Background:
The interview with Majdī Hussaīn, the Editor-in-Chief of al-Shaʿb magazine and an Islamic political activist, and an Islamic Īmam revolves around the case of Naṣr Ḥāmid Abū Zayd, a liberal Islamic thinker who was accused of apostasy, and the issue of the tunnel created upon the decision of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as the religious discourse in mosques regarding the matter and situation of Palestinians.
Muḥammad Sayyid Ṭanṭāwī, the Grand Īmam of the Azhar discusses the expansive role of the Azhar and the various array of fields that could be studied in it not just religious specialties. He gives his comments on the matter of Fatwā and the case of Naṣr Ḥāmid Abū Zayd.
Side A:
Islamic political activist Magdī Ḥussain comments on questions regarding the issue of liberal Muslim scholar Naṣr Ḥāmid Abū Zayd who was sentenced after being accused of apostasy and after lawyers went to court as they viewed his opinions as harm to religion. Ḥussain said that the lawyer's action against Naṣr Ḥāmid Abū Zayd was the one harmful to Islam as a religion since one of its main principles is the freedom of choice. Although he did not read his book, Ḥussain said that he would accept to publish Abū Zayd's ideas. He also added that there is no chance of Islamic extremist groups to kill him as it could only happen on rare occasions as the attempt to murder Nagīb Maḥfuz.
The interview continues with the topic of Egyptians against Israel. Ḥussain mentions that it's a sensitive issue because of the severity of the situation of Palestinians and the Aqsa Mosque that is under the threat of being destroyed or divided and that Netanyahu has no intention of keeping peace or even work on it.
The Islamic Īmam stresses as well on the disappointment that Netanyahu has put the Islamic and the Arab World through. He also expressed his fear of the country being transformed into another Afghanistan, as the killing is being pursued. He commented on the fact that on Friday prayers, such issues are being discussed to support the Palestinians.
Side B:
Īmam Ṭanṭāwī elaborates on the moderate education that the Azhar is presenting. According to him, it doesn't only encompass religious education including Fiqh or Sharīʿa; it has also a various array of faculties as medicine and engineering and located in different cities around Egypt. When asked who is mainly responsible for giving Fatwās, Ṭanṭāwī stressed on the role of the Muftī and that he is the official figure that could be referred back to for Fatwās. He also pointed out the difference between Dār al-Īftāʾ and Fatwā Committee at the Azhar; the latter is the official place that the state could refer back to, while the former is a volunteering sector to respond to the people's questions along with Īmams at the Mosques. Ṭanṭāwī made it clear that the four doctrines (Madhāhb) differ on subsidiary matters; they do not disagree on the core of the religion. On Naṣr Abū Zayd's issue, he mentioned that it is in the hands of the Judiciary and that it is independent and the only branch that could comment on the matter.
