Khaberni - Egyptian Islamic preacher Mazhar Shaheen was a guest on the show “People Speak,” hosted by media personality Yasmine Az, in an episode that sparked widespread controversy across social media.
Shaheen's statements in the episode prompted an attack on him from Alaa Mubarak, before Shaheen responded clarifying his stance.
During the interview, Shaheen said that some followers ask him about the media host before the episodes and whether she is as beautiful in person as she appears on screen, to which he replies that she is “much more beautiful in reality,” according to him. He noted other inquiries he receives about the nature of the dialogue, explaining that he sometimes answers in a cheerful spirit that the conversation might be "in a spring-like tone," expressing his pleasure in participating in the episode.
These statements triggered a situation of controversy and interaction, as user opinions were divided between those who saw it as a normal compliment in a media context and those who thought it was not suitable for the nature of a discourse expected from an Islamic preacher.
In this context, Alaa Mubarak, the son of the late President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, directly criticized Sheikh Mazhar Shaheen by commenting on the video posted on the channel "mbc" on the "X" platform, saying: "They ask me about you; far more beautiful and in a spring voice!! I wish we knew who asks our Sheikh over the phone and WhatsApp." He added: "Such talk is inappropriate, you are supposed to be a role model and respect the Al-Azhar attire while speaking: How then can he go out and address and advise the youth," followed by a series of tweets and comments mocking from the side of the former president's son.
In response, Sheikh Mazhar Shaheen said: "Brother Alaa Mubarak.. My conversation with the dear media personality Yasmine Az during my appearance on her show was in the context of mutual praise and pleasant flattery in response to her welcoming and appreciating my presence with her, a practice that is customary in media dialogues, and it doesn’t bear any meaning that offends dignity or goes beyond the bounds of decency and respect."
Shaheen continued: "From this perspective, I see your comment on the discussion as out of context and unfairly described, which needs reevaluation; thus, I invite you to review the entire episode, not just a clipped segment or a quick impression, and you will assure yourself that what I said was polite and in its natural context, and that the description in your comment was not accurate."
He added: "Based on that, I clearly express my rejection of your comment in both substance and detail, particularly since its content matches the discourse often echoed by Salafists in their restriction of friendly discourse in public spaces; thus, I straightforwardly ask: What then did you leave for the Salafists if this is your response?!"
Sheikh Mazhar Shaheen concluded by saying: "My history in preaching and intellectual efforts testify to my commitment to Al-Azhar's moderate approach and a tolerant discourse that unites rather than divides, addresses people with wisdom and good advice, especially the youth which we strive to connect with and bring religious discourse closer to them unless you have started leaning towards this direction, which I doubt."
