The Grand Imam Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Sheikh Al-Azhar received Dr. Abdel Wahed El-Nabawy, Minister of Culture to discuss means of cooperation between Al-Azhar and Ministry of Culture.
Dr. Abdel Wahed El-Nabawy emphasized that Al-Azhar and the Ministry of Culture are in urgent need of working together to update religious discourse with a future vision for Egyptian youth. Dr. El-Nabawy emphasized that cooperation between Al-Azhar and the Ministry of Culture aims at preventing the youth from following misleading and deviant thought that harms the nation, which necessitates the solidarity and unity of all against these destructive thoughts.
H.E. Minister of Culture added that the Ministry aspires to reach the youth all over Egypt through a series of publications that will be printed and published by the Ministry of Culture to educate the youth, raise their awareness, and instill in them the sense of belonging to the homeland.
On his part, the Grand Imam welcomed Dr. Abdel Wahed El-Nabawy at Al-Azhar and congratulated him on his new responsibility; especially that the Ministry of Culture is a vital channel for educating society.
His eminence emphasized that there are shared grounds between Al-Azhar and the Ministry of Culture which create opportunity for cooperation between them. The Grand Imam requested that attention to be given to cultural activities, as well as making reprints of old cultural publications and series to be an example followed for further publications sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, for the education and enlightenment of the youth.
Sheikh Al-Azhar added that there is a need for development of cultural centers all over the country in small villages and cities in order not to let the youth be subjected to inbound strange and deviant thoughts that face the Egyptian society, which is moderately religious and known for its tolerant behavior among all citizens regardless of their tendencies and affiliations.
The Grand Imam Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Sheikh Al-Azhar met with Berik Aryn, Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Cairo, to discuss the possibility of the participation of Al-Azhar in the fifth conference of religious leaders in Astana.
The ambassador of Kazakhstan stated that Al-Azhar is the reference of the Muslim world, and represents the tolerance and moderation of Islam in fighting extremist thoughts and hardline groups which commit actions, wrongly in the name of Islam, which is innocent of these actions. Moreover, Al-Azhar plays a key role in interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue in the world, therefore the participation of Al-Azhar will be of a special and pivotal importance towards the success of the conference. The Kazakhstani ambassador added that the President Nursultan Nazarbayev shows great interest in the participation of Al-Azhar in the conference.
On his part, the Grand Imam emphasized that Al-Azhar spares no effort in promoting the message of Islam and its true teachings, as well as correcting misconceptions because it is a religious, ethical and human responsibility