10th of Ramadan City:Grand Mufti Nazir Mohamed Ayyad has emphasized the necessity of an integrated approach to combat intellectual extremism in the digital age, advocating for the collaboration of religious, educational, cultural, and media efforts to foster critical awareness rather than merely condemning extremist ideologies.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Ayyad, who leads the General Secretariat of Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, shared these insights at the inaugural scientific conference of Al-Azhar Girls' College. The event, hosted under the patronage of Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb, focused on the theme 'Integration of Sciences in Promoting Islamic Moderation and Countering Intellectual Extremism in the Digital Age.' The conference also saw the participation of Sharqia Governor Hazem el-Ashmouny.
Ayyad highlighted the importance of cross-disciplinary efforts to promote the moderate principles of Islam and protect younger generations from polarization. He emphasized the need for a sound intellectual discourse that integrates Islamic scholarship with an understanding of contemporary realities and modern developments.
He noted that the rapid advancement of communication technologies has transformed how ideas influence society, necessitating efforts beyond merely addressing extremist rhetoric or misinformation. He called for a focus on protecting public awareness, examining knowledge sources, and distinguishing reliable information from falsehoods.
Ayyad stressed that combating extremism requires more than just condemnation. Efforts should aim to develop minds capable of rejecting extremism through evidence-based responses that address questions and circumstances without compromising religious principles.
Moderation, Ayyad explained, is a core Islamic principle based on justice and balance, rather than a temporary crisis response. It involves adhering to core principles while understanding changing realities, advocating neither isolation from society nor uncritical assimilation.
He emphasized that addressing extremism requires interdisciplinary cooperation, with Islamic sciences ensuring sound religious interpretation, linguistics clarifying texts, and psychology and sociology exploring the drivers of polarization. Philosophy, logic, media, and technology studies also play vital roles in understanding and influencing modern audiences.
Ayyad concluded by asserting that educational sciences contribute to developing balanced personalities and critical thinking, underlining that interdisciplinary cooperation is essential for safeguarding public awareness and fostering individual development. He called for a coordinated system where disciplines share knowledge and expertise, with religious research connected to reality, technological progress guided by ethics, and educational institutions collaborating with religious, cultural, and media organizations.