Dr. Adnan al-Khatiri, a Salafi preacher and a professor in the Islamic University in the Saudi Arabia, told Youm7 that Salafism is not an extension of Wahaabism. He said there is no such thing as ‘Wahaabism' or ‘Salifism,' accusing those who call for such as polytheists. Al-Khatiri revealed many facts about Saudi financing of Egypt's Salafis during an interview with Youm7. He also discussed Saudi-Egyptian relations and how to develop Egypt after its revolution. Al-Khatiri called on Egyptians to rally behind Islamic preachers such as Mohamed Hassan, Abu-Ishaq al-Hwini and Mustafa al-Adwi. Youm7: Welcome to your second country, Egypt. What is your opinion of the recent events that Egypt witnessed? What is your comment regarding the accusations that Salafis are fueling sectarian tension in Egypt? We don't want to move backwards, especially now that the Egyptians know, more than others, what happened in Egypt. After the revolution, I hope the Islamic preachers will be unified and supported by the people. The preachers should know that Egypt needs them and the people should know that the country will not be improved with the current split. What is your opinion of Salafi preaching and figures such as Mohamed Hassan, al-Howini and Mohamed Yacoob? As a Saudi man, my testimony would be questionable because these men belong to Wahaabism. In fact, there is no ‘Wahaabism' in Islam. The Islamic preacher Mohamed Abdel-Wahab came to the Arabian Peninsula and cooperated with Al-Saud to eradicate polytheism through destroying the tombs and other manifestations of polytheism. He also cooperated with preachers to spread the right Islam. Do you think that Salafism is an extension of Saudi Wahaabism or is it an independent movement? For the second time, I confirm that Islam has no ‘Wahaabism.' The preachers, Hassan, al-Hwini and al-Adwi, call the people to follow the right way of God. I hope the whole nation rallies behind their teachings. I swear by God, I hope to learn from their knowledge and visions. I think you should seize the opportunity to rally behind them. They may be tired but it is their destiny to be the scientists of the nation whom the people need. There is confusion among the public among different Islamic doctrines and movements. What is your comment? Yesterday, I was sitting with one of the public who asked me to clarify the right way, Wahaabism, Salafism, Sunnis or the Brotherhood. I think that the media is responsible for such confusion. Islam is a clear religion which has no contradictions so the duty of preachers is to clarify its teachings. I call all Muslims not to follow everyone talking about religion. Through this newspaper, I call for not exaggerating matters, particularly as Egypt needs to be in unity in this critical time. It cannot afford more division. After the sectarian tensions that Egypt witnessed recently, Salafis have been accused of fueling tensions. What is your comment? Salafis are the people who followed the Prophet Mohamed's teachings, so it isn't logic that they participated in such actions. If a person claimed affiliating to the Salafis and quested to divide the country, can we accuse all Salafis and their approach? Of course not. I think the people should know the Salafis and their approach before talking about them in cafes. There is a malicious attempt to propagate false information that the Salafis were involved in such crimes. I call on all readers, through Youm7, to know first the meaning of Salafis. How can we turn Salafism to an approach coping with the current era in accordance with Islamic Law and merge it with the other Islamic movements? Salafism is not an approach; it is the religion of the Prophet Mohamed. I hope that the ‘Salafism' expression is removed from the minds of the people. We shouldn't have the Muslims Brotherhood group and the Salafis group; we should have one group which pursues the Quran and the Sunnah. Why is Salafi preaching associated with Islamic extremism although it is a peaceful preaching? I think such claims aim at pushing the people to adopt actions against their countries. They do not follow Salafism because the person who follows the Quran and Sunnah cannot do such actions. We are against sparking sectarian tensions in our countries. Coptic Christians lived with Muslims and enjoyed the same rights and are committed to the same duties. We need to be united under the banner of Islam. Salafis are accused of receiving financial aid from Saudi Arabia. What is your comment? Saudia Arabia bears the responsibility of calling for the right Islam through the Quran and Sunnah so it helps those who adopt the same way without interfering in the internal affairs of the other countries through the governmental or public level. How do you see Salafis' engagement in politics? I think that we don't have parties or groups in this regard. Our religion included everything so our prophet was a preacher and politician. We don't need to be divided between the preachers and politicians. What is your opinion of the ascent of a Coptic Christian or Shiite Muslim to power in a Muslim country? Your question reminds me of a story. One day, a Christian asked my teacher, al-Gazaeri, why the building of churches isn't allowed in Saudi Arabia. My teacher responded by asking him, Can you allow us to build a mosque inside the church? The Christian said no, so my teacher said, Saudi Arabia is the center of Islam, so we can't allow the building of churches inside it. Do you expect the scenario of Egypt and Tunisia to be repeated in Saudi Arabia? We cannot accept sparking tensions or sedition inside our country, which is the center of Islam. The kingdom is the only country which raises the flag of Islam so the people who suffered from discrimination took refuge in it. Its rulers seek for achieving justice among all citizens. They love scientists and preaching. I think that creating sedition in the kingdom aims at fueling tensions in the whole nation. How do you see the Western attack against Islam? It's a normal matter. The Jews and Christian will not accept you if you do not follow their religion. But we need to be wise in dealing with them to protect our countries. What is the solution for such attacks? Implementing the teachings of Quran and Sunnah in our life and homes and rallying behind our Islamic preachers are the practical solution. Boycotting their products will be useful only if the whole nation agrees to do so. I think that insisting on the teachings of our religion is the right way to resolve the problem. What are the reasons for your visit to Egypt? Egypt is my country in which I find my brothers and family. It is an ordinary visit to my country and to my Egyptian brothers. Egypt's foreign minister met with the Saudi ambassador recently. Do you think there are negotiations to forgive Mubarak? They are brothers. The leaders of the two countries always meet to increase cooperation regardless of deals or forgiving someone. Do you support the multi-party system and the religious tendencies? Do you think that the kingdom will witness this political model? My teacher, Abu-Bakr Al-Gazaeri, refused the idea of parties and groups. According to Islam we have only one group. The different parties and groups will lead to dividing the nation In recent years, many people confirmed that Islam's role has deteriorated especially with American pressure. What is your opinion? Islam has not deteriorated, so Muslims in Europe are increasing and non-Muslims there increasingly converting to Islam. I'm optimistic of the future of the Arab nations if the Arab peoples return to the teachings of their religion. How do you see relations between Egypt and the Saudi Arabia? It is a relation of brothers on the official and public levels. In the kingdom, there are a lot of Egyptians with whom we deal as Saudis.
