Al-Azhar Grand Imam, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, received today, Tuesday, Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar Jumaa, Minister of Endowments (Awqaf), and his accompanying delegation, who arrived to congratulate the Grand Imam on the blessed ˁEid ul-Aḍḥa. The Grand Imam said that Al-Azhar has had the honor of preaching and promoting true religion throughout its ancient history. He stressed that the current stage requires concerted efforts to immunize the society against extraneous and extremist ideas whose advocates are trying to attract young people, and even researchers and scholars. He pointed out that Al-Azhar is intensifying its efforts in the battle of awareness, stressing the importance of Al-Azhar Program for Training Imams and Preachers and the need to hold intensive courses for imams of the Ministry of Endowments in this program. The Grand Imam welcomed the training program of the Awqaf imams and preachers at Al-Azhar headquarters, believing in the importance of this training for raising their efficiency, developing their skills in dealing with emerging issues. It helps them clarify the true religion, redress the false image of Islam, and disseminate the moderate Islamic discourse through Al-Azhar approach, which is a precise religious and educational curriculum to qualify scholars and imams capable of intellectual, religious and cultural advancement of the nation, and facing contemporary challenges.

The Minister of Endowments, for his part, affirmed his Ministry’s keenness to work under the umbrella of Al-Azhar, establish joint training courses for imams and preachers, and immunize imams with the moderate approach of Al-Azhar. He promised to coordinate with the Al-Azhar Grand Imam’s Deputy to present a list of 50 imams and preachers from Al-Azhar and Awqaf to the Grand Imam in order to study at Al-Azhar Academy for the Training of Imams and Preachers. He pointed out that the Grand Imam's support of this training is a strong incentive for imams and preachers. Meanwhile, other lists of imams and preachers will be prepared successively to qualify them to join the program.