The renowned Islamic theologian and
chairman of International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS) returned to
Cairo in the wake of the ‘Egyptian Revolution of 2011.’ He led the
Friday prayer in Tahrir Square on last Friday and called on the Egyptian
people to preserve national unity.
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| Yusuf al-Qaradawi |
Speaking to a crowd of over 200,000,
al-Qaradawi pointed out in his sermon that the revolution was not
complete and it just got started.
“Don’t let anyone steal this revolution
from you – those hypocrites who will put on a new face that suits them,”
he said speaking to the crowd of worshippers. It was his first public
speech in Egypt after 1981, delivered after the assassination of Anwar
as-Sadat.
At the end of his speech, he read from
the Quran, his voice cracking as he reached a verse on the fate of
tyrants and then the thousands gathered there settled into prayer amid a
pin-drop silence.
Al-Qaradawi was imprisoned under King
Farouq in 1949, and three times during the reign of former President
Gamal Abdul Nasser, until he left Egypt for Qatar in 1961. He has been
banned from travelling to United States and UK for his moral support on
Mujahedin around the world.
Al-Qaradawi was a close associate of
Hassan al-Banna during his youth and a longtime member of the Muslim
Brotherhood. He has twice turned down offers to be its leader. He joined
Muslim Brotherhood group in the 1940’s and was influenced by Hassan
al-Banna’s moderate thoughts and principles. Later he was asked to be
the chairman of Muslim Brotherhood, but he preferred to be a spiritual
guide for the entire nation.
In response to Saudi Muslim scholar Abdullah ibn Jibreen's fatwa declaring that it was forbidden for Muslims to support or pray for Hezbollah because they are Shia,
al-Qaradawi issued a contrary fatwa, stating that it was mandatory for
all Muslims to support Hezbollah in its fight against Israel, pointing
out that "Shias agree with the Sunnis in the main principles of Islam while the differences are only over the branches."
In the same fatwa, he also called on the Sunnis and Shias of Iraq to unite and save the country from the scourge of civil war.
Forms of deviationism and beliefs considered to be heresy by mainstream Islam have arisen among several sects claiming to be Sunni or Shia. Therefore, the Islamic Nation needs guidance from reliable Muslim scholars and intellectuals.
……………………………………Written by: Ibrahim Nazim
21 February 2011, Monday
18 Raby` al-awal 1432
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