Al Azhar plays important role in Islamic call

Al Azhar Grand Imam, Mohamed Sayed Tantawi said A1 Azhar plays an important role in the Islamic call and service of Muslim minorities all over the world.

"Al Azhar dispatches a number of scholars to the world countries to explain to Muslims the Islamic teachings, Arabic and the tolerance of Islam," Tantawi was speaking to Sawt al Arab Radio.

Minister of Awqaf, Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq said yesterday that Islamic civilization can never clash with that of the West as Islam forbids the clashes of civilizations or religions. Islam does not call for destruction of other civilizations.

"On the contrary, it calls for interaction with other civilizations and mutual benefit," Zaqzouq was speaking at Cairo Opera House Islamic rights on the holy month of Ramadan.

Egypt's Mufti, Nasr Farid Wassel said yesterday that what happens in Palestine and Afghanistan is due to the weakness of Muslims.

"Terrorism has nothing to do with Islam, rather it's a product of the west. Islam and peace are two sides of the same coin," Nasr added.