Prof. Mohammad Salah, Head of the Department of Fundamentals of Jurisprudence at al-Azhar University, delivered a lecture on ‘Dismantling Extremist Thought from a Fundamentalist Point of View’ as part of a training course organized by the World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates, in cooperation with al-Azhar International Academy for Training Imams, Preachers, and Fatwa Researchers, to a group of British Imams and Preachers via video conference.
Notably, Prof. Mohamed Salah emphasized the importance of adhering to methodological rules when interpreting texts and deriving rulings. This requires considering the intended purposes and connotations of words, as words can sometimes be general, but later specified by context, evidence, or other factors. He stressed that those who fail to consider and apply generalizations without regard for specific contexts are mistaken.
The Head of the Department of Fundamentals of Jurisprudence at al-Azhar University discussed examples of extremism in the understanding of certain extremist groups, such as their interpretation of the hadith: ‘I have been commanded to fight against the people.’ He explained that while this hadith includes the general term ‘people,’ the Prophet (PBUH) specifically referred to those who fought against him. This interpretation aligns with the Almighty’s command: “And fight in the way of God with those who fight against you, but aggress not; God loves not the aggressors.” [Q. 2:190]
He stressed that the correct understanding of this hadith, and the deduction of its ruling, comes from properly interpreting the verbal connotations. Moreover, this ruling is not derived from a single text, but rather by gathering all relevant texts on the same topic to deduce the correct ruling in a sound methodological manner. This approach helps prevent misunderstandings that can lead to extremism and intolerance.
In conclusion, Prof. Mohamed Salah emphasized that Islam is a religion that respects reason, and the greatness of this religion lies in the fact that its rulings are aligned with the interests of people, as it addresses sound innate nature.
