EGYPT: Al Azhar repudiates Coptic bishop's comments on the Koran

The world's most influential Sunni Muslim institution, Al Azhar, has denounced comments by a Coptic bishop in which he suggested that some verses of the Koran inferring that Christians were infidels were added after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.

In a meeting held by the Islamic Research Council over the weekend, Azhar's top cleric said he was "shocked" by the remarks made by Bishop Bishoy, the secretary of the Coptic Church's Holy Synod. "This kind of behavior is irresponsible and threatens national unity at a time when it is vital to protect it," Ahmed Tayyeb said in a statement.

Tayyeb also warned against repercussions that these sorts of statements can have among Muslims in Egypt and abroad.

Bishoy caused a media furor when the text of a lecture he was scheduled to give at a Coptic conference last week suggested that some versus were added to the Koran during the reign of the third righteous caliph Uthman ibn Affan (644-656), more than 10 years after Prophet Muhammad's death. Muslims believe that the holy book was handed down by the Archangel Gabriel to the Prophet during the last 23 years of his life, and that the words have remained undistorted since then.

Bishoy's lecture was later canceled. He attempted to defend himself last week, saying: "Questioning whether some verses of the Koran were inserted after the death of the prophet is not a criticism or accusation toward Islam."

The controversial comments were aimed at a specific verse, which Bishoy interpreted as meaning that Christians were considered to be infidels. Such interpretation was rejected by both Copts and Muslims, who fear that the bishop's quotes could intensify sectarian tensions in Egypt.

It is reported that Pope Shenouda was also angered by the remarks, which were similarly condemned by Egypt's biggest religious and political opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood.

Tensions between Muslims and Copts in Egypt have recently escalated following the disappearance of a priest's wife, who is reportedly locked up in a Coptic monastery in southern Egypt after she revealed her conversion to Islam.

Three Muslims are still on trial over the killing of six Copts, who were on their way out of a Coptic Christmas Mass in the town of Nagaa Hamadi, also in southern Egypt, last January. Copts form around 10% of Egypt's population and have long claimed they are being marginalized by the Muslim majority.

-- Amro Hassan in Cairo

Photo: Al Azhar's grand cleric Ahmed Tayyeb. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Kate]

May God Bless & Protect the life of H.H Pope Shennouda. Everyone commends him for keeping the faith,while promoting peace & unity in very difficult times of christian persecution. Unfortunately, there is no freedom of speech or democracy in these arab dominated countries. Christians are always the victims of the corruption and islamic extremism, that has recently been on a sharp increase. The international community must step in, for change to occur. The oppressed Christians in these arab countries deserve equal human rights.

[Hany G.]

"priest's wife, who is reportedly locked up in a Coptic monastery in southern Egypt after she revealed her conversion to Islam"

Youtube for the priest's wife denying the allegations (in Arabic) of her conversion to Islam. However, it seems Mr. Amro Hassan yet again chose not to mention a word about this fact.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfcdmepM6k0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[sam]

this seems a little strange because muslims have always said that the qura'n does not contain any-thing,against any other faith and only teaches love and understanding, yet you now have this man's reading from the said book which seems to up hold others understanding that the qura'n is exactly what we think it is,a tool used by radical islam to promote hate,and to say it was added later seems to be a lame attempt at a get out card,why then if they dont stand by its wording have they not removed it long ago.

[H H]

The coptic pope apologized for these comments to make peace with the angry muslims. Can anyone, anywhere recall hearing or reading about a muslim cleric apologizing for inciting hatred or for anything bad they have said or done??
maybe all muslim clerics are perfect, or maybe they think that they can incite hatred whenver they want but nobody can criticise them.

[Van Enloe]

Islam – the religion of Peace and Tolerance
LA Times 09-26-2010

Headline - EGYPT: Al Azhar repudiates Coptic bishop's comments on the Koran

Suggested Headline without the National Socialist Democratic Workers Party spin. Al Azhar threatens Egyptian Christians and Christians worldwide with “repercussions” over freedom of speech issue.

The world's most influential Sunni Muslim institution, Al Azhar, has denounced comments by a Coptic bishop in which he suggested that some verses of the Koran inferring that Christians were infidels were added after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.

In a meeting held by the Islamic Research Council over the weekend, Azhar's top cleric said he was "shocked" by the remarks made by Bishop Bishoy, the secretary of the Coptic Church's Holy Synod. "This kind of behavior is irresponsible and threatens national unity at a time when it is vital to protect it," Ahmed Tayyeb said in a statement.

Tayyeb also warned against repercussions that these sorts of statements can have among Muslims in Egypt and abroad.

[a.tayyab]

Bible 1John2:22 - Who is the Liar(if it is not the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ)? This is the Antichrist, the one that denies the Father and the Son.
Islam's allah, islam, mohammad, muslims, quran all deny and condemn the belief
in the Father and the Son.
All christians especially popes, bishops etc. and all muslims especially so called clerics should know that; and perhaps they all know that but like to play politics instead of preaching the TRUTH.

[freespeechftw]

One has to wonder if these Azhar scholars have to resort to implicit threats ("repercussions that these sorts of statements can have among Muslims in Egypt and abroad") because they can't refute Bishop Bishoy's suggestion that Uthman added to the Qur'an in a fair debate.