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EGYPT: MOSQUES THAT POLLUTE THE NILE CAN BE DEMOLISHED SAYS TOP CLERIC
Cairo, 5 June (AKI) - Any mosques or churches in Egyptian territory which pollute the river Nile may be demolished, the country's leading cleric Mohammed Sayyed al Tantawi, has ruled. Tantawi, who is the imam at the al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, the highest seat of Sunni learning, said "water is a common good which must be protected and respected by the faithful as it is a precious element in sacred texts and is used for ritual ablutions before prayer."
"All religions consider water a precious resource because it is the source of life" he added.
The imam went on to recall part of a poem by the Egyptian poet Ahmed Shawki, whose words became the lyrics of a famous song by Umm Kalthum, one of the most famous Arab singers of all times. "Even in art, the waters of the Nile recur again and again as a distinctive element in our country and in our history."
The importance of preserving water sources but also climate change and global warming are the key themes of the 2007 World Environment Day
Al-Azhar's contribution to world environment day I see......
NourHayati Member # 5507
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The Nile is a highly polluted river. I was amazed to watch Egyptians swim in it and drink directly water from the river when I was on a cruise some years ago But the mosques are not the only element to blame. Perhaps the government should announce a national policy to cleanse and protect the river.
Récif corallien Member # 12656
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Maybe he should also stop the camel and horse men who dump their dead and dying horses in the water at back of the pyramids on the Saqarra Road. The smell there is unbelievable! God help anyone who is buying the herbs that grow along that irrigation canal!!
real_dude Member # 8607
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Egypt still needs more strict rules concerning their Environment.... for Example fines for people who throw trash from balconies and their cars windows.. huger fines and at least 6 month in prison for polluting the water ..whatever seashores,nile banks...
Tigerlily Member # 3567
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Mosque removal fatwa raises eyebrows
Nabil Abdel-Ghaffar Special to The Gazette
A top Muslim cleric has drawn scathing criticism for calling removal of places of worship located along the banks of the Nile.
Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantawi argues that such sites might cause water pollution."The role of the prestigious religious institution (Al-Azhar) is to defend building mosques, not to demolish them," said Badr el-Din Ismail, a local preacher in Imbaba, south of Cairo. He branded Tantawi's view as "poor", lacking religious evidence."Tantawi should instead urge the Government to build sewage stations to serve mosques."Ibrahim Abou Hatab, another preacher is critical too. "Mosques should be pulled down only in cases that harm interests of the Muslims. We should resort to this alternative only when we become sure that all other means to solve the problem have been exhausted," he told Al-Wafd, opposition newspaper. Disagreeing, Mostafa el-Shakaa, a Muslim scholar, says the controversial fatwa (an Islamic edict) was issued by the Council of Islamic Research, Al-Azhar's influential arm. "The fatwa legalises the removal of these mosques on the grounds that they cause harm to water which is essential for all human beings," he told The Gazette."It also recommends setting up a mosque to replace the demolished one in the nearest place available," he argued.....
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Removal seems extreme. Aren't there ways to cut down pollution instead?
Graf_Genn Member # 11802
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Word is that people were using the mosques as a means to escape regulation, but who knows. I personally have little tolerance for anyone polluting the water. It isn't the role of the government to spend money on all the mosques that spring up without proper permits. If a citizen were to be polluting the nile from his home, the citizen would have to pay for it, not the taxpayer. The people constructing these mosques are supposed to be respectful of all creation and really shouldn't need to be reminded not to pollute.
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But the mosques are not the only element to blame. Perhaps the government should announce a national policy to cleanse and protect the river.
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