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FJP 2011 Program on Religious Leadership

Religion has the greatest impact in the lives of nations and peoples of the world. The Egyptian people are amongst the oldest and most devoted to their religion. They also have the most respect for the religious morals and values. They consider the religion of Islam the supreme authority and fundamental framework for them in all fields.

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Religion has the greatest impact in the lives of nations and peoples of the world. The Egyptian people are amongst the oldest and most devoted to their religion. They also have the most respect for the religious morals and values. They consider the religion of Islam the supreme authority and fundamental framework for them in all fields.

 

Therefore, our program relies on religious institutions and expects them to play a prominent role in promoting the various cultural, political, social and other aspects of Egyptian life. Indeed, these institutions played an essential role in establishing Egypt's leading position in education as well as religious and spiritual guidance. In this context, reform and development of the religious affairs sector, as well as the advancement of Al-Azhar are necessary for the revitalisation and rejuvenation of Egyptian society, to restore to it the status it deserves with its glorious history and its prominent place in religious heritage. Thus it is of paramount importance to restore to Egypt its religious leadership position in Arab, Islamic and global domains.

 

The venerable Al-Azhar University and Mosque

 

Al-Azhar has always been a venerable mosque and university for Muslims, and – until now – teaches science and religion, extensive knowledge and good ethics, as it has done throughout its long history. In support of this great institution, and to help it carry out its local, regional and global functions, we must do the following:

 

•       Restructure the Islamic Research Academy as a leading scientists and scholars authority, and select its members by election.

 

•       Choose the Grand Imam, Sheikh of Al-Azhar mosque also by election, from among members of the Islamic Research Academy.

 

•       Merge the Dawah (Islamic reach-out) and Endowments section to Al-Azhar’s Dawah and Preaching Department.

 

•       Develop and promote Al-Azhar’s Dawa, preaching and guidance departments, both at graduate and staff levels.

 

•       Provide continuing education and training for Imams and preachers; and link promotions and bonuses to training courses and tests.

•       Promote Islamic Mission Department, revitalise Al-Azhar’s role in Dawah outreach abroad, clarify the image of Islam as the religion of mercy, peace, cooperation and human dignity abroad, and activate its role in the spread of moderation and renunciation of violence and sectarianism.

 

•       Achieve for Al-Azhar mosque and university financial and administrative independence; and restore all endowments of Al-Azhar to it.

 

•       Develop Al-Azhar education curricula, for all stages and levels, to keep pace with developments in modern education systems, and promote those in charge of its educational process in all stages and levels, financially and professionally.

 

•       Revive the female Dawah preachers staff project, applied for previously.

 

•       Revive the imams and preachers syndicate project, just like doctors, engineers and other trade unions and professional associations.

Endowments

 

Given the importance of the social solidarity and cohesion role played by the Waqf (Endowments) Foundation, the party believes there is a pressing need to work on reforming and developing the Waqf establishment in Egypt as follows:

 

•       Reform the legislative and administrative structure which governs the Waqf (Endowment) sector in Egypt; eliminate corruption in the Egyptian Waqf Authority; and urgently separate the endowment sector from the executive authority.

 

•       Improve the economic investment of the endowments of Egypt, so it should perform its duty in support of Islamic Dawah (reach-out) and achieve optimal social solidarity and cohesion, while encouraging citizens and organisations to vow their money (as Waqf/endowments) to Islamic Dawah department and magnanimity and social service department; and set special tax exemptions for Waqf projects or joint-ventures with the private sector.

 

•       Encourage Waqf (endowment) for vital areas, including education, fighting poverty, unemployment and illiteracy, helping youths get married, training of rural women, supporting adoptive families and orphans, rehabilitation of street children and displaced/homeless persons, etc.

 

Egyptian Church

The Egyptian Coptic Church has had important and effective roles throughout the history of this homeland. Islam has supported and enhanced these roles, which vary between social and educational and cultural. Hence, we believe there is a need for us to further support the role of the Egyptian Church in order to maintain society's values, morals ??and ethics, and also to confront the growing waves of corrupting intellectual and moral invasion, aimed at Egyptian, Arab and Muslim societies.

 

We should also support the values ??of family cohesion, social solidarity and national unity, in all the aspects of social life. This should be done through cooperation with all state institutions and civil society in Egypt and the development of constructive, effective dialogue between the Church on the one hand and between the Al-Azhar, Religious Endowments Authority and other civil Islamic institutions on the other hand, in order to maintain the cohesion of the Egyptian national fabric and the advancement of the community, because these are the responsibility of all Egyptians. We also believe that there is a need to support the church's leadership role for the Christians of the East.

 

See FJP's full program for Egypt's Parliamentary Elections, 2011