"Muslim Council of Elders conveys a message of peace for the World … Preserving its Islamic identity, Indonesia achieved remarkable Renaissance," Grand Imam says.
"Al-Azhar is the fortress of the Ummah …. Al-Azhar Graduates participated in achieving Indonesia's Renaissance," the Indonesian President.
His eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the Head of the Muslim Council of Elders met the Indonesian President Joko Widodo in the presidential palace in the capital Jakarta. Al-Azhar Grand Imam topped a high delegation of the Muslim Council of Elders.
During the meeting, his eminence the Grand Imam emphasized the central role of the Muslim Council of Elders in promoting peace, love and co-existence among the different nations and peoples, for the sake of allowing peace to prevail the whole world. As well, his eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar illustrated that the Muslim Council of Elders board consists of a number of the Muslim World's senior elders and scholars, stating clearly that the Council, through disseminating the culture of the middle course of Islam and through combating extremism and terrorism, conveys a message of peace to the whole world.
Referring to the central role of the elders and the scholars, his eminence said, "Elders and scholars have a central role to play, to protect the youths of the Ummah from falling prey to the terrorist groups. He went on to say, "Rulers, as well, have a major role to perform including supporting those elders and scholars' efforts to achieve unity against the misguided thought." He further added, "Rulers and elders alike are responsible before Allah for combating destructive thought in such a way that protects our youths from falling prey to such a misguided thought."
Praising the renaissance achieved by Indonesia, his eminence said, "Preserving its religious identity, Indonesia had recently achieved a remarkable renaissance."
With regard to the Indonesian students studying at Al-Azhar, the Grand Imam said, "The Indonesian students studying at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif are Al-Azhar's trust and thus Al-Azhar teaches them the true Islam according to the guided middle course, to disseminate it to others."
In honor of the Indonesian President and the Indonesian people, his eminence Al-Azhar grand Imam declared the number of scholarships offered to the Indonesian students to be increased.
His eminence the Grand Imam pointed out that Indonesia is very dear to Egypt, government and people. The Egyptians dearly love their brotherly Indonesians and Mr. President Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi feels a grudging respect and appreciation for Indonesia, government and people.
On his part, the Indonesian President Joko Widodo warmly welcomed his eminence the Grand Imam as well as the members of the Muslim Council of Elders, emphasizing that Al-Azhar plays a great role in Asia and all over the world, and that Al-Azhar graduates have been greatly contributing to the current progress of Indonesia. He added that Al-Azhar is the fortress of the Muslim Ummah against extremism, and that they and the rest world greatly depend on Al-Azhar scholars in disseminating the true image of Islam and educating people about the dangers of extremism and terrorism.
The Indonesian President extended his thanks to the Grand Imam for his generous visit to Indonesia and his continuous support for the Indonesian students studying at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, pointing out that the Indonesian students who graduate from Al-Azhar and return to Indonesia are the best ambassadors for Al-Azhar to Indonesia. He asserted that the Grand Imam enjoys huge popularity, respect and gratitude among the Indonesian people.
Widodo added that his country needs the support of the President of Egypt for the success of the Islamic Summit due to be held soon in Indonesia, paying his greatest compliments to Mr. Abd al-Fattah Al-Sisi, President of Egypt and stating he is looking forward to visit Egypt and Al-Azhar very soon.
The meeting was attended by Yusuf Kalla, Vice President of the Republic and Luqman al-Hakim, Minister of Religious Affairs, the special envoy of the President of the Republic on the Indonesian part. The delegation accompanying the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar included the following members of the Muslim Council of Elders: - Prof. Hamdy Zaqzouq, field- marshal Abdul Rahman Siwar al-Dhahab, Prof. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, Mr. Mohamed Abdel Salam, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar's legal advisor, Mr. Ali al-Amin, Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh al-Husseiny, Dr. Ahmed Al-Haddad, Prof. Sharmon Jackson, Prof. Abu Lubabah Taher, Dr. Kaltham al-Muhairy, and Prof. Ali al-Naimy, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders.