Since HE Imam At-Tayyeb assumed the position of Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in 2010, Al-Azhar has witnessed a new era that depends primarily on dialogue and mutual understanding. Such an initiative led by Al-Azhar itself calls all respective parties to participate in it. Al-Azhar and the Grand Imam thus have hosted rounds of national dialogue in Egypt after the January 25 Revolution, successively issuing several historical documents that embodied the national consensus and reflected the Egyptian people’s hopes for freedom, dignity and coexistence.
These key documents, which reflect Al-Azhar’s stance on several issues and pivotal files, include the following:
This document announces a set of commitments that underscores preservation of the spirit of the Tahrir Square, as was the case during the 18 days that changed the course of the Egyptian history, brought together all the Egyptians who pledged to complete the goals of the Revolution, and sustain national consensus far from hegemonic domination, exclusion, and partisanship.
This document identifies a set of principles and their governing controls in the light of the present historic situation. These principles are the freedom of faith, freedom of scientific research, freedom of opinion and expression, and freedom of literary and artistic creativity.
The statement affirms that the Judaization of Jerusalem lacks legal legitimacy, and is contradictory to historical realities. Backed by all Muslims, Al-Azhar warns the Zionist entity and its supporters from the repercussions that threaten peace in the region. It declares to the whole world that just as the crusader occupation came to an end, so will this Zionist occupation, since this is a cosmic law whose course is inevitable no matter how long it lasts.
This document declares that the legitimacy of the ruling authority, from a religious and constitutional point of view, derives from the consent and free choice of the people. Hence, it maintains that the nation is the source of all authorities, and that popular national opposition and peaceful protest is a genuine right of the people to correct and rationalize the rulers within the framework of peaceful opposition. According to this document, those who raise arms in the face of opponents are transgressors who spread corruption on earth by force.