Al-Azhar Criticizes Egyptian MP’s View on Quran Teaching at Schools
MP Yusuf al-Hussaini’s remarks in criticism of teaching Quran memorization in Egypt’s elementary schools have sparked widespread controversy.
Al-Hussaini recently objected to a proposal by another MP, Ghanim al-Saeedi on teaching Quran memorization at schools.
He said his opposition to it is because some students in schools are Christians.
Hani Razmi, a former soccer player who is a Christian, reacted to this, saying he had memorized Surah al-Fatiha at elementary school and saw no problem.
“We were all brothers and friends (with Muslim students) and this country belongs to all of us,” he said.
Also, Al-Azhar International Center for Electronic Fatwas said in a statement that training the younger generation to properly understand the Quran helps good upbringing and is good to protect their Fitra (nature) and give them an enlightening understanding of the religion.
The statement added that learning the Quran helps the Arabic language, its rules and words, and its innovations and improvements.
It said by learning the Quran, students draw on its teachings and knowledge, and improve their skills and faculties with words and a statement that is similar to nothing from human speech.
Al-Azhar underlined that a call to keep young people away from the Quran and its lofty teachings is an explicit call to distance them from their religion and values, and to cut them off from their language, culture and identity, and it also opens the door to damaging ideas and interpretations.
It went on to say that good understanding of this sacred text will contribute to peaceful coexistence, accepting others and protection of the society’s stability and security.
