Grand Imam of Azhar: Those who spread violence, practice bloodshed in the name of God are liars

CAIRO – 11 October 2021: In an interview with Vatican Radio, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh reiterated that those who spread violence and practice bloodshed in the name of God are liars.

 

“I must say that those who spread hatred among people today, and practice violence and bloodshed in the name of religion or God, are liars and traitors to the religions whose flags they raise, whatever these religions or doctrines or confessions in whose name they speak,” he said.

 

“To say that religions, as revealed by God the Most High, have been the cause of wars in history is inaccurate because what are known as conflicts fought in the name of religion, are in truth political conflicts that have stolen the name of religion by loading it with corrupt interpretations in order to achieve worldly conquests and interests, which have no connection, not even remotely, with true religion,” he added.

 

He also talked about his relationship with Pope Francis, saying "after the election of dear brother Pope Francis, Al-Azhar took the initiative to congratulate him, and we received a beautiful response from Pope Francis.” 

 

During his visit to Rome, Sheikh Ahmed El Tayyeb met with Catholic Pope Francis at the Vatican, and discussed the efforts to spread the principles of the Human Fraternity Document worldwide.

 

the Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the headquarters of the Italian Presidency in the Italian capital, Rome.

 

In a statement on Wednesday, Azhar said the Italian president welcomed Sheikh Tayyeb in Rome, and highlighted the importance of the meeting in view of Tayyeb's international efforts to entrench the values of international peace and brotherhood.