The Press Release on the Terrorist Attacks against the Shia in Egypt

The Press Release on the Terrorist Attacks against the Shia in Egypt
2013/06/25

We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks that lead to the martyrdom and wounding of tens of innocent lovers of the Ahlul-Bait (peace be upon them) in Egypt and the dragging of deceased bodies along the ground that took place afterwards.

As we ask the Almighty Allah to send His mercy on the souls of the martyrs and to grant the wounded fast recovery, we call the government and the judiciary of Egypt to take the responsibility in bringing the perpetrators and those who motivated them with incitement verdicts to justice. In addition, we call the Egyptian government to take the necessary steps in preventing the recurrence of similar events.

We pray to the Almighty Lord to bless the efforts of Al-Azhar in promoting a culture of moderation and rejecting extremism and hatred, which distort the image of Muslims and rupture the unity of the peaceful Egyptian nation.

"There is no power save from Allah, the All-high, the All-Great"

The Office of the Religious Authority, Sayyid Mohammed Saeed Al-Hakeem

Day Questions

I am a 27-year-old woman. I have a keen interest to marry a Sunni who has become Shia. My parents were first against it, but they agreed when becoming certain that he has indeed become Shia. However, some people from my locality are opposing the decision of this marriage and are threatening to boycott us if it takes place. Please advise us how we should proceed.

The father should act upon the benefit of his daughter when he is approached for seeking her hand for marriage; also, he should guard all religious and social aspects in such a way that his acceptance or refusal is based on her best interests.

Is it permissible for me to recite two Surahs after Surah al Fatiha?

Based on an obligatory precaution, one should only recite one Surah after Surah al-Fatiha. But one can recite a further Surah if it is not intended to be a part of the prayers, but just as additional recitation of the Holy Quran.

I have heard from Ahl Al-Sunnah that a Shia Marja stated the following: "Reconciliatory Taqiyyah. This type of Taqiyyah is done when a person intends to reconcile with the other side or when he intends to soften their hearts. This kind of Taqiyyah is permissible but not obligatory." They have related this belief to the verse: “When they [hypocrites] meet those who believe, they say: ‘We believe.’ But when they are alone with their evil ones, they say: ‘We are really with you, we (were) only jesting.’” (Quran, 2:14) I am having a hard time replying to this.

The connection made between reconciliatory Taqiyya – which is based on softening the hearts – and the mentioned verse is originated from intolerance against the Shias and ignorance of the reasons and justifications behind Taqiyyah. All Muslims are under the flag of Islam and softening their heart by the decrease of their differences is amongst the interests that has concerned the Shias and their Imams throughout history. The mentioned verse speaks of the hypocrites who do not believe in the Hereafter or in the foundations of the religion, and they claim to be Muslims in front of other Muslims. So how are those people considered to be attempting to unite the Muslims and decrease the level of differences between them? Those fanatics do not understand anything but intolerance and rejection of other sects and disregarding them, and do not care about the image of Islam or its high concerns. Today they are more harmful than the direct enemies of Islam as a result of their behaviors that originated from narrow-minded thinking and blind prejudice.

Is it permissible to swim while fasting, and does it break the fast?

It is permissible to swim while fasting, and it does not invalidate the fast. It better to refrain from submerging one’s body in water while fasting.