘ah and the Grand imām of the Azhar, Shaykh Muhammad Sayyid Tantāwī.

Islamophobia vs. Westophobia; two postmodern terms. The article presents Muslims’ points of view toward the issue. Dialogue and moderation seem to be the key issues for eliminating the two terms used by fundamentalists on both sides, as most of the people in the following text explained.

The under-secretary of the People’s Assembly Dr. Zaynab Radwān has called for the fatwás of Imām Mālik to be avoided as they pervert society.

On a program screened on Egyptian TV, Shaykh Khālid al-Jindī has threatened to slaughter the author for opposing his controversial fatwás.