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Too often, Sheikh Ali said, internet users trusted the information they w ere given w ithout Yemen
checking the facts and the authenticity of sources. Faced with soaring food prices and
DELORES JOHNSON / THE NATIONAL
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rampant unemployment, families
take their children out of school and
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Grand Mufti calls for dialogue about the 1. Abu Dhabi schools face hurdles hiring
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2. Grand Mufti calls for dialogue about the
internet internet
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2. The Grand Mufti said he believed that services such as Twitter risked creating
POLL
"anarchy" by "promoting a break of values and links, like that of language, state, Cross-bank credit checks will be
family, and religion". established by the end of the year. Is
this a good thing?
"We see them putting under religion 'none,' and they are proud of it. Under the
excuse of creativity, there is chaos and loss of values and community sense." Yes - such a move protects banks
and customers
But blocking access and censoring any form of social media was not a solution, he
Yes - people should not be able to
said.
borrow with impunity
"If you close one form of communication, people will find a way around it," said No - I don't think my personal
Sheikh Ali, who has a Twitter account and uses the internet to communicate with information should be shared between
followers. banks
"One of the problems we have today is that we are still using an outdated method of Don't know
dialogue, both among ourselves, the Muslims, and with others," he said. "It is in the
form of 'you accept my opinion or it's the sword'."
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On his visit to Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Ali gave a lecture to students at Zayed University
and met Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The two
discussed the role of Islamic scholars in guiding Muslims in their daily lives, as well
as correcting misconceptions about Islam and spreading the faith's message of
tolerance and mercy.
Sheikh Ali, 60, has been the Grand Mufti of Egypt since 2003 and is one of the
world's most recognised Muslim scholars, largely considered a moderate in his
stances and an outspoken advocate for gender equality rights.
"There is nothing in Islam preventing a woman from becoming a head of a state or
president," he said. "It is more of a cultural issue that still prevents women from
reaching powerful positions."
His better known fatwas included one forbidding the practice of female circumcision,
which he described as "a deplorable inherited custom".
He also reiterated his position that there is nothing "in the Quran or Sunna" to stop
women from driving.
During last year's Egyptian revolt, Sheikh Ali welcomed protesters to his office at the
Dar Al Ifta institute in Cairo, engaging them in debate about their problems and BLOGS
demands. Days for your diary
Make It Home
Referring to the continuing conflict in Syria, he called the situation "complicated", and
said: "Each side is accusing the other of killing them. I tell all the sides, the ruling Middle-East's first drive-
and the ruled over, that killing is haram, it is forbidden and needs to stop."
thru bank opens in Dubai
Discussing politics and Islam's role in it, he said: "Politics has two parts. One part Your Money
involves taking care of a nation and its people. The other involves competing as
Madonna in Hogan shades
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3. parties for power. Islam in politics should involve only the first part." Madonna in Hogan shades
and ridiculous outfit
Using the Muslim Brotherhood as an example, he said: "I told them you need to have Scene & Heard
a political branch if you want to compete for political power. You can't compete as a
religious group. So they formed a political branch called Hizb Al-Hurriya wa al-'Adala Best food blogs for Arabic
[Freedom and Justice Party].
recipes: a guide
"People have voted them in to try them out and to see what changes they will bring," Bites
Sheikh Ali said.
He added: "Egyptian rule was always an Islamic state and has always been SOUND & VISION
applying Sharia since the constitution was drawn up since 1923."
Despite the turmoil of the past year, Sheikh Ali dismissed fears of growing
extremism in the region, and said "there are always extremist groups in every
human period".
"Islam is in a constant flux, where it is important for Muslims to keep an optimistic
view of where it is heading by not worrying too much about mistakes done in the
past, but rather focus on moving forward by doing good deeds and having
boundless hope."
Answers to where the Middle East may be heading "if it stays on this chaotic path",
Sheikh Ali said, could be found in Herge's The Adventures of Tintin. The comic is set
against the realities of a 20th century of power struggles and colonialism, a reality of In pictures: Sandstorms
the world that appears to repeat itself every 40 years, explained Sheikh Ali. sweep across the UAE
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