Prof. Al-Hodhod: Islam Laid Down the Foundations for a Language of Dialogue with Opponents
The World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates held a workshop at its headquarters in Cairo on ‘The Concept of Religious Extremism and Its Causes’ for a group of international students from various nationalities, including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Yemen, Sudan, Palestine, Tanzania, Djibouti, and Libya.
Prof. Ibrahim al-Hudhud, Academic Advisor to the Organization and former President of al-Azhar University, stated that the religious extremism we are witnessing today is the result of a misinterpretation of religious texts, which has led to the declaration of opponents as infidels, violations of honor, and the shedding of blood.
Additionally, he emphasized that the tolerance of Islam does not permit us to judge others, and this is the essence of the religion, one that is far removed from the ideologies of extremism and terrorism. We are not like the extremist groups that shed the blood of Muslims simply because they differ from their radical beliefs.
During the workshop, the Academic Advisor of the Organization added that extremism in thought, whether through excess or negligence, has long existed. He pointed out that even secular extremists, who regard reason as the ultimate authority, are not to be judged as disbelievers. Therefore, it is essential to adopt a language of dialogue and respectful argument with opponents, as our noble religion has instructed us.
In conclusion, he explained that ignorance and a lack of understanding of the context in which Quranic verses were revealed and how they should be applied are among the primary causes of extremism. He further emphasized that it is impermissible to interpret the Holy Quran in isolation from the texts of the Sunnah, and vice versa. Likewise, he noted that ignoring historical contexts is one of the most prominent factors contributing to the spread of extremist ideologies.
