A controversial Sydney imam has been attacked with a shoe while live on air on an Egyptian talk show.

Mostafa Rashid was discussing whether Muslim women should wear headscarves when Egyptian lawyer Nabih al-Wahsh took off his shoe and beat him round the head with it.

Mr Rashid, a moderate Muslim, has courted controversy in the past by saying women should not have to wear the veil and declaring that drinking alcohol is not forbidden.

His comments on headscarves infuriated Mr al-Wahsh, who removed his shoe and tried to assault Mr Rashid with it.

Controversial Sydney imam Mostafa Rashid has been attacked with a shoe while live on air on an Egyptian talk show

Mr Rashid (right) was arguing with Egyptian lawyer Nabih al-Wahsh (left) when the confrontation over headscarves suddenly escalated

Video of the confrontation, which was broadcast live to viewers, showed Mr Rashid standing as the pair engaged in a war of words.

Mr al-Wahsh quickly removed his right shoe and walked round the table, swinging it at the Australian imam.

Mr Rashid kicked back in an attempt to defend himself as presenter Mohammed al-Ghaiti and several members of the production team tried to break them up.

After the pair were broken up, Mr Rashid quickly left the studio, the Middle East Eye reported.

A member of the crew was injured in the scuffle but both the imam and Mr al-Wahsh are believed to have left the studio unscathed.

Mr al-Ghaiti later apologised to viewers as he replayed the clip for those who had not seen it.

Mr al-Wahsh quickly removed his right shoe and walked round the table, swinging it at the Australian imam

Mr Rashid kicked back in an attempt to defend himself as presenter Mohammed al-Ghaiti and several members of the production team tried to break them up

WHY ARE SHOES AN INSULT? Showing the sole of a shoe is one of the greatest insults in Arabic culture, let alone removing one to hit someone with it. Former US President George W Bush became the most high-profile victim of a shoe attack after Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi hurled both of his at the commander-in-chief during a press conference in 2008. President Bush ducked both as the reporter was tackled to the ground. Because they touch the floor, shoes are considered dirty. This is why they are banned from being worn in mosques. Advertisement

'It was a free fight in the middle of the studio,' he said. 'I never expected that something like this could happen on air.'

Mr Rashid came to Australia from Egypt in 2013 and has upset some traditional clerics with his moderate views.

In 2014, he issued a fatwa saying that the veil, which is worn by many Muslim women, was 'not a Muslim obligation' and that the Quran does not force anyone to wear it.

Mr Rashid, a professor of Sharia law, was further condemned later that year when he stated that alcohol was not forbidden by the Quran.