EGYPT: A high-level delegation from Sabah, led by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Musa Aman, paid an official visit to the Al-Azhar International Academy as part of efforts to strengthen scientific and religious cooperation between Al-Azhar Sharif and Islamic institutions in Malaysia.
Al-Azhar Sharif is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious centres of Islamic learning in Cairo, Egypt.
The delegation included Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, who is also in charge of religious affairs, Sabah Mufti Datuk
Aziz Jaafar, as well as representatives from the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo.
They were received by Al-Azhar Sharif representative Dr Mohamed Al-Dwaini, Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Complex Mohamed Al-Jandi, and President of the Al-Azhar International Academy Dr Hassan Salah Junior.
During the visit, Tun Dr Musa and his delegation attended the inauguration of the Hall of the Grand Imam, named after Al-Azhar Grand Imam Professor Dr Ahmed El-Tayyib, in recognition of his leadership and continued efforts in promoting moderation, balance and the global message of Al-Azhar Sharif.
Tun Musa expressed his appreciation for the visit to Al-Azhar Sharif and the Al-Azhar International Academy, affirming Al-Azhar Sharif as a global scientific beacon with a long-standing contribution to the service of Islam and the Muslim world.
He said the opening of a hall bearing the name of the Grand Imam Professor Dr Ahmed El-Tayyib reflects the great appreciation of his role in promoting central Islamic thought, adding that Sabah looks forward to broadening areas of cooperation with Al-Azhar, particularly in religious education and da’wah training.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohamed Al-Dwaini said in his address that Al-Azhar greatly values its longstanding scientific and religious ties with Malaysia, noting that the visit reflected the depth of cooperation between Al-Azhar and Malaysian religious institutions in advancing moderate Islamic thought.
He added that under the guidance of the Grand Imam Professor Dr Ahmed El-Tayyib, Al-Azhar Sharif places strong emphasis on the training and rehabilitation of imams and religious preachers, contributing to social harmony, dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Dr Hassan, who welcomed the Malaysian delegation, said the academy is committed to Al-Azhar’s vision of producing knowledgeable, conscious and balanced religious advocates capable of addressing contemporary challenges through wisdom, scientific methodology and scholarly approaches.
He said the opening of the Hall of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in the Academy is a message of appreciation for Professor Dr Ahmed El-Tayyib’s efforts in supporting the training and rehabilitation process, and for continuing Al-Azhar’s mission in disseminating humanitarian values and promoting sound religious discourse globally.
At the conclusion of the visit, the Sabah delegation praised the Al-Azhar International Academy’s specialised academic and training programmes and expressed their commitment to strengthening cooperation with Al-Azhar Sharif in advancing moderate Islamic thought and da’wah initiatives.
