The head of Al-Azhar has sought to defend the principle of jihad in Islam under specific circumstances, sharing his views with a group of visiting British parliamentarians.
“Jihad is legitimate in Islam to defend justice,” Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb told a delegation from the British parliament on Wednesday. “But it is forbidden to use it in forcing others to convert to Islam.”
Tayyeb also said Islam recognizes the religions that preceded it.
The British delegation said that Tayyeb’s statements reflected the moderation and understanding characteristic of Islam, and invited him to visit the United Kingdom.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
