Saturday, February 19, 2011

Qaradawi Addresses Egypt Friday of Victory

OnIslam

Thursday, 17 February 2011 00:00
Qaradawi, Tahrir, sermon, Friday
Qaradawi will address the Egyptians on the importance of their role in building a free and democratic country

CAIRO – As thousands of Egyptians are preparing to celebrate their successful revolution against long-standing president Hosni Mubarak on Friday, February 18, prominent Muslim scholar Yusuf Al-Qaradawi will deliver the sermon of the weekly prayers from Tahrir Square in Cairo.
Qaradawi, the present of the International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS) will deliver the sermon at an invitation from a coalition representing the youth of the Egyptian revolution, OnIslam.net has learned.
The invitation was extended in gratitude to Qaradawi’s role in mobilizing support for the Egyptian revolution.
Thousands of Egyptians are set to gather in Tahrir Square to celebrate their success in ousting Mubarak.
Mubarak, who had ruled Egypt for 30 years, was forced to resign last week after 18 days of massive protests against his 30-year regime.
Activists say the gathering aims to pile pressures on the military rulers to form an interim presidential council to run the country until elections are held.
It is also meant to press for forming a coalition government comprised of nationalist figures as well as releasing all political detainees.
Activists  also call for scrapping  the emergency law,  in place since 1981, supporting workers’ demands  for better pay and putting  those behind the killing  of  more  than 350 people  during anti-Mubarak protests and on trial.
On Tuesday, the military, which took power from Mubarak, pledged to hand over power to an elected government in six months.
It also appointed an independent judge, Tareq al-Bishry, as chairman of a commission that will spend the next 10 days on drafting amendments to the constitution.
Unity
Qaradawi, an Egyptian, will address the celebrators on the importance of the role of all Egyptians in building a free and democratic country, OnIslam.net learnt.
He will also urge Egyptians to join hands in combating chaos that could be triggered by loyalists of the former regime.
The sermon will also highlight the examples of national unity among Egyptian Muslims and Copts during the revolution.
No single attack was reported against churches or Copts during three weeks of protests against Mubarak’s regime.
In a sign of national unity, Christians held a Mass on Sunday, February 6, in Tahrir Square as Muslim protesters formed a ring around them to protect them during the service.
Chanting “one hand,” they appeared holding the Holy Quran and the Cross as Christians and Muslims crossed their hands.
After Mubarak’s ouster, Egyptians of all walks of life joined hands in cleaning up Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the protests.
Qaradawi has been a vocal critic of the Mubarak’s regime and has vehemently supported the protests against the aging leader.
The prominent scholar was reportedly in Egypt at the start of the protests, but was harassed by security apparatus to leave the country as the anti-Mubarak demonstrations escalated.
Qaradawi was born in the Egyptian governorate of Al-Gharbiya, west of Cairo, on September 9, 1926.
He studied at Al-Azhar and graduated at the top of his class in the Faculty of Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence in 1953.
In 1963, he was appointed at the Ministry of Awkaf (religious endowments) and was shortly dispatched to Qatar, where he decided to spend the rest of his life.
The prominent scholar has published dozens of books, chiefly The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam.
He is known for his moderate views and considered to be one of the most influential scholars in the Muslim world. 

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