One of the sheikhs of Al-Azhar issued a Fatwa that saluting the Copts is a moral impurity. He cited a verse of Quran saying: O you who believe, the idolaters are surely unclean, so they shall not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year of theirs. (Al-Tawba Verse No:28).
I decided to research the meaning of "moral impurity" and found that impurity is two kinds: the sensual impurity like all what was prohibited by Islamic Sharia, and moral impurity including lechery, infidelity and idolatry.
The talk about purity and impurity has been a real focus of the Islamic scholars in their books. However, it was interesting that an honorable scholar of Al-Azhar issues such fatwas and not a fanatic sheikh who belong to the Muslim Brotherhood or the Salafist Call. I remembered that President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi issued a presidential decree few days ago to establish the National Council to Counter Terrorism and Extremism, which aims to face the causes of terrorism and address its effects.
The council is formed with the participation of Ministers, public figures and Pope Tawadros. Yet, I wonder: do Sheikh of Al-Azhar and Minister of Awqaf know that the council has filthy Christians like Pope Tawadros and the writer Hani Labib Tadrus. Can they accept the moral impurity when they salute them during a session by mistake!
I hope the president will stop such farce knowing that the honorable sheikhs of Al-Azhar and Awqaf will not fight terrorism. An investigation should be opened in the case as those sheikhs have not only despised the Christian religion but also threatened the Egyptian national security and social peace.
