In the Name of Allah Al-Rahman The Merciful The Recommendation Committee has convened where the following members were present: 1- His Eminence, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar Gomaa, Minister of Al- Awqaf Chairman 2- His Excellency, Mr. Khaled Ben Ali Ben Abdallah Al-Khalifa, Minister of Al-Awqaf, Bahrain 3- His Excellency, Mr Elfateh Tag Elserr, Minister of Al-Awqaf, Sudan 4- His Excellency, Mr Hayel Daood, Minister of Al-Awqaf, Jordan 5- His Excellency, Mr Mahmoud Elhabbash, Minister of Al-Awqaf, Palestine 6- His Eminence, Prof. Dr. Abbas Shuman, Deputy Imam of Al-Azhar 7- His Eminence, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Aly Ageeba, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs 8- His Eminence, Dr. Yashar Sherif, Deputy Mufti of Greece 9- Judge/ Muhamad Mahmoud Abdel-Salam, Legal and Constitutional Advisor of his Eminence, the Grand Imam of Al-Azahr Rapporteur Over the course of two full days, under the auspices of his Excellency, Counsellor Adly Mansour, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and with the attendance of: His Excellency the Prime Minister, Eng. Ibrahim Mehleb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Dr. Ahmad El-Tayyeb, his Holiness, Pope Tawadros II - Leader of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church and Pope of the Seat of St. Mark, his Excellency, Prof. Dr. Muhammd Mukhtar Goma'a - Minister of Al-Awqaf, and a prestigious host of ministers, muftis, and scholars participating in the Conference, including nearly 444 scholars and 144 public figures, from around 44 Arab and Islamic states, an ongoing endeavor has been exerted by such esteemed scholars for a thorough and insightful study of two of 1
the most important and serious issues affecting the Arab and Islamic world: Takfirism and Fatwa Mayhem. The attendants have agreed on a number of important and urgent recommendations, some of which are related to both Arab and Islamic world, and some others are related to the Arab Republic of Egypt, as follows: * The Conference addresses the Arab and Islamic World with the following recommendations: 1- To coordinate between ministries of Al-Awqaf, fatwa institutions, scientific and jurisprudence academies on major issues affecting the Ummah, and to abide by the teaching of moderation and Shariah-based disciplines, disregarding any other sources of influence. 2- To address printed, electronic and audio-visual media institutions, as well as social and other media, in order to create an appropriate platform to disseminate moderate thought, eschewing all aspects of immoderation and intransigence. 3- To promote sound and moderate thought preventing the trends of takfiry thought; and advising Islamic communities that accusing others of disbelief is a religious verdict that should be referred to Allah (SWT) and His Prophet (SAW), and may not be expressed unless overtly stated by those persons, where the opinion of scholars and jurists of scientific and jurisprudence academies is submitted for the conclusive expert opinion of the honorable judiciary, and nobody - individually or collectively - may issue a fatwa in that regard. 4- To establish and revive the fundamentals of the sound religious understanding of terms commonly used in the Islamic community, such as: Jihad, Hisbah, Walaa, Baraa, Dar El-Harb, and Dar El-Islam, in addition to their interrelated nature. To judge according to Allah's teachings, in line with contemporary facts and developments, and in light of the well-established principles; and to correct relevant misconceptions so as to avoid confusion in the society. 5- To pave the way for dialogue and communication between scholars and youth, whilst emphasizing on building their mutual confidence, as role models and the power of the future, respectively. 6- To draw on modern technologies and various communication means, so as to respond to fatwa enquiries made by individuals, provided that only specialized scholars issue such fatwas. Misguided people are actively present only when those in the right path are absent; hence, if the people who are on the right path 2
waive their right to enforce what is right, misguided people will insist on enforcing what is wrong. 7- To adopt the initiative that his Eminence the Grand-Iman of Al-Azhar Al- Sharif, Prof. Dr. Ahmad El-Tayyeb, has launched in the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies in Abu-Dhabi, in regard to reviving the sense of communication among people - in their homeland, in the Islamic Ummah, and in all humankind - as was called for in the Munificent Quran, being one of the Quranic principles, where Allah (SWT) Says: "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other" [Al-Hujrat: 13]. This tenet introduces a peaceful human-oriented theory replacing the conflict in civilizations, the demise of history, the downfall of civilization, and other detrimental dualities that prejudice the life, security and stability of humankind, in light of mutual respect between nations and peoples. 8- To work together on eliminating religious and intellectual ignorance across the Islamic world, so as to prevent the manipulation of our youth by extremists, fanatics, radicals, atheists, or misguided people. If we want to eradicate intransigent stances, we must eliminate the relaxed attitude towards the rootcauses of the problem. 9- To place mosques in all Arab and Islamic countries under the oversight of the ministries of Al-Awqaf and those entities with similar capacity, so that these mosques do not fall under the influence of wrongdoers. 