Azhar scholars support handshake with Perez

Members of The Islamic Research Center at al-Azhar University issued a statement in support of the Grand Imam's handshake with Israeli president Shimon Perez in a U.N. sponsored religious dialogue, which stirred outrage in Egypt and triggered calls for the Imam's dismissal.

The statement came in the wake of a legal notice filed by an Egyptian lawyer calling on scholars of the center to use their authority to drop the membership of Sheikh Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi since the handshake was constituted a violation of his duties as a Muslim scholar. This automatically entails his dismissal from the position as Grand Imam.

“The lawsuit was based on the violation of Article 30 - Clause B of al-Azhar's law by acting in a way that belittled his standing as a venerated Muslim scholar,” Essam Sultan, the lawyer who filed the suit and member of al-Wasat party told AlArabiya.net.

"His irresponsible stance violated all al-Azhar laws, which criminalize dealing with Israel," he said. "And his appearance in a TV interview declaring that he does not care about an issue as important as the siege of Gaza proves his indifference towards what's happening in the Muslim world."

Right behavior

Sultan denied that it is not legally possible to dismiss Tantawi as the Grand Imam: "If his membership at the Islamic Research Center is dropped by a one third majority, he loses an important prerequisite for the position of Grand Imam."

If members of the center do not respond to Sultan's demands, he will file a lawsuit at the Administrative Court and call for Tantawi's official dismissal.

"Any Egyptian or Arab citizen has the right to contest the passivity of the scholars if they abstain from taking a decisive step."

Several scholars at the Islamic Research Center do not agree with Sultan. Center member Dr. Moustafa al-Shakaa said he might differ with the Imam on some issues, yet his behavior with Peres was right.

"I am not supporting the Imam. I am making the stance of Islam on that issue clear," he told AlArabiya.net." What the Imam did was according to the teachings of Islam. You have to greet people and return their greetings regardless of their religion."

Shakaa cited the example of the Prophet who had a treaty with the Jews and used to host them in his house. He also mentioned that he stood up in respect when a Jew's funeral was passing.

The Imam's behavior was also correct from the political point of view, Shakaa added: "What the Imam did saved the image of Muslims and proved the moderation of Islam."

What the Imam did was according to the teachings of Islam. You have to greet people and return their greetings regardless of their religion,

Egyptian Islamist scholar Dr Moustafa al-Shakaa

A necessary act

Dr. Mohamed al-Shahat al-Guindi agreed with Shakaa and stressed that he and other members of the Islamic Research Center will not heed the legal notice or take any steps towards dismissing the Grand Imam.

"Shaking hands with Peres was necessary within its context," he told AlArabiya.net. "It was a conference for religious dialogue and the tolerance of Islam had to be demonstrated."

Guindi denied that the handshake implied the Imam's endorsement of Israeli atrocities against Palestinians, which he condemned in many statements.

Sheikh Ali Abdul Baqi seconded this opinion and stressed that the Grand Imam was against Israeli policies.

"We all know the Imam's stance on the Palestinian issue and he openly declares that," he told AlArabiya.net. "That is why there is no legal pretext for dismissing him."

On the other hand, prominent member of the Islamic Research Center Dr. Mohamed Rafaat Osman refused to comment on the stance of his colleagues.

"I abstain from commenting, and I am not interested in the opinion of Dr. Shakaa or others on this issue," he briefly told AlArabiya.net.

(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid).

Shaking hands with Peres was necessary within its context. It was a conference for religious dialogue and the tolerance of Islam had to be demonstrated,

Egyptian Islamist scholar Dr Mohamed al-Guindi