It looks as if that war is already being fought, at least on one side. Now aside from issuing condemnations, what is the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar doing to ensure that Muslims don’t continue to commit acts that “might instigate religious wars”? Has he established programs in every mosque in Egypt teaching that Muslims should treat Christians as human beings with a dignity equal to theirs? Why not?
“Priest dies from stabbing on seaside promenade in Egypt,” Associated Press, April 8, 2022:
CAIRO — A knife-wielding man mortally wounded a Coptic priest during an attack at the popular seaside promenade in Alexandria on Thursday evening, Egypt’s interior ministry said….
The priest was identified by the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria as Arsanious Wadid, 56….
Sectarian violence is not uncommon in Egypt, where an Orthodox Christian minority, the Copts, is believed to be among the world’s oldest Christian communities….
Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayyeb, who heads Egypt’s Al-Azhar — the highest institution of Sunni Islam in the Muslim world — condemned the attack, warning that such acts “might instigate religious wars.”
“The Grand Imam affirms that homicide is a major sin that arouses God’s wrath and is punishable in the afterlife,” read the statement posted on Al-Azhar’s Facebook page.
somehistory says
It’s like a bad marriage…one spouse is working to make things better, bending over backward to keep things peaceful, while the other spouse is constantly finding fault, belittling, threatening, accusing, cursing, and engaging in fits of violence and rage.
Christians are taught by Christ to be “peacemakers” and peacekeepers. Christians are taught to love, to respect Life, to “turn the other cheek” against insults, and to forgive if the other shows remorse and repentance.
mozlums are taught to wage war, to slaughter, to look for offense, to hate and never forgive…no matter.
It’s plain to see that islam is from the enemy of God, the enemy of Life and mankind. One evil entity fits that and he will not be peaceful, nor stop his war against all of us.
gravenimage says
Fine analysis, Somehistory.
somehistory says
thank you, g.
Omer Causey says
I never got the hang of turning the other cheek. More of an Old Testament guy.
Nonetheless, having a Sunni Grand Imam publically state that homicide is a major sin punishable in the afterlife, particularly when the victim is a Christian priest, should be acknowledged as progress.
Sign him up as a founding member of the Muslim Reformation.
gravenimage says
I’m afraid not, Omer. What the head of Al Azhar is condemning is the idea that any Christian might *fight back* and try to defend himself. Please h=read the phrasing again.
ElderlyZionist says
Ramadan Mubarak!
Johnny B says
Note that the Sheikh’s “condemnation” was not of the murder of an innocent man. He’s more concerned that it might “instigate” religious wars. Well, as a Christian I already begin to feel we are at war and I’m not running around with machetes attacking Muslims and I’m not aware that other Christians are either!? If some of my fellow Christians disagree with me, why don’t they read about what’s going on in parts of Africa, Nigeria for instance…
John says
Christianity has been at war with Islam for 1400 years.
Aussie Infidel says
John, Islam is the aggressor in this ongoing war. Muslims have been waging war (jihad) against all other people – not just Christians – for 1,400 years. Certainly, Christians are being attacked, particularly in Africa, more than most other people; and “those with the greatest enmity toward the believers (the Jews)”, (Q5:82), , are continually under attack in Israel.
Islam is a criminal ideology that has no place in any civilized society.
gravenimage says
Good point, Johnny.
And John, it is mostly Islam that has been at war with Christianity.
commonsense says
From the Associated Press, cited in the article:
“Sectarian violence is not uncommon in Egypt, where an Orthodox Christian minority, the Copts, is believed to be among the world’s oldest Christian communities….”
Note the sly wording here, in the passive re: sectarian violence being “not uncommon.” Implied here is that no one group is a primary aggressor, and that Copts themselves are as savage as the Muslim majority and must acknowledge their share of the blame for said violence.
We read and hear this same disgraceful kind of reportage, of course, in regard to Muslim violence against Israelis. Ad nauseam.
somehistory says
Yes, they never miss an opportunity to blame Christians and Jews for the violence perpetrated against them, as though we are asking for it, when all the while, it’s only because we exist.
gravenimage says
Exactly, commonsense and Somehistory. Christians are not assaulting Muslims in Egypt.
Michael Copeland says
“The Grand Imam affirms that homicide is a major sin.”
The homicide he refers to is the killing of a muslim. The killing of a non-Muslim is different.
“The life of an unbeliever has no value”, says Omar Bakri.
commonsense says
Yes. The Qur’an essentially affirms this in 5:32 and 5:33, which this imam refers to obliquely.
gravenimage says
Egypt: Muslim stabs Christian to death, al-Azhar Grand Sheikh warns that such acts ‘might instigate religious wars’
……………………..
Instigate? Muslims have been slaughtering Christians for 1400 years now.
More:
“The Grand Imam affirms that homicide is a major sin that arouses God’s wrath and is punishable in the afterlife,” read the statement posted on Al-Azhar’s Facebook page.
……………………..
The Grand Imam knows that only the killing of other pious Muslims is forbidden in Islam. This savagery is considered Jihad, and is lauded in Islam.
What this is *really* about is to make sure that Christians don’t complain too much about being murdered–and that they *certainly* don’t consider fighting back:
“Azhar Imam condoles with Pope, Copts after Alexandria priest killed, urges aborting scheme of igniting religious war”
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/114667/Azhar-Imam-condoles-with-Pope-Copts-after-Alexandria-priest-killed
Steve Manda says
I knoiw the twin brother of this priest. This martyred priest was a Godly man from a family that loved the Lord Jesus. Great is his reward in Heaven. May his attacker repent and accept Isa Al Masih as his Lord and Savior.
gravenimage says
Thanks for that view on the ground, Steve.