11- To expedite the launch of Al-Azhar satellite channel, seeing that Al-Azhar represents a universal intellectual tributary that reflects the essence of Islamembraced peace, freedom and interconnection between human beings. The channel should involve specialized scholars who are committed to adopting the moderate approach of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and should prepare cadres qualified to respond to dubiousities and aspersions brought against Muslims every day and to reflect the true tolerance of this moderate religion. The channel should act as a seed for the establishment of several other specialized channels to be launched under the supervision of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. 11- The preservation of life is considered one of the major objectives of Islam; it is thus forbidden to deem legitimate any aggression against or killing of lives, for the killing of a life that Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice, is deemed an act of corruption and brings about corruption on earth. Allah (SWT) Says: if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one 3
saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people (Al-Ma idah: 32). 12- To manifest the tolerance Islam brings and the civilization it reflects in embracing all man-kind, be they Muslims or non-muslims, emanating from the Saying of Allah (SWT) to His Prophet (SAW): We sent thee not, but as a Mercy to the worlds (Al-Anbia : 111). * With respect to the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Conference recommends the launch of an initiative to be adopted by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. The aim of the initiative is to revitalize the role of specialized scholars to leading the Ummah intellectually and to liberating minds from all forms of deflection, aberrance and deviation. 1- The enforcement of the constitutional provisions establishing Al-Azhar Al- Sharif as the source of reference of all matters related to Islamic affairs and the authority responsible for the Islamic call in Egypt. 2- Directing the attention of public institutions of the state to the importance of the stances taken and independent reasonings made by the Council of Grand Scholars of Al-Azhar, seeing that it is considered a safe haven standing in the face of chaotic fatwa-issuing and eccentric opinion-making. 3- Working on including the facts about Islam, as well as its objectives and moderation, in university curricula such that students are spared the path of takfirism and the negative influences of extremism. 4- That Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, in its capacity as a mosque and university, and the Ministry of Al-Awqaf hold educational seminars to define the role of specialized scholars and jurists, their independent jurisprudential reasonings and their leading stances in the life of the Islamic Ummah. 5- Teaching humanities in schools where imams, khatibs and muftis graduate so that they are well-aware of the teachings of their religion, the reality of their society and what goes on around them in the outside world. 6- Inter-ministerial cooperation: between the ministries of Al-Awqaf, Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports and Culture with a view to qualifying 4
cadres capable of carrying the message of Islam, with all its tolerance and moderation, to all members of the society. 1- That the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, in cooperation with the aforementioned ministries, holds a series of seminars and workshops that geographically accommodate the entire nation and in which scholars from all areas of specialization participate, to absorb the youth and prevent them from experiencing false thoughts and defected perceptions. The seminars should include topics related to takfirism and its hazards and to promoting the sense of national belonging. 8- Building cooperation bridges with the Association of Arab Universities (AArU) in order to agree on these objectives and to include them in educational curricula according to the circumstances of each country. 9- Inviting all mass media channels, official and private, to strike a balance when presenting ideas and when dealing with opinions and to abide by the relevant professional conduct in order to maintain the best interests of the nation and to steer clear from acts of immoderation and takfir. Furthermore, calling for the establishment of a professional code of conduct to be adopted by the media-men themselves in order to have a more impartial and professional media to maintain the best interests of the nation. 11- Establishing cooperation channels with equivalent agencies in the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) because the issue of takfir is an issue that should be dealt with by the entire Islamic world, where its repercussions affect the image of Islam and the Islamic world. 11- That the attendees delegate the Egyptian Minister of Al-Awqaf, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mokhtar Gomaa, to establish and head a committee constituting the leading members of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, as well as consultants from within Egypt and abroad to follow-up on the execution of the present recommendations. The committee should meet twice a year and whenever deemed necessary. May God Guide Us to the Right Path 5
Chairman of the Committee Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mokhtar Gomaa Egyptian Minister of Al-Awqaf 6