The Grand Imam, "Al-Azhar Academy for Qualifying Imams and Preachers (AAQIP) is working to confront thought with thought. On Sunday April 21, 2019, His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmed Aṭ-Ṭayyeb received Imams and preachers at AAQIP, who are enrolled in the course entitled, "Preparation of the contemporary Mufti". There are 130 Imams and preachers from twenty Arab and Muslim countries.
His Eminence the Grand Imam welcomed the trainees at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Headquarters and expressed his pleasure to meet this distinguished group of preachers of the Muslim world. "When I see you, I feel good and I sense that Al-Azhar has already returned to convey its moderate message in the East and West.
The Grand Imam confirmed that terrorism is no longer limited to our Arab region, but has outreached to the whole world, the case which requires facing it with a comprehensive confrontation, not only with good wishes. This requires us to work on addressing thought with thought, and this is the main objective of the work of the Academy. He pointed out that the academic authentication of Imams and preachers qualifies them to face contemporary challenges, and instills in them the true Islam which has been taught by Al-Azhar for more than a thousand years.
On his part, Prof. Abdel Moneim Fouad, the AAQIP general supervisor said that the training program includes intensive lectures on contemporary jurisprudence issues, correcting misconceptions related to issues of governance, Jihad, caliphate. The program also includes significant issues such as sectarian intolerance and differences, and how they lead to sectarian conflicts, as well as lectures on psychology, sociology and communication skills. The program also includes a number of workshops.
At the end of the meeting, the Grand Imam listened to the proposals of the Imams and preachers enrolled in the course about the mechanisms of developing the training programs at the AAQIP. They expressed their urgent need to expand the number of programs offered by the AAQIP and their desire to be provided with collections of heritage books. They also praises the academic program taught at the academy and its dealing with important contemporary jurisprudence issues.