The Islamic Society of Tulsa publicly introduced their new Imam, after a year delay. Imam Mohamed ElGhobashy might have come to Tulsa directly from Egypt. He holds a Ph.D. in comparative religions from Al-Azhar University in Cairo. He's still associated with the university, according to the Tulsa World.
Al-Azhar University is headquarters for Islamic rulings in Egypt overseen by Shaikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, otherwise known as the Shaikh of Al-Azhar. There are a number of articles you should review about Shaikh of Al-Azhar, which in turn, reveals a lot about Al-Azhar University and probably what they teach there about Islam.
For example, in a 2000 interview Shaikh Tantawi urged fighting against Israel.
"Shaikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, the Shaikh of Al-Azhar, the highest ranking religious official in Egypt and World of Islam, called for Jihad against Israel ‘in defence of the holy places, the liberation of the occupied land, and the repulsion of the enemy.’ He stated that combating the oppression is incumbent upon the entire Islamic Ummah and not an obligation of the Palestinians alone. Shaikh Tantawi also declared that Islam requires that the leaders and people of the Arab and Islamic states support the Jihad of the Palestinian people who are fighting against the occupiers of their land.
It is sufficient. that they are waging Jihad in the name of the entire [Islamic] nation and advancing their spirits in sacrifice to the religion of Allah and in defence of the blessed Al-Aqsa mosque. The entire [Islamic] Ummah supports them..."
In April 2002, during his weekly sermon, he described Jews as "the enemies of Allah, sons of pigs and apes.
And from MEMRI:
"...Sheik Tantawi: " I was very clear: Anyone defending his right, his land, his money, and his religion and gets killed is a martyr. Anyone who blows himself up amongst the enemy that wants to kill him and he can find no means of defending himself except blowing himself up amongst these soldiers who are occupying his land and destroying his home, and so he blows himself up amongst these aggressive soldiers, is a Shahid, Shahid, Shahid." To view the clip, go here.
In December 2007, an Al-Azhar envoy in the Philippines was arrested after an explosive device was found in his room. Shaikh Tantawi said it was all a mistake. The man was allowed to post bond and was released to the Egyptian Embassy in the Philippines. In April, this man was somehow allowed to return to Egypt but authorities say they still have strong evidence against him. The envoy claims he was acquitted in court.
We also learned from the Tulsa World article that women at the Islamic Society of Tulsa are segregated from the men at the mosque when they pray, a possible sign that the strict Sunni interpretation of the Quran is practiced at this mosque.
ElGhobashy said Muslims can change their religion in Egypt and Saudi Arabia; "...if someone leaves Islam without antagonizing others, then "there's no problem; that's his freedom." His statement directly contradicts the 2008 Report on International Religious Freedom by the U.S. Department of State and their reports from previous years. The Imam denied honor killings are a part of Islam. He said, "We should show this beautiful religion of mercy and peace to others," and then blamed the American media for labeling Muslim terrorists and Islam as a religion of terror!
Really? The American media labels all Muslim terrorists? In my humble estimation, Islamists and their organizations, such as CAIR, try to make criticism about Islamic terrorism (martyrdom) or political Islam an insult against Islam, itself.
Surely, this wasn't the intent of the Imam in his first public statement.
Update February 2011: An article from August 2010 in Kansas *HutchNews) states the Imam is a member of the Oklahoma chapter of CAIR
Update July 2011: Following the death of Shiek Tatawi in 2010, Al-Azhar confirms: No talks with Vatican | Al-Masry Al-Youm: Today ... because Pope Benedict XVI’s dared to raise concenrs about minority persecution in Egypt.
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Also see:
The Saudi Takeover of Al-Azhar University
Sheik of Al-Azhar Muhammad Tantawi Explains on Al-Hurra TV When a Suicide Bomber Becomes a Martyr and When He Is Not
More MEMRI clips
Saudi Embassy: Al-Azhar University received award
Kareem Amer, who was jailed in Egypt for insulting Islam, was a former student at Al-Azhar univeristy, issued a statement. Islamists would say this is just a lie or propaganda.
Update 2010: Islam Times - Head of Al-Azhar passes away, Egypt News - Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb New Head of Al Azhar
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