President of Al-Azhar University Ahmed Hosny apologized for describing TV host Islam al-Beheiry as an apostate earlier during a TV program broadcast on Al-Qahera wal Nas channel.
Describing Behairy as an apostate is incorrect and contradicts Al-Azhar's teachings, Hosny added.
Hosny said in a statement on Thursday that he hastened in his judgement, which does not reflect Al-Azhar's views by any means, and he apologized for it.
Making mistakes and apologizing for them is not shameful, but rather insisting on an error is shameful, said Hosny.
Hosny explained that, when he was asked by the host of a program on Al-Qahera wal Nas channel about what he thought about someone (like Beheiry) who questions the Islamic schools of thought, he responded by saying: "He must be an apostate".
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
