RNA – Speaking on his nightly television program, “al-Imam al-Tayyib,” which is being broadcast during the holy month of Ramadan in Egypt, Shaykh Ahmad al-Tayyib, the Grand Imam of Egypt’s renowned Sunni institute of learning, al-Azhar University, explained that atheists developed their opinions in the 18th century with some degree of politeness and respect toward those who believe in God but contemporary atheists, particularly after the events of September 11, have declared war against all religions, especially Islam.
He added that one of the major causes of the spread of irreligiosity and atheism in the Islamic world is that some Muslim youth do not have the support for firm thinking and belief and cannot assess what they hear, especially since those who spread atheism spread their ideas with simple and comprehensible explanations for the youth.
“Experts in psychology and large financial institutions support these ideas and the danger of these institutions is that their ideas can be considered as the weapons of the West,” he stressed.
In another part of his speech, Shaykh al-Tayyib said that some so-called international human rights organizations are trying to support Muslim apostates. “We think this phenomenon is an abuse of religious freedom and at the same time, those who have not declared their apostasy from Islam are not considered threats to the Islamic community,” he said.
He added that some European countries have also opened the way for sexual freedoms which are hated and uncomfortable in the Islamic world.
In conclusion, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar urged the Muslim community to take action to end the phenomenon of atheism and said that the only way to end irreligiosity and atheism is to disseminate correct religious knowledge in schools and universities and to have theological and philosophical courses in our universities taught to students in order to ensure the culture of society against deviant thoughts.
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