The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the President of the Muslim Council of Elders Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb met, Monday, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh. The King expressed his pleasure over the Grand Imam’s visit, stating that it is “of great significance to the Kingdom.”
King Salman also voiced his appreciation of the considerable efforts of the Grand Imam in spreading the moderate ideology and tolerance towards the other. He also underscored his keenness on cooperation with the Egyptian people and leaders and on coordination with Al-Azhar that adopts the moderate ideology and counters extremism.
King Salman further said that he was pleased with his previous visit to the Grand Imam and Al-Azhar mosque, affirming that he is going to visit Egypt and al-Azhar again. On his part, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar said that Egypt and Saudi Arabia have deeply rooted ties at both official and popular levels and they together represent the cornerstone of the Arab national security and a model of joint Arab action. He added that the Kingdom stances and role in supporting Arab and Islamic issues have thwarted plots of dividing the Arab region.
The Grand Imam also applauded the great role played by King Salman in addressing the nation’s concerns and serving Islam and Muslims, especially the pilgrims to the Sacred Mosque, and stated that Al-Azhar is keen on promoting cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the scientific and Da’wah fields for the sake of correcting misconceptions and extremist ideas being promulgated by terrorist organizations, in such a way that supports Al-Azhar's message in spreading peace and promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogues.