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Arabic

2022

The concept of “citizenship” in the Azhari discourse. Problems and contradictions

The concept of “citizenship” in the Al-Azhar discourse, problems and contradictions

Al-Azhar Foundation announces on various occasions its full adoption of the concept of “citizenship,” and the religious freedoms that this concept includes and a rejection of discriminatory policies towards religious “minorities” in different countries of the world. Including what was emphasized in the “Human Fraternity” document – signed by both the Sheikh of Al-Azhar and the Pope of the Vatican in February 2019 – regarding the need to consolidate the concept of citizenship in all societies.
In the local Egyptian context, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar declares his refusal to use the concept of “dhimmis” to describe Christian citizens. Considering that it is an old concept that emerged from historical needs that no longer exist at the present time.

This study seeks to dismantle the concept of “citizenship” in the discourse of the Al-Azhar institution, and to understand the reality of the Al-Azhar vision of the modern state system and the modern international system and the nature of the position of Muslims in it. And it raises a major question: What is the reality of the concept of “citizenship” in the discourse of the Al-Azhar institution? How does this concept and its contradictions affect the Islamic discourse with the “other” at the global level?

L’institution Al-Azhar annonce à plusieurs reprises son adoption pleine et entière du concept de « citoyenneté » et des libertés religieuses que ce concept inclut, et un rejet des politiques discriminatoires envers les « minorités » religieuses dans différents pays du monde. Y compris ce qui a été souligné dans le document “Fraternité humaine” – signé à la fois par le Cheikh d’Al-Azhar et le Pape du Vatican en février 2019 – concernant la nécessité de consolider le concept de citoyenneté dans toutes les sociétés.
Dans le contexte égyptien local, le cheikh d’Al-Azhar déclare son refus d’utiliser le concept de « dhimmis » pour décrire les citoyens chrétiens. Considérant qu’il s’agit d’un concept ancien issu de besoins historiques qui n’existent plus à l’heure actuelle.

Cette étude vise à démanteler le concept de « citoyenneté » dans le discours de l’institution d’Al-Azhar, et à comprendre la réalité de la vision d’Al-Azhar du système étatique moderne et du système international moderne, et la nature de la position des musulmans dans celui-ci. Cela soulève une question majeure : quelle est la réalité du concept de « citoyenneté » dans le discours de l’institution Al-Azhar ? Comment ce concept et ses contradictions affectent-ils le discours islamique avec « l’autre » au niveau mondial ?

تُعلن مؤسسة الأزهر في مناسبات مختلفة تبنيها الكامل لمفهوم «المواطنة»، وما يتضمنه هذا المفهوم من حريات دينية ورفض للسياسات التمييزية تجاه «الأقليات» الدينية في بلدان العالم المختلفة؛ ومن ذلك ما تم التأكيد عليه في وثيقة «الأخوة الإنسانية» -التي وقعها كل من شيخ الأزهر وبابا الفاتيكان في فبراير عام 2019- بشأن ضرورة ترسيخ مفهوم المواطنة في كل المجتمعات.
وفي السياق المحلي المصري يُعلن شيخ الأزهر رفضه لاستخدام مفهوم «أهل الذمة» لوصف المواطنين المسيحيين؛ باعتبار أنه مفهوم قديم ظهر لحاجات تاريخية لم تعد موجودة في الوقت الراهن.

تسعى هذه الدراسة إلى تفكيك مفهوم «المواطنة» في خطاب المؤسسة الأزهرية، وفهم حقيقة الرؤية الأزهرية لنظام الدولة الحديثة والنظام الدولي الحديث وطبيعة موقع المسلمين فيه؛ وتطرح تساؤلًا رئيسًيا مفاده: ما حقيقة مفهوم «المواطنة» في خطاب المؤسسة الأزهرية؟ وكيف يؤثر هذا المفهوم وتناقضاته في الخطاب الإسلامي مع «الآخر» على الصعيد العالمي؟

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