Egyptian presidential advisor steps into Sheikh al- Shaarawi controversy

The Egyptian Presidential Adviser for Religious Affairs Usama al-Azhari hailed late renowned Sheikh Mohamed Metwally al-Shaarawi as a symbol of science and patriotism.

Azhari’s comments followed on controversy that resurfaced Thursday last week after liberal journalist Ibrahim Eissa criticized Shaarawi, who enjoys wide popularity in Egypt and the Arab world.

Ibrahim Eissa accused the beloved sheikh as being “an extremist, Salafist sheikh, who is against Copts and insults women.”

In his talk show "Hadith al-Qahira" on the "Al-Qahira wal Nas" channel, Ibrahim Eissa said: "Al-Shaarawi was an extremist, Isis, a Salafi sheikh, against Copts and against women". Sheikh Mohamed Metwally al-Shaarawi put himself in a higher position than women and expressed offensive views on them, saying that they should be beaten and prevented from working”. Eissa added that the Sheikh spreads patriarchal Salafi doctrine where men have authority over women and superiority over them.

In a Facebook post, the presidential Adviser Usama al-Azhari countered by calling Sheikh al-Shaarawi a symbol of knowledge, patriotism, and Egypt’s contribution to all the Arab and Islamic worlds.

“Some have a vendetta against al-Shaarawi for an unknown reason,” he noted. Azhari continued: “There are those who say that the honorable companions of the prophet are murderers and extremists, so it is not strange to hear something like this about al-Shaarawi, who protected people from extremism and terrorism.”.

“Fifty years ago, al-Shaarawi filled the world with knowledge, so we have not seen anyone shed blood, nor take up arms, nor become a terrorist because of a word he heard from Sheikh al-Shaarawi".

Usama Al-Azhari responded to some accusing Al-Shaarawi of extremism.

“There is a big difference between honest scientific criticism that no one disagrees with that it is acceptable, and between insulting, and attacking, and a big difference between pride and appreciation for the Imam”.

Souad, the granddaughter of late renowned Sheikh Mohamed Metwally al-Shaarawi, responded to the attack against her grandfather during the past few days. Al-Shaarawi’s granddaughter said, on Saturday, that the late popular Sheikh does not need someone to defend him, because his history is sufficient to do so.

Souad added that the family ignored many past attacks against Sheikh Shaarawi before. However, recently there has been a different tone and an increase in criticism.

This time the family felt that it had to go out and defend the sheikh.

Al-Shaarawi’s granddaughter continued: “We respond so that the issue does not get out of hands and beyond its limits.

It seems that people who have nothing better to do attack Sheikh Shaarawi, and repeat old words for the Sheikh that have been refuted before, so that the people doing the attacking may become a trend and get some fame".

And she continued: “All the words that are repeated against the Sheikh were repeated by the same people, we can’t find anything to say, and the Sheikh’s fans are so many that they can defend him, even though he doesn’t need anyone to defend him".

Souad also added: “thank you to everyone who attacks Sheikh Shaarawi because this will be a reason for people to remember him and ask for blessings for him.”

The Al-Azhar International Center for Electronic Fatwa responded to criticisms of the late imam, Sheikh Muhammad Metwally Al-Shaarawi, after statements by the Minister of Culture, in which he considered Sheikh Shaarawi, “has many reservations".

Al-Azhar Center stressed that the imam of preachers, Sheikh Al-Shaarawi, is an example of an enlightened moderate scholar.

Editorial