Muzaffarnagar
: Several students at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) held an agitation against Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel Qarib Allam outside the kennedy hall on campus on Tuesday criticising Egypt over its foreign policy towards Israel.
While Dr Shawki was addressing a gathering at AMU, some students reached the spot carrying posters with slogans criticising him. Assistant proctor of AMU, Sayed Ali Nawab Zaidi, told
TOI
, “Some students suddenly appeared and started the protest against the guest as they were angry with the policy of Egypt toward Israel. All of them were made to return.”
Proctor Prof Mohammad Wasim Ali said, “The students had lodged a peaceful protest. A student said that in conflicts between Palestine and Israel, Egypt always takes the side of Israel, due to which there is resentment among Muslims around the world against Egypt.”
Notably, Dr Shawki was invited by AMU for a public address and he delivered a speech on “Dialogue among civilisations.” He said, “There is a need to grasp and understand the true spirit of Islam, i.e engaging and dealing with people of all faiths, civilisations, and philosophies by seeking common grounds and recognising the diversities and differences which are divine gifts and blessings from god.”
Dr Shawki further said, “Building bridges and engaging with followers of different faiths has been the practice of the Prophet Mohammad until he passed away at the age of 63. The Prophet sent his companions to Abyssinia which was predominantly a Christian land and in Medina, he signed an agreement ‘Constitution of Medina’ in which he set the rules of engagement with Jewish clans and other residents of the city.”
“Prophet Mohammad was the epitome of mercy and compassion and he is a role model, particularly for Muslims in respect to their conduct and behaviour towards neighbours, friends, relatives, and humanity at large,” he added.
