Although the public holiday extends for several days, Muslims in Egypt celebrated ʿEīd al-Aḍḥā on Sunday, June 16th. Literally translated as the “feast of the sacrifice,” the spiritual significance of the day is closely connected to the story of Abraham/Ibrāhīm and Ishmāʿīl in the Islamic tradition (Qurʾān 37:100-112). In general, the Islamic tradition has held that it is recommended for Muslim families who can afford it to arrange for the slaughter of a livestock animal (e.g. a sheep, goat, or cow) during the holiday. The food is then distributed to family, friends, and the poor. Some prominent Egyptian scholars this year expressed strong disapproval of animal slaughter that occurs in the streets rather than designated locations. In an expression of national solidarity, a Coptic priest distributed gifts for children on the occasion outside Al-Azhar park in Cairo. Likewise, Pope Tawāḍrūs II delivered greetings to Egyptian officials for the holiday. At Dialogue Across Borders, we offer our best wishes to Muslims celebrating ʿEīd al-Aḍḥā in Egypt and around the world. 

On Sunday, June 9, I had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Tarek Elgawhary in Cairo. An Egyptian-American scholar, Dr. Elgawhary has been a good friend and supporter of our work in dialogue and Christian-Muslim relations. He is currently the General Director of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Amman, Jordan, where he works under HRH Prince Ghāzī bin Muḥammad. Responsible for the Amman Message (2006) and other important initiatives, the institute plays a significant role in shaping the global conversation on Islam and interreligious and intercultural relations. Dr. Elgawhary also serves as scholar-in-residence at the Islamic Community Center of Potomac in Maryland and as the US representative for the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide. Some of his important academic publications can be found here and here.

A couple of important points stand out from our conversation. As an Egyptian-American, Dr. Elgawhary expressed his profound grief at the role the U.S. government has played in the ongoing tragedy in Gaza. He also spoke of the lasting damage to interfaith relations caused by the current conflict, with Muslim and Jewish leaders becoming extremely polarized and many Christians leaders often remaining silent in order to avoid offending anyone. As a Muslim, Dr. Elgawhary expressed his gratitude for the witness of Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Christian leader in the West Bank, adding that Dr. Isaac has an open invitation to speak at the Islamic Community Center of Potomac. 

On an academic note, readers of Dialogue Across Borders will know that the question of abrogation in the Qurʾān and Islamic law has surfaced repeatedly in our work over the years. Critics of Islam often assert that the peaceful verses in the Qurʾān are abrogated or nullified by more militant verses. Dr. Elgawhary expressed the view that there was a growing consensus among many Egyptian scholars that this traditional concept of “abrogation” does not easily apply to the Qurʾān. He referenced the 1963 book by Dr. Muṣṭafā Zayd, Naskh fī al-Qurʾān al-Karīm, as a helpful resource for understanding this position. Another friend from al-Azhar described this same book as perhaps the most comprehensive treatment of the subject. Given the importance of this question to interfaith and intercultural relations, we plan to offer a fuller overview of this book in due course. 

We look forward to further conversations and collaboration with Dr. Elgawhary in the future. You can learn more about his work and sign-up for his valauble newsletter here.

With best wishes,