The late Pope of Vatican had visited Mashyakhat Al Azhar before, to renew the human meetings and express in respect for both sides, and agree that the difference of beliefs doesn't prevent from cooperation to spread the virtues which monotheist legislations and right human minds asked for.
The world media mentioned, a few days ago, a lecture delivered by the recent Pope of Vatican in German language, which included a dialogue between a Byzantine Caesar and a Persian Muslim in the year 1391, such dialogue contained insults against Islam away from reality, that Caesar claimed that Islam was spread by sward and that Jihad deals with aggression, and Muhammad didn't get any goodness but get evils as he ordered to spread Islam by sward and that Islam is against mentality.
These words are nude from reality since Islam was spread by wise convincing and guidance as legislation of Islam is against any saying or acting based on enforcement, and Jihad in Islam was ordered legally to defend the soul, belief and whatever to be defended. As the prophet, Peace Be Upon Him, had brought all goodness for mankind, and he is the final of the prophets and messengers, had brought an inclusive legislation containing all good virtues and morals. It's sufficient that Allah the Almighty praised Him in the Holy Quran saying "You are bearing great moralities", as He praised his message saying: "We have not sent you but only as a mercy for mankind" and all the documents of Islam from the Holy Quarn and Sunna prove all that. It was a duty for the Pope of Vatican not to mention such story without any comment on, because it is for unwise Caesar in the fourteenth century and without studying the Holy Quran and the Tradition of the Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him, and what the majority of Muslim Scholars agreed upon where he could see nothing at all concerning such false claims.
Al Azhar al Sharif calls upon all human kind to study Islam carefully from its true sources to preserve mutual respect and good cooperation for the sake of humanity through the dialogue among religions.
God says the Truth and guides to the straight path.
Al Azhar Al Sharif Office of the Grand Imam Sheikh Al Azhar Al Azhar Al Sharif expresses his all displeasure for what was said by the Pope of Vatican insulting Islam and the Holy Prophet, Peace and Prayers of Allah Be Upon Him. Such words affected the feelings of anger to more than one billion and three hundred millions Muslims all over the world.
Mashyakhat Al Azhar confirms that such declaration proves ignorance of Islam and attributes to it what it doesn't have, and it will not contribute, at any way, to strengthen the dialogue among the religions and cultures of the world
