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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Sheikh Ashor had participated in a discussion with Mr Ali Abd el-Jawad, who is considered as the leader of the Qur'an-only adherents in Egypt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The discussion was aired on the Al-Arabia.net, on March 16th, 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>That meeting came as a result of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ali Abd el-Jawad's assertion to &quot;Voice of the Public&quot; (Sout al-Ommah) paper, on Sunday, March 15th, 2009, in which he said that the Messenger Mohammad was indeed able to read and write, and that he wrote the Qur'an himself. Commenting on the decision of &quot;apostates&quot;, Abd el-Jawad said, &quot;This is how the Azhar people work. Did they not declare Dr Ahmad Subhi Mansoor an apostate for merely denying any punishment for apostates?&quot; </font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Editor's note;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The Qur'an says that God, and only God, sends down the religion, and that the religion is solely His, which is complete, clear, upright, and true. Also, no one is allowed to tamper with the perimeters and statutes of His Book. (Qur'an: ch.5, v.3;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>ch.8, v.39;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>ch.10, v.33;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>ch.16, v.52;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>ch.30, v.30;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>ch.39, v.3;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>ch.40, v.65;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>ch.42, v.21;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>ch.61. v.9;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>ch.49, v.16).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>As for the apostates, the Qur'an says in ch.2, v.17 &quot;&hellip;those who revoke their religion and die as disbelievers, their works will be thwarted in this life and in the next&hellip;&quot;</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</span>Thus, no mention of someone from Azhar University in Cairo, or any one else, to pronounce somebody as an apostate, let alone decide on the punishment and execution thereof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>All this is God's responsibility.</font></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</span>As to the &quot;sunnah' the Azhar scholars are defending, it is &quot;shirk&quot; to believe in a religious book other than the Qur'an.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It is clearly stated in ch.7 v.3 &quot; Follow what was sent down to you from your Lord, and do not follow any other than Him as ally [or guide]; how little you do remember.&quot;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Following religiously a book written by Al-Bokhary, for example, is tantamount to polytheism, or in Arabic is 'shirk'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span></font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">By equating 'hadeeth' books, like that of Al-Bokhary, with the Qur'an, the book sent down by God, Azhar people are in effect elevating Bokhary book above the rank of the messengers of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It is stated in the Qur'an, a Muslim believes in God, His Angels, His Books and His Messengers, in that order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>This rank was not mentioned haphazardly, indeed it was stated in ch.2, v.285, and again in ch.4, v.136. Hence, the books of God are ranked next to the Angels, ahead of the Messengers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>By elevating Bokhary's book next to the Angels and ahead of Mohammad is 'shirk', because it is God's work, not theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Following such books is 'shirk', and disobedience of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span></font></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Note: You can read an article &ldquo; The False Penalty of Apostasy &rdquo; published on 25/07/2008 at </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><a href="http://www.ahl-alquran.com/"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">www.ahl-alquran.com</font></a><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> by Dr. Ahmed Sobhy Mansour.</font></p>
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