INTERVIEWS
‘A Small Miracle’
21 October 2008
Published in NEWSWEEK
By Stryker McGuire
Muslim leaders from 40 nations say they're making progress to diminish the influence of extremists.
A year ago, 138 Muslim leaders from 40 nations addressed a plea for interfaith dialogue to the leaders of the world's Christian churches in a bid to diminish the influence of extremism around the world. That initiative, "A Common Word Between Us and You," led to a conference between Muslim and U.S. Protestant leaders at Yale University last summer and another last week with Church of England leaders at Cambridge University, to be followed next month by a meeting with Roman Catholic leaders at the Vatican. Ali Gomaa, who as the grand mufti (chief Islamic jurist) in Cairo is the senior Sunni Muslim figure in Egypt, was one of the Common Word signatories. He presided over the Cambridge conference with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. newsweek's Stryker McGuire interviewed Gomaa at a local hotel. At one point, their chat was interrupted by a carpenter's power saw. "That noise," joked Gomaa, "is from the sphere of terrorism." Excerpts:
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By Stryker McGuire
Muslim leaders from 40 nations say they're making progress to diminish the influence of extremists.
A year ago, 138 Muslim leaders from 40 nations addressed a plea for interfaith dialogue to the leaders of the world's Christian churches in a bid to diminish the influence of extremism around the world. That initiative, "A Common Word Between Us and You," led to a conference between Muslim and U.S. Protestant leaders at Yale University last summer and another last week with Church of England leaders at Cambridge University, to be followed next month by a meeting with Roman Catholic leaders at the Vatican. Ali Gomaa, who as the grand mufti (chief Islamic jurist) in Cairo is the senior Sunni Muslim figure in Egypt, was one of the Common Word signatories. He presided over the Cambridge conference with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. newsweek's Stryker McGuire interviewed Gomaa at a local hotel. At one point, their chat was interrupted by a carpenter's power saw. "That noise," joked Gomaa, "is from the sphere of terrorism." Excerpts:
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Master of Moderation
17 September 2008
Published in Al-Ahram
11-17 September 2008
Since becoming grand mufti in 2003 Sheikh Ali Gomaa has been both a controversial and quietly impressive figure. He has become a media fixture, with each of his fatwas (religious edicts) closely monitored and scrutinised. Whether they attract support or opposition, few question the scholarly knowledge that informs his judgements.
Read More...
11-17 September 2008
Since becoming grand mufti in 2003 Sheikh Ali Gomaa has been both a controversial and quietly impressive figure. He has become a media fixture, with each of his fatwas (religious edicts) closely monitored and scrutinised. Whether they attract support or opposition, few question the scholarly knowledge that informs his judgements.
Read More...