Date of source: Monday, March 18, 2002
The fatwa that forbids shaking hands between men and women contradicts the moderation Sheikh Atiya Saqr is known for. It was better for Sheikh Saqr to present the opinions of jurists on this point and let people decide for themselves. This fatwa put many of the Azhar scholars in a critical...
Date of source: Wednesday, March 13, 2002
Sheikh Atiya Saqr stressed that he would not withdraw his statement about prohibiting shaking hands between men and women, as this is stated in a true hadith. He said that he would not take the trouble and respond to those who criticized his fatwa, as some of them deny the sunna. He added that if...
Date of source: Saturday, March 9, 2002
Sheikh Attiya Saqr issued a fatwa to the effect that shaking hands between men and women is haram [religiously forbidden], as men touches the hands of women with the aim of satisfying their desires. Some Azhar professors and Islamic thinkers believed the fatwa to be strange and extremist.
Date of source: Wednesday, December 4, 2002
Counsellor Said Al-Ashmawi believes that the Shari’a is divine while fiqh is human. That is why fiqh can be modified and even rejected. He believes that Qur’anic texts should be interpreted within their historical contexts and in the framework of the reasons behind their revelation
Date of source: Saturday, December 7, 2002
The author explains the rule “intentionally denying one of the fundamentals of religion” because of which a Muslim can be considered an apostate. He believes it is a terrorist rule that is used and applied by terrorists.
Date of source: Wednesday, January 9, 2002
The tragedy of Muslim societies is that religion is not separated from life, in a way that serves human progress nor is it part of life, in a way that makes of religion an intellectual and enlightened energy against whatever suppresses man, whether political or economic or religious authorities.
Date of source: Saturday, January 19, 2002
Su’louk [plural sa’aleek] is a word that was used - in pre-Islamic times - to describe marginalized people who belonged to an insignificant tribe or an unimportant village.
Some people have created a form of fiqh called Al-Wilaya wa Al-Bara’a [the submission (to a leader (wali), group, ideology,...
Date of source: Saturday, January 19, 2002
The Islamic communities need different sources to form the minds and souls of the people. The mass media and the preachers who are aware of the realities of life and the truths of the religion have a very important role to play. The mass media should give opportunity to the scholars and clergymen...
Date of source: Saturday, December 28, 2002
The author refutes a comment opposing his ideas concerning the punishment for apostasy, the rule of "Intentionally denying one of the fundamentals of religion" and the so-called "wars of apostasy."
Date of source: Tuesday, May 20, 2003
The author comments on secularism in the Arab world. He believes that secularism cannot be applied in the Arab world, part of which is Iraq. Since this is the case and since the American Administration cannot convince the Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq to abandon the idea of establishing a religious...