A Speech by His Eminence on the occasion of granting him Honorary Doctorate from the University of Songkhla, Thailand.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Your Excellency, Prof. Dr. Chusak Limsakul, President of the Prince of Songkla University;
Dr. Yusof Talek, Director, College of Islamic Studies;
Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Delegation of the Prince of Songkla University.
May Allah's peace and blessings be upon you
I am very pleased and honored to receive the honorary doctorate in Islamic studies from the Prince of Songkla University, which is a great honor for me from the People, the Government, and the King of Thailand.
I would also like to express my pleasure and deep gratitude for this honor which came from the Far East. In this regard, I would like to affirm that it is not only an honor from the Kingdom of Thailand to the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, but it is also an honor for all those affiliated to Al-Azhar throughout the world, including our Thai graduates, who amount to more than two thousand and seven hundred students studying at Al-Azhar, along with thousands of students who have already graduated from Al-Azhar Al Sharif and work in Thailand. Moreover, Al-Azhar University hostel hosts 80 Thai students. In fact, Thailand enjoys the largest share of Al-Azhar scholarships, with 80 scholarships assigned to its students annually.
On this occasion, I would also like to express my deep thanks to the Embassy of Thailand in Cairo for the cooperation and coordination with Al-Azhar to follow up with and solve the problems of the Thai students and provide all the necessary requirements that help the students achieve success in their various disciplines.
I am pleased to announce Al-Azhar's willing to conclude more scientific and cultural cooperation protocols between Al-Azhar University and Prince of Songkla University in Islamic, technical, scientific, pharmaceutical, agricultural and environmental studies. In addition, Al-Azhar confirms its readiness to implement cooperation in all these fields.
Once again, I would like to thank you for coming all the way here, in Al-Azhar, to honor me. This kindness is a typical behavior of the Thai people who combine tradition and modernity in their country.
In the near future, I am looking forward to visit your country, which I already had the pleasure to visit it when I was the President of Al-Azhar University.
Thanks again and welcome to Egypt and Al Azhar.
Muharram 18, 1439 AH / October 9, 2017
Prof. Ahmad At-Tayeb
Sheikh of Al-Azhar