CAIRO, 21 December 2020, (TON): Al-Azhar issued a Fatwa saying, “joining the Muslim Brotherhood and other terrorist groups is forbidden according to Shariah and that God has forbidden division and disagreement”.

Al-Azhar Fatwa Global Center said, “It is clear to the public what these groups have done in distorting some texts, cutting them out of their context, and using them to achieve personal goals or interests and corrupting the land.”

Abdullah Al-Najjar, a member of the Islamic Research Academy said, “Joining the terrorist Brotherhood is forbidden by law cooperating in immorality and aggression, for that group violates the law of God and is involved in terrorism.”

Hussein Al-Qadi, a researcher in religious affairs and Islamic movements, said that the fatwa is the first of its kind in the history of Al-Azhar. In the past, Imam Muhammad Mustafa Al-Maraghi, rector of Al-Azhar also demanded the dissolution of the Brotherhood.

Egypt is under tremendous Western pressures that compel to take up certain activities to realize the world community that Cairo is doing a lot to fight against religious extremism and terrorism. Muslim Brotherhood is a non-violent political party not only in Egypt but a number of other countries. Often international pressures lead to similar Fatwas in many countries.