The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair presents its visitors with a selection of its latest publications for 2025. Among the highlights is the book titled “100 Questions on Methodology, Creed, and Sharia.” Supervised by Prof. Dr. Nazir Ayyad, the Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the book includes a thoughtful foreword by Dr. Ayyad and an insightful introduction by Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders. This initiative stems from the Council’s efforts to dispel false notions and spread enlightened moderate thought.
The book compiles one hundred questions, presenting them to Muslims along with answers to some of the most significant and common doubts exploited by extremists to instigate unrest and deceive the youth. This book is a product of collaboration between Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s scholars and researchers and the Muslim Council of Elders, an international institution committed to promoting peace, dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence among all people, regardless of their differences and diversity. The book provides thoughtful and scientifically grounded responses to these questions.
This publication emerges at a critical time when doubts and controversies are intensifying around religious practices, underscoring the urgent need to revitalize scholarly writing that addresses complex theological questions. These questions often polarize opinions between extreme conservatism, which imposes strict interpretations, and liberal attitudes which advocate discarding traditional values to adopt foreign customs.
The significance of this book lies in its effort to meet the intellectual needs of contemporary Muslims, encouraging them to understand their religion through scientifically grounded research, appreciate its values, and adopt a balanced approach. This approach requires awareness of the challenges faced by adherents as they discern the true principles of their faith amid widespread misconceptions. These are spread by external adversaries or misinformed insiders who, due to ignorance or distorted perspectives, falsely attribute beliefs to Islam that contradict its fundamental values of mercy, justice, and peace.
The book comprehensively addresses ten major themes: issues in methodology and creed; matters related to Ilm Al-Kalam (Islamic theology); issues surrounding Takfir (the practice of declaring a Muslim an apostate); Jihad-related topics; issues in Sharia politics; controversies around the noble Prophetic traditions; various problematic contemporary issues; dealings with non-Muslims; and the relationships between the Muslim world and the West.
The critical inquiries addressed in the book include questions such as: What is the ruling on declaring a specific individual, previously considered a Muslim, a disbeliever (Kafir)? Are disbelief and the shedding of blood inherently linked? What does “the judgment of ignorance” (Hukm Al-Jahiliyyah) mean? What is the punishment for apostasy? Is the caliphate divinely mandated or a matter of human reasoning? How can one refute the claim of a contradiction between affiliation to faith and loyalty to one’s nation? Are consultation (Shura) and allegiance to the ruler fixed principles or subject to change? Does Islamic law conflict with the concept of the modern state? How did the Companions preserve the Prophetic Sunnah? What is Islam’s contribution to civilization? How do we counter Islamophobia? What is Islam’s stance on other religions and issues related to citizenship? What is the ruling on imitating non-Muslims? Is dividing territories into “Dar Al-Islam” and “Dar Al-Kufr” valid? These are just some of the one hundred questions explored.
The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a dedicated stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, running from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand features a wide array of the Council’s significant publications and is also hosting a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on spreading values of kindness, amity, peace, and coexistence among all people.
The stand is located next to Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s stand in Heritage Hall (Hall No. 4) at the Egypt International Exhibition and Convention Center in the Fifth Settlement.