The extremely well-known Egyptian television anchor, Ibrahim Eissa, has provoked outrage for questioning the necessity of fasting during Ramadan. Speaking on a program on the US-based television channel, Alhurra, Eissa stated that “fasting is considered a sovereign decision, Allah commanded us, yet we are not informed on the wisdom behind fasting.” He revealed that he had done his own in-depth research into the reasons commonly given for fasting, such as encouraging sympathy towards the poor – the main reason given by Islamic preachers -, but appreciates that scientific evidence shows fasting to be unhealthy and encouraging further social separation. Indeed, Eissa said that fasting is merely a Muslim interpretation of abstract orders from Allah, not a divine law that needs to followed. However, Egypt Independent reports that the former head of the Fatwas Committee in the Al-Azhar Mosque, Abdel Hamid al-Atrash, does not consider Eissa authorised to give an opinion on Islamic matters. Al-Atrash explained how the issue on which the anchor was speaking is a specialisation for Islamic scholars who have graduated from Al-Azhar; Eissa therefore does not have a deep enough understanding to give his views. “Just as it is not logical that a police officer…
