The opinions of this religious scholar influence Muslims worldwide.Cairo/Aleteia (aleteia.org/ar) – A religious scholar and the highest official interpreter of Islamic law in Egypt, Grand Mufti Shawqi al-Allam, condemned ISIS and all of its atrocities in Iraq.
According to reports by the Italian newspaper Avvenire, the Mufti unequivocally denounced ISIS, stating that the group “violates the tenets of Islam.”
He went on to say, “An extremist and bloody group such as this poses a danger to Islam and Muslims, tarnishing its image as well as shedding blood and spreading corruption,” according to a report by the Egyptian state news agency.
Over 5,500 people have been killed by ISIS in the past six months.
For several months, there have been complaints in the West that moderate Muslim leaders had been slow to respond to the actions of ISIS. Without clear and bold opposition, the threat from ISIS can only be expected to grow.
Earlier this week, the President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, called upon Muslim leaders to be “unanimous in their unambiguous condemnation of these crimes [by ISIS] and denounce the invoking of religion to justify them.”
Al-Allam’s comments are especially significant because they reflect the opinion of Al-Azhar, which Reuters describes as “one of the world’s oldest seats of Muslim learning,” and which influences the opinions of Muslims worldwide. His comments followed shortly upon those of Ahmad al-Tayib, Imam of Al-Azar, who also denounced ISIS is explicit terms.
