A hugely influential Egyptian Imam has provoked controversy for describing polygamy as an “injustice” to women practiced by people who do not understand the Koran.

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, who heads Egypt’s prominent Al-Azhar mosque and university, made the comments on Twitter and on a weekly television show.

The influential cleric, who met Pope Francis in February, said the practice is the result of “a lack of understanding of the Koran and the tradition of the Prophet.”

#الإمام_الأكبر: لا أدعو إلى تشريعاتٍ تُلغي حقَّ التعدُّدِ بل أرفُضُ أيَّ تشريعٍ يَصدِمُ أو يَهدِمُ تشريعاتِ القرآنِ الكريمِ أو السُّنَّةِ المُطهَّرةِمن كلمة فضيلة الإمام الأكبر أ.د أحمد #الطيب#شيخ_الأزهر أمام #مؤتمر_الإفتاء_العالمي في 17 أكتوبر 2016 pic.twitter.com/cIVhdlkPZ1 — الأزهر الشريف (@AlAzhar) March 2, 2019

"Those who say that marriage must be polygamous are all wrong,” he said on the TV program adding that any Muslim man who desires multiple wives must obey certain conditions governing fairness, “if there is not fairness it is forbidden to have multiple wives,” he said.

The Grand Imam, who is considered one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islamic thought, didn’t limit his comments to just marriage, he also made broader comments on the need to revamp women’s position in society.

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“Women represent half of society, if we don't care for them it's like we are walking on one foot only,” he said.

Tayeb’s comments stirred up considerable controversy on social media with many applauding them while others took strong exception.

The Al-Azhar institute was prompted to release a statement clarifying that Tayeb had not called for the prohibition of polygamy, as some had claimed.

The grand imam’s comments were welcomed by the Egyptian National Council for Women.

“The Muslim religion honors women, it brought justice and numerous rights which didn't exist before,” said the Council's president Maya Morsi in expressing a “deep appreciation and thanks” to Tayeb.

يتوجه #المجلس_القومى_للمرأة برئاسة د. مايا مرسي بخالص الشكرالى شيخ الازهر الامام الاكبر الدكتور أحمد الطيب على تصريحه الأخير في برنامجه الاسبوعى على الفضائية المصرية الذي اشار فيه أن أولى قضايا التراث التى تحتاج الى تجديد هى قضايا المرأة ، لان المرأة هى نصف المجتمع، pic.twitter.com/d8JwaPTsYl — NCWEGYPT🇪🇬 (@ncwegypt) March 2, 2019

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