The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to the Acting Administrator of US Agency for International Development (USAID), “Ceasing wars and hatred is the easiest way to solve the world's problems”.
USAID Acting Administrator stated, “We are keen to cooperate with Al-Azhar to root out hatred and terrorism around the world”.
On Wednesday, October 7, 2020, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmed Aṭ-Ṭayyeb, met Mr. John Parsa, USAID Acting Administrator, and his accompanied delegation at Al-Azhar Headquarters.
USAID Acting Administrator stated that he was keen to meet the Grand Imam even though his visit to Egypt lasted for only one day. Such meeting was due to what he noticed as great and important efforts made by Al-Azhar Foundation and its Grand Imam, to sow the seeds of goodness and peace among people, and to combat all the forms of violence, intolerance and hate discourse. That is what the USAID seeks for the sake of promoting the human life, and exerting efforts aiming at discussing and solving the problems of economic development and religious freedom. He affirmed the agency's keenness to cooperate with Al-Azhar to root out hatred and terrorism around the world. He described Al-Azhar as a religious institution of great reputation that has produced graduates representing Al-Azhar across the world. He added that the efforts made by Al-Azhar serve not only Egypt, but also Islam in general.
On his part, the Grand Imam stated, “The easiest way to solve the world economic development problems is to cease wars and hate discourse, to seriously combat extremism and terrorism, and to fight extremists regardless of their religious affiliations, not to fight religions. All this will not be possible until the real causes of terrorism are carefully studied, and solutions are sincerely and objectively devised, people’s safety and protection are deemed to be the ultimate goal above all considerations. His Eminence emphasized that Al-Azhar is the conscience of the Muslim nation, as it was the first to notice the danger of extremism and terrorism, and, since then, worked on fighting them, motivated by its position, and its religious and humanitarian responsibility.