The position of Sheikh Muhammad Al-Khidr Hussein on the issue of freedom

Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Hamdahmad Al-Khudr Hussein: Jurist, linguist scholar, religious reformer, pioneer of moderation and renewal in the 14th century AH, and one of the senior sheikhs of Al-Azhar Mosque. Born in the Tunisian village of "Nefta" in 1293 AH / 1876 AD in a family that holds the throne of knowledge and wears the garment of authenticity, nobility, and honor. That family was a distinctive mark in the history of his intellectual brilliance; the writer was influenced by his father and his uncle, Mr. Mohammad Al-Maki bin Azouz, who was one of the senior scholars and held a high position in the Ottoman Empire. The writer mentioned that his mother taught him and his brothers the book of "Al-Kafrawi" in grammar, and "Al-Safti" in Maliki jurisprudence. He moved with his family to the Tunisian capital, where he received his primary education, memorized the Holy Quran, then joined Al-Zaytuna Mosque. He showed talent and competence in all scientific stages; he studied Arabic and Sharia sciences, and studied Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh, and Bayan under eminent scholars such as Sheikh Omar bin Sheikh and Sheikh Muhammad Al-Najjar. Mohammad Al-Khudr Hussein obtained his graduation certificate (Tadwi') from Al-Zaytuna Mosque in 1898 AD. After graduation, he founded the magazine "Al-Siyasah Al-A'zama" in 1902 AD, which was the first Arab literary scientific magazine in North Africa. This magazine contributed to spreading the bright face of Islam and also helped clarify the harms of colonialism; however, it soon stopped due to Sheikh Mohammad's appointment to the judiciary, where he stayed only a short time. Afterwards, he returned to Tunisia to teach at the Grand Mosque. Then he traveled to Damascus, where he was appointed as a teacher at the Sultanate University. Later, he traveled to Istanbul and connected with Enver Pasha, Minister of War, who chose him as an Arabic editor at the ministry. Finally, he settled in Cairo, working in research, writing articles, and serving as an editor in the literary section of the Egyptian National Library. He also obtained the international certificate from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and turned to establishing Islamic associations; he participated with the group of Islam's defenders in founding the Society of Muslim Youth. The sheikh enriched the field of literary and Islamic thought with many publications, including "Refutation of a Book on Pre-Islamic Poetry," "Refutation of the Book Islam and the Foundations of Governance," and "Imagination in Arabic Poetry." Sheikh died in 1958 AD and was buried beside his friend, Ahmed Taimur Pasha.