Egypt's Grand Mufti Dr. Shawqi Allam said Monday the emergence of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other groups that misunderstand Islam came as a result of interal and external causes.
"The terrorist groups serve their own interests and other exterior interests," he said in an address to a workshop on "the combat against terrorist ideology," being organized by the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates.
"ISIL interpreted 50 verses of the Holy Quran in a wrong way that seems more appealing to Muslim youth," Allam noted.
"Dar Al-Iftaa (house of religious advice-giving) has detected 200 'fatwas' (religious advice) that instigate destabilizing the Muslim communities and promulgate the ideology of 'takfiris' (Muslims accusing other Muslims of apostasy)," he said.
He highlighted the need to promote correct understanding of the Islamic principles, noting that Jihad (holy war) in Islam is meant defends the Muslim countries against external aggression.
He urged delivering the noble message of Islam to other people that Islam respect human rights and the international conventions, affirming the practices of ISIL and other groups that misunderstand Islam run counter to the provision of the international Humanitarian Law.
Source: KUNA