Terror does not know any faith: Grand Mufti

Terror does not know any faith: Grand Mufti

Alia Allana Posted online: Thu Jan 13 2011, 01:34 hrs

New Delhi : Egypt's Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa on Wednesday said "terror does not know any faith" and Muslims involved in terror attacks are "an unstable minority" that "does not represent the face of Islam".

Speaking to The Indian Express via a translator, the Grand Mufti of Dar Al-Ifta, on his first visit to India, said: "Terror can never be identified with a particular faith. Terror does not know any faith. Though some terror attacks have been undertaken by Muslims, this is a nominal group. This is an unstable minority and does not represent the face of Islam."

"Why criminalise an entire faith because of the reckless actions of a small minority? Terror is our common enemy. We have to join hands to eradicate this disease because when terror comes it does not differentiate between Muslim and non-Muslim," he said.

The Dar-al-Ifta al Misriyyah was established in 1895 with the purpose of being the supreme arbitrator of Islamic legal opinion.

The Grand Mufti asked counterparts in religious universities to visit Cairo for deepening of relations.

"Islam is no stranger to Indian soil even though Muslims are a minority. This minority is still double the population of Egypt. Muslims have integrated positively in India. We see them in the highest political offices. In Egypt, we regard the Indian Muslim community as a role model... It is important to revitalise cooperation between Indian and Egyptian Muslims."

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Asadullah Syed