Islamic media is reporting that Global Muslim Brotherhood Youssef Qaradawi will deliver the weekly sermon at Tahrir Square in Egypt on Friday. According to an Onislam report:
As thousands of Egyptians are preparing to celebrate their successful revolution against long-standing president Hosni Mubarak on Friday, February 18, prominent Muslim scholar Yusuf Al-Qaradawi will deliver the sermon of the weekly prayers from Tahrir Square in Cairo. Qaradawi, the present of the International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS) will deliver the sermon at an invitation from a coalition representing the youth of the Egyptian revolution, OnIslam.net has learned. The invitation was extended in gratitude to Qaradawi’s role in mobilizing support for the Egyptian revolution. Thousands of Egyptians are set to gather in Tahrir Square to celebrate their success in ousting Mubarak. Qaradawi, an Egyptian, will address the celebrators on the importance of the role of all Egyptians in building a free and democratic country, OnIslam.net learnt. He will also urge Egyptians to join hands in combating chaos that could be triggered by loyalists of the former regime. The sermon will also highlight the examples of national unity among Egyptian Muslims and Copts during the revolution…..Qaradawi has been a vocal critic of the Mubarak’s regime and has vehemently supported the protests against the aging leader. The prominent scholar was reportedly in Egypt at the start of the protests, but was harassed by security apparatus to leave the country as the anti-Mubarak demonstrations escalated.
Qaradawi, a virulent anti-Semite is often referred to here as the most important leader of the global Muslim Brotherhood, an acknowledgement of his role as the de facto spiritual leader of the movement. In 2004, Qaradawi turned down the offer to lead the Egyptian Brotherhood after the death of the Supreme Guide. Based in Qatar, Sheikh Qaradawi has reportedly amassed substantial wealth through his role as Shari’ah adviser to many important Islamic banks and funds. He is also considered to be the “spiritual guide” for Hamas and his fatwas in support of suicide bombings against Israeli citizens were instrumental in the development of the phenomenon. A recent post has discussed a video compilation of Qaradawi’s extremist statements. Qaradawi recently reiterated his support for suicide bombing in Israel and expressed his desire to die as a martyr “at the hands of a non-Muslim.”
The GMBDW has been covering Qaradawi extensively in these pages for some time. Our coverage on him can be found here.