Al-Azhar
All topics-
Muhammad cartoon controversy
Macron and the Muhammad tempest in a Twitter teapot
French President Macron's statements that caricatures of Muhammad may still be published have triggered outrage in a number of Muslim states. Turkish President Erdogan is among the most vocal critics. Karim El-Gawhary reports
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President Sisi, the Grand Imam and Al-Azhar
Egypt’s eternal conundrum – reforming religious thought
How long can Al-Azhar University mount guard over orthodox Islamic learning, fending off Sisi’s attempt to assert control while also curtailing the influence of oil-rich Gulf states? By Muhammed Nafih Wafy
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Marriage, divorce and inheritance
Who should reform Egypt's personal status law, and how?
"Personal status" is a modern category of Middle Eastern law grounded in Islamic religious teaching. Legislative authorities dip into centuries of religious scholarship to decide which interpretations of Sharia will be enforced by the state. Understandably, how it is done is as important as who does it. By Nathan J. Brown
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Abrahamic Teams in the MENA
Interfaith dialogue – a painstaking process
The declared goal of the Abrahamic Teams is to improve how Jews, Christians and Muslims interact with and live alongside each other. The project, which originates in Germany, is now being implemented in Israel, Egypt and Morocco too. But, as Claudia Mende found out, interfaith dialogue does not progress quickly
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President Sisi and Al-Azhar
Wresting religious authority from the Grand Imam
An arcane dispute between Egyptʹs president and Al-Azhar over how much society is threatened by debating the authenticity of hadiths and their role in Islamic law is really about moral leadership in society. By Nathan J. Brown and Cassia Bardos
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Critical Koran edition "Al-Mushaf wa Qiraʹatuh"
The Koran – and its variants?
For many years, progressive Islamic thinkers have been calling for people to read and understand the Koran in the context of the period in which it was written. Now, for the first time, Tunisian Islamic scholar Abdelmajid Charfi has put together a critical historical edition. By Annette Steinich
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Islamist ideology debunked
Getting past the abuse
Many efforts to provide counter-narratives for Salafist-jihadism are currently failing to address extremists′ abuse of religious scripture directly. Nevertheless, efforts to combat extremism through religious counter-narratives are expanding across the Islamic world. By Rachel Bryson and Milo Comerford
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Anti-radicalisation strategies in Egypt
Sheikhs on the beat
There are many opinions about the best way to combat Islamist extremism. For its part, Al-Azhar University in Cairo has decided to send its sheikhs out of the mosques and into the coffee houses of the city in an attempt to prevent radicalisation. By Karim El-Gawhary
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Abdul Fattah al-Sisi′s totalitarian state
Nearing completion
In recent months, the Egyptian regime has moved decisively to close what remains of public space, heralding a new era of repression that is likely to dominate all aspects of political life for decades to come. By Maged Mandour
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Women′s rights in Islam
Can feminism be Islamic?
Islamic feminism is a relatively new concept and not without controversy. Indeed many wonder whether it is possible to reconcile feminism with Islam – a religion critics regard as inherently patriarchal. By Salma Khattab
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Pope Francis’ visit to Al-Azhar
Who holds sway over religious identity?
The Muslim world is in upheaval: who will have the authority to interpret the teachings of Islam in future? Cairo′s Al-Azhar University regards itself as fit for the job. But the times are changing and the master may yet become the student. Indeed the pope′s visit was literally something of a god-send. By Alexander Goerlach
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Islam, Al-Azhar and the terrorists′ ideology
If the cap fits
Whenever a country is the target of a terrorist attack, the issue of whether the perpetrators were linked to Islam rears its head. As Assem Hefny argues, questions regarding the relationship between Egypt′s Al-Azhar mosque and university, terrorism and ideological extremism – though hurtful – should not be dismissed out of hand