Will Pope Francis, who so values his fruitless and illusory dialogue with the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, take notice? Of course not.
“Following The Death Of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar, Al-Azhar, The Supreme Religious Authority In The Sunni Muslim World, Issues A Statement Mourning ‘The Heroes Of The Palestinian Resistance’: They Are Not Terrorists But Righteous Warriors,” MEMRI, October 22, 2024:
Hours after Israel announced the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on October 17, 2024, the Cairo-based Al-Azhar, the supreme religious authority in the Sunni Muslim world, issued a statement mourning “the martyrs of the Palestinian resistance.” Posted on Al-Azhar’s official social media accounts, the statement was generally understood in the media to be a eulogy glorifying Sinwar, although his name was not mentioned.[1] The statement rejects Israel’s description of these “martyrs” as terrorists, calling this an attempt to slander them, and asserts that they are “heroes” and “resistance fighters” who “instilled fear in their enemies and filled their hearts with trepidation,” and “defended… the cause of the Arabs and Muslims” until “Allah granted them martyrdom.” The statement adds that dying for the Palestinian cause is “an unparalleled honor.”
In response, Egyptian liberal Dalia Ziada, known for her criticism of Hamas, wrote a post on her X account in which she harshly condemned Al-Azhar and others in Egypt who had mourned Sinwar, calling them a threat to Egypt’s national security.
It should be noted that Al-Azhar’s statement is in line with the unreserved support extended by this institution and by its head, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, to Hamas. Immediately after the organization’s October 7, 2023 terror attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 240 were taken hostage, Al-Azhar issued a statement declaring that the institution “salutes with utmost pride the resistance efforts of the proud Palestinian people.”[2] In another statement several days later, Al-Azhar again saluted the steadfastness of the Palestinians in Gaza in their struggle against Israel and their willingness to be martyred on its soil.[3] Moreover, since October 7, 2023 Al-Azhar officials have frequently incited against Israel and the U.S. while using virulently antisemitic rhetoric, calling the Jews “the descendants of apes and pigs,” “killers of the prophets” and “enemies of humanity” and hoping for their demise. The dean of the Islamic and Arabic Studies faculty at Al-Azhar University, Muhammad Omar Al-Qady, blasted the U.S., calling it “the greatest Satan” and “a global mafia.”[4]
It should also be noted that the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, is known for his extremist positions and support for terrorism and terrorist organizations, and refuses to promote moderate religious discourse as part of the fight against extremism and terror. This is despite his frequent participation in interfaith dialogue and although he signed the Document on Human Fraternity along with Pope Francis in 2019. In the past he stated, for example, that martyrdom attacks by Palestinians against Israeli targets are legitimate acts of self-defense, because, as long as Israel, the “barbaric enemy,” continues to attack the Palestinians with Western and American backing, the Palestinians are entitled “to blow up whatever they want.” He also said that there was no proof that Osama bin Laden had been responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks and hinted that Israelis may have been behind them. On another occasion he claimed that fundamentalist terrorist groups are the product of imperialism in the service of global Zionism. Moreover, Al-Azhar under Al-Tayyeb refuses to accuse Muslim terrorists of heresy – which would have deprived them of religious justification for their violent actions – thus undermining the efforts of Egyptian President ‘Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi to promote moderate religious discourse.[5]
This report presents the statement posted by Al-Azhar immediately after the report of Sinwar’s death, the remarks in praise of Sinwar made by Al-Azhar lecturer Al-Swahili, and the criticism voiced by Egyptian liberal Ziada against Al-Azhar for eulogizing Hamas’ leader.
Al-Azhar: Dying For The Palestinian Cause Is An Unparalleled Honor
As stated, only hours after the news of Sinwar’s death was officially confirmed, Al-Azhar posted on its social media accounts a statement that eulogized him without explicitly mentioning his name. The post said:
“Al-Azhar mourns the heroic martyrs of the Palestinian resistance who have been targeted by the criminal Zionist hand that has sowed destruction and corruption in our Arab lands, and has killed, destroyed, occupied, robbed and exterminated. All of this [is happening] in the sight and hearing of countries whose will and capacity to think have become paralyzed, and of the international community that is keeping as silent as the grave, while international law is not worth the ink with which it is written.
“Al-Azhar affirms that the martyrs of the Palestinian resistance were righteous resistance fighters; they instilled fear in their enemies and filled their hearts with trepidation. They were not terrorists, as the enemy falsely seeks to present them, but rather murabitoun [warriors stationed on the front lines of battle], resistance fighters who stubbornly cleaved to their homeland until Allah granted them martyrdom as they defended their land and their cause, [which is also] our cause and the cause of the Arabs and Muslims worldwide.
“In mourning the martyrs of the Palestinian resistance, Al-Azhar emphasizes the importance of exposing the lies of the Zionist media machine and its attempts to blacken the image of the leaders of the Palestinian resistance in the eyes of our youth and our children and present them as terrorists. [Al-Azhar] asserts that resistance in defense of the homeland, the soil and the [Palestinian] cause, and dying for this cause, are an unparalleled honor.”…
rick says
This is further proof of the bankruptcy of Islam in the 21st Century. The so called “Cairo-based Al-Azhar, the supreme religious authority in the Sunni Muslim world” only defends the architect of Oct. 7th atrocities but claimed Sinwar and those who committed the dastardly deeds on Oct. 7th were “heroes” and “resistance fighters” who “instilled fear in their enemies and filled their hearts with trepidation,” and “defended… the cause of the Arabs and Muslims” until “Allah granted them martyrdom.”
