Hassan Hanafi
Encyclopedia
Prof. Dr. Hassan Hanafi (born 1935 in Cairo
, Egypt
) is a professor and chairs the philosophy
department at Cairo University
. He is a leading authority on modern Islam
.
Hanafi was born into an artistic family in Cairo. As a youth he studied the violin, which he continues to play to this day.
As a young man motivated by a revolutionary political activism, Hanafi associated with the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood
. Later Hanafi studied at the Sorbonne
in Paris
. Since 1967, he has been a professor of philosophy in Cairo
, as well as a visiting professor at universities in France
, the United States of America, Belgium
, Kuwait
and Germany
.
Hanafi's interpretation of Islam has also been described as socialist and he has elaborated on the concept of an "Islamic Left", interpreting Islam in a socialist manner. He also promotes an interpretation of Islam supporting the development of a global ethics.
In his more recent works Hanafi has argued that Islam needs to be understood in way that facilitates human freedom and progress.
Hanafi has acted as an adviser to the InterAction Council, a coalition of 26 former prime ministers and president
s. He is also a member of the Association for Intercultural Philosophy, which encourages a dialogue among philosophers from all over the world. He is one of the original signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You
, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding.
His liberal opinions about Islam have infuriated conservative Islamic scholars and Azhar. For example, he stated that the name of the God should be changed (to what?). Conservative scholars from Azhar refuted that Hanafi is distorting Islam.
There was a fatwa, an Islamic opinion issued by Islamic scholars that condemned Hanafi as an apostate. As a result, there has been a plan by extreme Muslim terrorists who perceived Hanafi as one of the secularists who oppose Islam (a plan to do what?). This has raised controversy in Egypt, as many liberals disagreed with the charge that Hanafi was an apostate.
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
) is a professor and chairs the philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
department at Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
. He is a leading authority on modern Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
Hanafi was born into an artistic family in Cairo. As a youth he studied the violin, which he continues to play to this day.
As a young man motivated by a revolutionary political activism, Hanafi associated with the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
. Later Hanafi studied at the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Since 1967, he has been a professor of philosophy in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, as well as a visiting professor at universities in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the United States of America, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Philosophy
Hanafi is a disciple of the phenomenologist Osman Amin, and published a trilogy in which he used Husserl's methods to reconstruct classic Islamic philosophy and to critique the sources and development of European consciousness.Hanafi's interpretation of Islam has also been described as socialist and he has elaborated on the concept of an "Islamic Left", interpreting Islam in a socialist manner. He also promotes an interpretation of Islam supporting the development of a global ethics.
In his more recent works Hanafi has argued that Islam needs to be understood in way that facilitates human freedom and progress.
Hanafi has acted as an adviser to the InterAction Council, a coalition of 26 former prime ministers and president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
s. He is also a member of the Association for Intercultural Philosophy, which encourages a dialogue among philosophers from all over the world. He is one of the original signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You
A Common Word Between Us and You
A Common Word between Us and You is an open letter, dated 13 October 2007, from leaders of the Muslim faith to leaders of the Christian faith. It calls for peace between Muslims and Christians and tries to work for common ground and understanding among both faiths, in line with the Qur'anic...
, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding.
Controversy over his apostasy
Hassan Hanafi's book "An Invitation for Dialogue" has been accused by conservative Islamic scholars as heresy and apostasy.His liberal opinions about Islam have infuriated conservative Islamic scholars and Azhar. For example, he stated that the name of the God should be changed (to what?). Conservative scholars from Azhar refuted that Hanafi is distorting Islam.
There was a fatwa, an Islamic opinion issued by Islamic scholars that condemned Hanafi as an apostate. As a result, there has been a plan by extreme Muslim terrorists who perceived Hanafi as one of the secularists who oppose Islam (a plan to do what?). This has raised controversy in Egypt, as many liberals disagreed with the charge that Hanafi was an apostate.