Najaf Scholars Ready for Dialogue with Al-Azhar

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Friday prayer leader of the holy city of Najaf said the city’s scholars are prepared to hold dialogue with Al-Azhar University’s scholars.Sayyed Sadreddin Ghabanchi made the remark in reaction to reports about the recent anti-Shia moves in Al-Azhar and organization of anti-Shia forums in Egypt, Bratha news agency reported.Speaking at the 22nd conference of male and female preachers in Najaf, he said Najaf scholars are ready to hold meetings with Al-Azhar scholars to confront anti-Shia moves that are underway in Egypt in the form of sessions at Sheikh Muhammad Abduh Islamic Center of Al-Azhar attended by Egypt’s Mufti Sheikh Ali Guma.‘We hope that Al-Azhar and others will help to familiarize people with the Shia of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) and their real beliefs and principles,” he stated.Recently, in a move that clearly shows the influence of Salafists on Al-Azhar, the biggest seat of learning in Sunni Islam, the university’s scholars have held meetings to prevent the spread of Shia Islam in Egypt.This stance has been adopted in a country whose people has always been known for their devotion to Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS).Ali Guma, the country’s Mufti, has also warned against the spread of Shi’ism in Sunni-majority countries and said it would create divisions in countries like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and South Asian countries. /129