Imam of al-Azhar condemns calling Shias infidels

Rasa - The grand imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar Islamic Center criticized certain satellite television networks for describing Shia Muslims as infidels.

News ID: 3091

Date: 08 August 2015 - 16:25

RNA - Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb said Takfir (considering fellow Muslims as infidels) of Shia Muslims is unacceptable in view of the Holy Quran and Sunnah, Iraqi al-Nakhil news agency reported.

He underlined that allegations that Shia Muslims have a Quran different from that of other Muslims are baseless.

There are no serious differences between Shias and Sunnis that could mean followers of one of them are out of the religion (are Kafir or infidel), the senior Egyptian cleric stated.

Al-Tayyeb stressed that if he travels to Iraq, he will pay a visit to the city of Najaf, one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam.

He went on to say that the Muslim world is in need of unity and that enhancing Islamic unity is a necessity today.

One of the main duties of Al-Azhar is to make efforts for the promotion of Muslim unity, al-Tayyeb underlined.

Al-Azhar is the Sunni Islam’s highest seat of learning and is respected by Muslims around the world.

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