Text:
In The Name of God Most Gracious Most Merciful
At the generous initiative of Professor Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, Sheikh of the Azhar, a group of distinguished Egyptian intellectuals of different ideological and religious affiliations met with a number of scholars and thinkers from the honorable Azhar. During their meetings, they studied several issues regarding the
current historic decisive moment Egypt is passing through after the twenty fifth of January revolution and its importance in directing the future of Egypt towards noble goals and the rights of its people to have liberty [freedom],dignity, equality and social justice.
Those who met have agreed that the nation's procession needs to be founded on integral principles and comprehensive basis to be discussed by forces within the Egyptian society visualizing through enlightened rational steps to reach at the end the intellectual frameworks governing society and its sound methodology.
With the acknowledgment of all regarding the leading role of the Azhar in developing moderate effective thinking, those meeting have confirmed its importance and considered it the guiding light house and reference in delineating the relationship of the state and religion and clarifying the sound basis of legitimate
policy to be adopted and applied, based on its accumulative experience, scientific and intellectual history which is supported on the following dimensions:
1-The scholarly dimension in reviving and renewing religious disciplines according to the 'Suni 'and collective tradition which combines both reason and transfer of Knowledge and reveals the rules being considered while interpreting jurisprudence texts.
2-The historical dimension of the glorious role of the Azhar in leading the national movement towards liberation and independence.
3-The civilized role in reviving different natural ,literary disciplines and art with all its enriching fertile variations.
4-The practical dimension in leading the movement of society and shaping opinion leadership in Egyptian life.
5-The inclusive dimension in terms of Knowledge, leadership, renaissance and culture in the Arab nation and Islamic world.
In their discussions, those meeting were keen to seek inspiration from the spirit of the heritage of the Azhar prominent figures in thought, renaissance, progress and reform within the Azhar, starting from Sheikh Hassan El-Atar and his student, Sheikh Rifaa El-Tahtawy to Imam Muhammad Abdu and his students and those scholarly Imams who exerted effort and thought ,'Mogtahedeen', like El-Maraghy and Muhammad Abdallah Deraz, Mustafa Abdel-Razik , Shaltout and other sheikhs and scholars up to our present day.
At the same time they were inspired by the accomplishments of great Egyptian intellectuals who have participated in the evolution of Knowledge and humanity, and who have contributed to shaping the Egyptian and Arab mind in its renewable up rise, men of philosophy, law, literature and arts and other Knowledge which forged the general public thought, emotions and consciousness ,exerted effort in all this and focused on common denominators amongst them. Those common denominators aim at the noble goal accepted by all the wise and reasonable of the nation and are represented in the following :
Delineating principles governing the understanding of the relationship between Islam and the state in the current critical stage in the frame work of a harmonious strategy drawing the form of the modern desired state and its governing system pushing the nation along the road of civilized progress achieving democratic transformation ,guaranteeing social justice, providing Egypt access into the era of producing Knowledge and science, providing prosperity and peace while preserving spiritual and human values and cultural heritage. That is in protection of the Islamic principles established in the national consciousness and the conscience of scholars and thinkers from being ignored or exposed to distortion, exaggeration or misinterpretation and protecting those principles from being exploited by various deviated currents which may raise sectarian religious or ideological slogans in discord with the established national constants and commonalities or deviating from moderation or contradicting the essence of Islam regarding freedom, justice and equality or being distant from tolerance inherent in all heavenly religions.
Hence, we who are meeting have harmoniously agreed on the following principles to delineate the nature of the enlightened Islamic reference exemplified in several integral issues derived from definitely proved and pertinent jurisprudent texts as expressive of the sound understanding of religion which we include in the following axis:
Firstly :Supporting the establishment of the national constitutional democratic modern state relying on a constitution agreed upon by the nation, separating the state authorities from its legal governing institutions , delineating the framework for government rule, guaranteeing equal rights and obligations for all individuals in a way that the authority of legislation is delegated to the people's representatives in accordance with the sound Islamic conception since Islam has never known in its jurisprudence, civilization and history what has been known in other cultures as a religious theocratic state which, in some of the phases of history, imposed upon people and caused suffering to humanity. Islam left people to manage their societies, chose their mechanisms and institutions fulfilling their interests on condition that the integral principles of Islamic Jurisprudence are the main source of legislation in a way that guarantees for followers of other heavenly religions to refer to their own religious legislation in matters of personal affairs.