These “heroes” should have instilled horror in the hearts of any civilized human being, especially a religious so called leader for the horrors they committed. But according to the spokesperson for the “supreme religious authority in the Sunni world” they receive glorification for the crimes against unarmed civilians whom they raped, murdered with their children and put infants into ovens. If Oct. 7th this Date of Horror does not offend them then that is proof of who Muslims are. But to call them “heroes” then the Nazis who put Jews into ovens and killed any Jew whether he or she was an infant or an old senior must also be heroes. These Muslims do not follow G-D but Satan. And this eulogy for these low life terrorists prove again that Islam is the number one danger for Humanity. This so called religion is an affront to everything we call Civilization and should be reprimanded by the UN and every International body of men and women on earth. That that will never happen because these “acclaimed institutions” show the danger the world is in by their silence, and worse, when they support the Nazis of our time.
gravenimage says
Islam has not changed in 1400 years.
somehistory says
So “instilling fear” and “trepidation in the hearts” of others is not **terrorism**? And do they not follow the demands of their fake prophet….the mass-murdering, raper of children, sex-slave-trading thief, liar and son of satan…to “strike terror”?
A synonym of “fear” is **terror.** and another is trepidation, which would also mean the latter is another word for “terror.”
There are no true martyrs in islam. mozlums go out of their way to murder others…to “strike fear” in others, so if those who are being threatened with death fight back and win out over the mozlum trying to murder them, when the mozlum terrorist dies, it is not as a martyr.
No matter how much it’s claimed, nor how many mozlums may claim that sinwar and the other terrorists are ‘resistance fighters,’ it’s still a big lie.
It’s their innocent victims who are “resisting” being taken over by mozlums who want them to bend the knees and backs, pay extortion or die a horrible death.
As long as there are devout mozlums, there will be the constant lies about them and their false god, fake prophet and their overall practices being on the ‘good side.’
As long as there are the lies being told by devout moxlums, there must be those who “resist” the evil and tell the Truth.
islam is a lie from the beginning to the end. Evil to its core, spreading death and destruction wherever mozlums go. Resisting it is a must for all who value life and goodness in its many forms.
James Hoagland says
This is all delusion. What is there that exist within them is a real question. Islam is a mental construction and Palestinian a political fantasy. Sift through their diatribes and all that remains is negativity- dark, ugly and demonic.
OLD GUY says
That’s Islam.
The Istanbulian says
I am sure the FSA at al-ahzar is lining to cross the border and partake in that greatest of honors.
Nabil Bissada says
“Al-Azhar hails Sinwar, says dying in ‘Palestinian’ jihad is ‘unparalleled honor’
Not true at all those the Muslims terrorist’s leaders of Hamas the Islamic terrorist’s organization
“Yehia Sinwar, Ismael Haniya, Yasser Arafat, etc.” were never in their mind to dying for the Palestinians.
Their Jihad is according to the billions of dollars they are making to their bank accounts.
Their Jihad is a very good business for them and their families to have a very luxurious life.
In time the Palestinians are suffering for the crimes their leaders are making by their adventures against Israel.
Al-Azhar the head of the sunny around the world didn’t’ said anything concerning the death of Hassan Nasr Allah the leader of Hizballah as a Shia.
Any way Al-Azhar said ISIS the Islamic terrorist’s organization who killing, raping burning human, are not a Kafir or infidel (same any non -Muslim)
Al -Azhar excuse in reality because ISIS are practicing the Koran, and the Sharia law as is.
The Palestinians the citizens of Gaza are celebrating the death of the Islamic terrorist “Yehia Sinwar” same they are celebrating their birthdays, bachelor’s degree or weddings parties by distributing Juice, and Baklawa (sweet food from Middle east) by dancing, singing in the street.
Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims
Bruce David Watt says
if a Shia dies for his prophet is he going to Sunni heaven and there is no difference between them
Bruce David Watt says
so if Sunnis kill Shias that makes the dead Shias shaheeds and they are martyrs
gravenimage says
Al-Azhar hails Sinwar, says dying in ‘Palestinian’ jihad is ‘unparalleled honor’
………………………………………..
This is what orthodox Islam teaches.
abu taleb says
Al-Azhar hails Sinwar, says dying in ‘Palestinian’ jihad is ‘unparalleled honor’
Then why don’t AL-Azhar staffs go to Gaza and die in the hand of Israel soldiers? Don’t they want to have the ‘unparalleled honor’?
Burnaby Lad says
psycho pos muslim
next
࿗Infidel࿘ says
What does President Sisi, who cracks down on the muslim brotherhood, think of this: his country’s premier islamic institute showering praises on a Pali muslim brotherhood leader? It’s probably time to take another look at what sort of an “ally” Cairo is
gravenimage says
Al-Sisi only cares about Islam when it presents a danger to his regime.