At the present time, our community suffer a labyrinthine reality due to what may be designated as an “absurd jurisprudence”, which is hauntingly addressed to the people day and night, not to guide them to the ease of the Shari`a and the mercy embodied in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Rather, it involves a mixture of radical opinions that were developed on specific occasions and under emergent circumstances, which are currently irrelevant to people’s reality. It also involves irresponsibly issued fatwas that draw on claiming unlawful that which is lawful or lawful that which is unlawful, without any scholarly or disciplined grounding.

This absurd jurisprudence is carried by parallel hordes of pseudo-Muftis who, unfortunately, managed to get the better of numerous Ifta’ academies in our Arab world. I would almost say that all Fiqh and legislation assemblies, on top of which is the Islamic Research Academy, here at Al-Azhar. Such transcendence or predominance was not due to the rationality or ease of this jurisprudence, or even its capacity to make life easier, but rather due to its capacity to spread and reach out to many people, in villages and distant areas. The proponents of such type of Fiqh ascend the pulpits and have access to the people, while the fatwas issued by Ifta’ academies, and assemblies and research committees remain inaccessible, being limited to individuals asking for fatwas or to books or conferences that are inaccessible to millions of common Muslims. Even the recommendations of such conferences find no specialist who would promote or apply them to people’s reality.

Parallel to these radical fatwas that cherish killing people, illegally appropriating their property, and spreading mischief on earth, are fatwas issued by pseudo-Muftis who feature on TV channels almost on daily basis and approach the people with twisted fatwas and misinterpretations that are far from Islam and the tolerant teachings revealed only for the purpose of bringing happiness to the people, organizing human life in a manner that preserves their dignity, regardless of their race, gender, color or belief, and affirming their right to a safe and decent life.

Indeed, radical fatwas that render the recommended an obligation or the legal forbidden have become widespread, not because of what it involves of well-grounded scholarly theorizing, but rather because they are promoted by some radicals or idlers and by some TV channels as a way of making mundane gains. Such parties recklessly vandalize Islamic Shari`a as long as they profit from it.

We, at Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, are not responsible for what those parties disseminate of false and erroneous fatwas, or even for the opinions of any of Al-Azhar graduates who do not associate with the Islamic Research Academy or the Council of Senior Scholars. It is improper that Al-Azhar turns into a commodity that is manipulated to attract audience or commercials, which – in case it happens – is saddening enough, as it indicates the lack of discipline and responsibility for the concerns of our country.

Undoubtedly, Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif – in an attempt to restrict the chaos of fatwa issuance that is now threatening the unity, safety and stability of the community, has launched a project of establishing an academy for training preachers, imams and Muftis through intensive Shari`a and Ifta’ courses that involve serious training, as is the case with any scholarly discipline.

Moreover, Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif is preparing, within the next few days, for the launching of Al-Azhar World Center for Monitoring and Electronic Fatwa in several languages. This center would contribute in eliminating the chaos of fatwa issuance in the virtual world through utilizing modern means of technology to countermand fatwas that legalize hurling accusations of disbelief at others and shedding inviolable blood.

We also proposed to the Council of Senior Scholars a number of juristic issues that require legal opinion towards reducing relevant controversy and in turn making things easier for the people in terms of their worldly matters and also preserving their religious uprightness, based on collective legal reasoning exercised by competent specialists. In this regard, I invite young preachers to acquaint with and deliberate on traditional reference works, along with the different juristic opinions encompassed in them on issues that preoccupy the people and touch on their primary concerns, especially those relating to new occurrences. I also invite Arab and Muslim peoples to develop sufficient awareness that allows them to dismiss ill-informed preachers who seek to distort the image of Islam.

Almighty God is the Granter of success!

H.H. Professor Ahmad At-Tayyeb

Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar