[Editor: The conclusion
that Muslims or Christians need to change their way
of thinking about each other is fine, but the accuracy
of several examples provided is questionable and therefore
this article has been classified as quality
three]
The author asks three questions concerning the
relationship between Christians and
Muslims:
Why do Copts like the Shaykh of the Azhar and hate
Shaykh al-
Sha‘rāwī?
The two shaykhs represent two different
tendencies of
Muslim scholars in dealing with Copts as partners in the same country. In his sermons and writings,
the
Grand Shaykh of the Azhar Dr. Muhammad Sayyid Tantāwī tends to build good relations with
Copts in order to enhance the spirit of tolerant coexistence between Muslims and Christians. He attends
most
Christian celebrations and has constructive conversations with Pope Shenouda III, which makes Copts
feel he is a
close friend of theirs.
On the other hand, the late Shaykh al-
Sha‘rāwī
explained Christian theological matters from Islamic perspectives during
his weekly program on the Egyptian
television. He promoted the story of the Bible’s corruption, casting
doubt on the nature and crucifixion of Jesus
Christ, which had a negative impact on Copts.
Some
current Islamic thinkers, such as Fahmī
Huwaydī, Muhammad Salīm al-
‘Awwā, and Tāriq al-Bishrī, have taken al
-
Sha‘rāwī’s side. They have adhered to aggressive philosophies in dealing with issues
relating to Copts. The author says that they unpleasantly asked the Coptic Orthodox church about the
sources of its
wealth, claiming that the church stores weapons inside tunnels to use in a war against
Muslims [Editor: did any of
the previous authors claim that Copts store weapons? These false allegations
date to the late 1970s when Egypt was
rife with tensions between Muslims and Christians but it is highly
unlikely that Fahmī Huwaydī,
Muhammad Salīm al-‘Awwā, and
Tāriq al-Bishrī ever made such claims. Likely
false claims such as these just incite
sentiments of Copts against these Muslim thinkers and of these thinkers and
their supporters against
Copts].
Why does the Azhar authorize cassette tapes that accuse Copts of Kufr
[apostasy]?
Despite the fact that the Shaykh of the Azhar is considered a good friend of Copts, the
Azhar has authorized some books and cassette tapes that attack Christian beliefs. Such materials are sold
by al-
Jam‘īyah al-Sharī‘ah [the Sharī‘ah
Institution] and
Jam‘īyah Ansār al-Sunnah [the Institution of the Sunnah
Supporters]. A number of
prominent Muslim preachers are involved in making these tapes, like Muhammad
Hassān, Muhammad Husayn
Ya‘qūb, and ‘Umar ‘Abd al-
Kāfī.
In the early 1990s
Shaykh ‘Umar ‘Abd al-
Kāfī issued a cassette tape saying that greeting
Copts or eating with them was Kufr
[apostasy]. The minister of endowments at the time arranged a meeting between
him and Pope Shenouda,
bringing the crisis to an end.
The author wonders how the Azhar authorizes such
materials, since
there is a committee in the Azhar checking everything before it reaches people.
How many
Coptic
friends has a Muslim got?
Aside from the extremist preaching of some Muslim shaykhs, Copts
still suffer from the day-to-day behavior of some Muslims. For instance, they powerlessly hear such
fanatical
cassette tapes on public transportation [Editor: this indeed does happen]. In addition, some
Muslims promote
distorted ideas about Copts to tarnish their reputations [Editor: and some Copts promote
distorted ideas about
Muslims to tarnish their reputations]. For example, they say that Copts’ food is
harām for Muslims
and that their personal relations with each other are suspicious [Reviewer:
he probably means relations between men
and women].
On the Coptic side, they transfer their hatred
of Muslims’ behavior to their children in the
process of upbringing. The author says that a Coptic adult
may tell a small child who has misbehaved, “Do not be
impolite like Muslims.”
He concludes that
Egyptians—whether they are Muslims or Christians—need to change
their way of thinking about each
other.
