Egyptian cleric Khaled El Gendy, a famous Islamic scholar and member of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, recently reminded us of an Islamic school of thought with some controversial views.

In an interview on DMC TV, the cleric quotes the Hanafi school of thought, which says that drinking certain kinds of alcohol is not necessarily haram, so long as the person drinking it does not get drunk.

The cleric affirmed that the Hanafi school believes liquor made from grapes and dates is prohibited, but beer isn't necessarily.

"Beer is not haram, since its not made of grapes or dates. It becomes haram if consumed in quantities that renders a person drunk," he said, citing the specific Islamic school.

The Hanafi school of thought is named after Abū Ḥanīfa an-Nu‘man ibn Thābit, a renowned Islamic scholar for sharia lawmaking – often called the Great Imam. 

According to El Gendy, Abū Ḥanīfa said drinking alcohol without getting drunk is not sinful. El Gendy separates his own personal views from that of the Hanafi school.

Watch the video below. 

Sheikh Rashid Mustafa, an Egyptian imam based in Sydney, made similar statements in 2014. 

In a television interview with Egyptian broadcaster Attahrir (liberation), the cleric said that the Holy Quran only prohibits drunkenness, but not alcohol. 

To back up his claims, he used a verse in the Quran that reads, “O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying…” Chapter (4) surat l-nisa' (The Women).

Sheikh Rashid is known for having liberal views when it comes to Islamic law, and was once beaten on live TV for saying women don't have to be veiled. 

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article misinterpreted Khaled El Gendy's words in the video.

Emirati ambassador Juma al-Kaabi has died of wounds sustained in an attack in Afghanistan earlier this year.

Five Emirati humanitarian workers initially died in the January attack on a provincial governor's guesthouse in Afghanistan. The aid workers were in Afghanistan carrying out humanitarian, educational and development work.

Emirati ambassador Juma al-Kaabi was injured in the attack. 

At the time, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the UAE's Prime Minister and Vice President, said that "there is no human, moral or religious justification for the bombing and killing of people trying to help."

"It is with great pride that we mourn the humanitarian workers who were martyred in the Republic of Afghanistan. The lives of five martyrs were cut short as they were seeking to assist the needy."

State news named the deceased humanitarian workers as Mohammed Ali Zainal Al Bastaki, Abdullah Mohammed Essa Obaid Al Kaabi, Ahmed Rashid Salim Ali Al Mazroui, Ahmed Abdul Rahman Ahmad Al Tunaiji, and Abdul Hamid Sultan Abdullah Ibrahim Al Hammadi.  The humanitarian workers and the ambassador were visiting the guesthouse of provincial Afghani Gov. Homayun Azizia. At least six others were killed in the blast, in addition to the Emirati casualties.

It was unclear which group was behind the blast. While the Taliban claimed responsibility for a separate attack earlier in the day, they denied responsibility for the guesthouse blast, blaming local rivalries.

States news said that UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed "mourned, with deep sorrow and grief, the death of a number of UAE's sons who died Tuesday evening as a result of the terrorist bombing."