I have decided to dedicate my next book, The Waiting Letters, to my maternal grandfather, Sheikh Abdul Muttal Al-Saidi, whom I wish was with me at this time to support me.
Sheikh Abdel Muttal Al-Saidi had many battles as a result of his opinions and efforts, and he was punished more than once, including in 1937 when the Al-Azharites revolted against the Sheikh because of his opinions. A committee was formed to try him. Sheikh Mahmoud Shaltout, Sheikh Al-Zankaloni, and others suggested that he write a memorandum announcing his retraction of some of his opinions, and Sheikh Abdel Muttal agreed. The trial committee was composed of: Sheikh Muhammad Abdel Latif Al-Fahham, Undersecretary of Al-Azhar; Sheikh Abdel Majeed Al-Labban, Sheikh of the Faculty of Usul Al-Din; and Sheikh Mamoun Al-Shinnawi, Sheikh of the Faculty of Sharia. The trial committee concluded that Sheikh Abdel Muttal would be deprived of promotion for five years, and that he would be transferred from teaching at the Faculty of Arabic Language to the General Department in Tanta.
Sheikh Al-Saidi deviated from the Al-Azhar consensus on the issue of killing apostates, saying, "I cannot go along with those rigid Al-Azharites, for I will bring upon Al-Azhar what they bring upon it with their rigidity." Despite the attacks of Al-Azhar sheikhs, led by Sheikh Issa Manoun, Al-Saidi remained steadfast in emphasizing the importance of religious freedom for all. Abdel Muttal Al-Saidi believed that the death penalty for an apostate should only be imposed on a murderous apostate or one who forces Muslims to abandon their religion. Fighting here is in defense of freedom. As for a peaceful apostate, there is no punishment for him in this world, as religious freedom is linked to worldly punishment. If there is worldly punishment for belief, then there is no religious freedom, and vice versa. His support for this was the Holy Quranic verse, "There is no compulsion in religion."
My grandfather, Sheikh Abdul Muttal Al-Saidi, faced a lot of trouble because of his religious views, and therefore he was the most suitable person to whom I saw to dedicate my book, The Awaited Letters.