Secondly: Accrediting the democratic system based on direct elections which is the contemporary format to achieve principles of Islamic 'Shura' guaranteeing pluralism and peaceful transfer [rotation] of power, delineating responsibilities, monitoring performance and holding those responsible accountable in front of the representatives of the people, seeking people's benefits and their general public interest in all legislation, decisions and managing state affairs by law and only law and following up corruption, achieving complete transparency and the freedom to acquire Knowledge and circulate it.
Thirdly: Abiding by the array of basic liberties exemplified in freedom of thought, and opinion with total respect of human rights and the rights of women and children ,emphasizing the principle of 'Pluralism' and respect for heavenly religions and considering 'Citizenship' as the basis for responsibility in society.
Fourthly: Total respect for the ethics of differing and morality of dialogue and the necessity of avoiding 'Taqfir' [accusing others of blasphemy],accusing others of betrayal and the exploitation of religion to provoke disunity, ridiculing and animosity among citizens ;while considering the of sectarian dispute and racist calls a crime against the nation. The obligation of acknowledging and depending on equivalent dialogue and mutual respect in dealing with various national constituency, without any discrimination among citizens in terms of rights and obligations.
Fifthly: Confirming abidance by international charters and resolutions and upholding civilized achievements in human relations in accordance and harmony with the tolerant gracious traditions of the Islamic and Arabic culture and which is compatible with the long civilized experience of the Egyptian people throughout various eras, and what the Egyptian people offered as supreme models in peaceful coexistence and the seeking good to all humanity.
Sixthly: Total keenness to protect the dignity of the Egyptian nation and its national pride confirming protection and complete respect to places of worship for the three heavenly religions and guaranteeing free practice of all religious rituals without obstacles. Respecting all forms of worship without ridiculing the people's culture or distorting authentic traditions. Total keenness to protect and maintain freedom of expression, artistic and literally creativity/ innovation within the frame work of our civilized stable [constant] value system.
Seventhly; Considering learning , scientific research and entering the era of Knowledge as the engine of civilized progress in Egypt. Dedicating all efforts to catch up with what we missed in those fields and mobilizing all societal energies and capacities to abolish illiteracy ,investing in the human resource and achieving great future projects.
Eighthly: Employing scholarly determination of priorities to achieve development and social justice, confront tyranny ,abate corruption and abolish unemployment, in a way that generates societal energies and creativities in economic aspects, social, cultural and media programs; provided this would be on top of the priorities adopted by the people in the current renaissance, while considering true and serious health care an obligation of the state towards all its citizens.
Ninthly: Building Egypt's relationships with its Arab brethren , Islamic context, African and Global circles and supporting the Palestinian Right. Protecting the independence of the Egyptian will and retrieving the historic leading roe on the basis of cooperation in terms of common good and the achievement of interest of nations within a frame work of matched equality and total independence. Monitoring participation in the noble human effort for the progress of humanity. Protecting the environment and achieving just peace among nations.
Tenthly: Supporting the project regarding the independence of the Azhar institution and the return of the "Great Scholars Authority" and delegating to it the responsibility of nominating sheikh the Azhar and working on renewing the educational curricula of the Azhar to regain its authentic intellectual role and global impact in various places.
Eleventh: Considering the honorable Azhar the specialized authority to be referred to in Islamic affairs, disciplines, heritage and modern scholarly and intellectual efforts while allowing all the right to express their opinion provided the fulfillment of required scientific conditions and abiding by the ethics of dialogue and respecting what the scholars of the nation have agreed upon.
The scholars of the Azhar and the intellectuals participating in the preparation of this document call upon all Egyptian political parties and directions to be committed to work for the progress of Egypt, politically, economically and socially within the basic terms of that document.
May God guide us towards the good of this nation .
17th 0f Ragab 1432 H
19th of June 2011 AD
