Jinn

The author discusses content presented by religiously-themed satellite channels, namely ’al-Nās’, ’al-Rahmah’ and ’al-Hikmah’. He argues these channels are dominated by salafīs who spread backward, extremist ideas, with officials not taking action against them.

A seminar was held in the Journalists’ Syndicate refuting the claims of the Emirati Ahmad al-Jawharī, who had announced that he owns a stone sculpture with the face of the Prophet Moses.

The article is an interview with Dr. Youssef Al-Qaradawi. He commented on the fiqh of facilitation that he is famous for applying, the Islamic religious discourse, the schools of Islam and the top problem of the Islamic world today. He also commented on the conditions in Iraq and the possibility of the eruption of sectarian strife between Sunnis and Shiites there.

The author argues

that national unity as well as human rights are deeply rooted in Islam, as loving one’s nation is

part and parcel of one’s faith. He gives many examples from Islamic history to support his

opinion.

With that speedy pace in the quest for knowledge and progress and attempts to explore the space, the people in our country are still living in the pre-science age, confiscated, tried or simply wasted for just trying to prove they are capacitated, and so the bodies grow while the mind stays in a moronic state like an ape who can play music or watch TV without learning anything about them.

It was said that Sheikh Amr Khalid used the scientific method and a free mature way of thinking in explaining the Qur’an and Sunna. However the author provides many examples of how Khalid imitates the ways used by preachers for many centuries. He proves that he is very far from using the scientific method and that his interpretations of some Qur’anic verses are wrong.

The author comments on Fahmi Howeidi’s article about establishing an Islamic party. He expressed his surprise at the fact that Howeidi discussed the idea only from a constitutional angle but not from a political one. Howeidi’s idea that the constitution does not prohibit founding religious parties is based on the words of the constitution not the meaning behind them. Stating that Islam is the religion of Egypt and the main source for legislation does not mean that political parties can be founded on a religious basis.

The author of this article argues that the playing of taped recitals of the Qur’an in public transport, shops, etc., is inconsistent with the purity, holiness and status of the Book. Those who promote this are Muta’slimeen (Pharisees).

In a continuation of the series on religious tapes started last week by Al-Arabi, this week they review religious books.