• Malaysian Prime Minister invites the Grand Imam to visit Malaysia and confirms to him, “The Malaysian people harbor much affection and love for you”

• Grand Imam of Al-Azhar: We are ready to expand the foundation of Al-Azhar institutes in Malaysia to meet the needs of Malaysian society

Today, Monday, at the Headquarters of Al-Azhar, HE Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar received Mr. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia and his accompanying high-level delegation that included Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and members of the Malaysian Parliament, to discuss ways to boost academic and Da’wah cooperation between the two parties.

Mr. Ibrahim extended an official invitation to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to visit Malaysia, stressing that the Malaysian people are awaiting this visit with great passion because of the love and affection they harbor for him, and the sense of attachment to this ancient Islamic institution of Al-Azhar, pointing out its being the largest in the Muslim world, a destination for Malaysian students who seek to learn Sharia sciences and Arabic language.

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar welcomed the invitation to visit Malaysia and noted that he will work to schedule the visit for next year, God willing. He stressed that Al-Azhar enjoys historical academic relations with Malaysia, and that the scholars and students exchange programs have been the focus of this relationship for long. He then added that Al-Azhar hosts more than 6,300 Malaysian male and female students at various educational levels, from kindergarten to postgraduate levels. The Grand Imam further noted, “We have an Azharite institute in Malaysia, Dar Al-Quran, which hosts eight dispatched Azharite scholars who teach Islamic and Arabic sciences to Malaysian students.”

The Grand Imam also expressed Al-Azhar’s readiness to found more Azharite institutes in Malaysia in a way that serves the Malaysian people and meets their needs to learn Islamic sciences and entrench peaceful coexistence and acceptance of the different others.

HE also stressed that Al-Azhar relies on its Malaysian students and graduates to promote the moderate and enlightening approach of Al-Azhar, and considers them to be its ambassadors within their communities. That is why he assigns great attention and care to them during their time of study at Al-Azhar. Moreover, he indicated that Al-Azhar will keep receiving Malaysian imams and students, and employees of the Malaysian Ministry of Religious Affairs at Al-Azhar International Academy for the Training of Imams and Preachers. For this purpose, Al-Azhar will design a special curriculum that suits the nature of Malaysian society and addresses its internal challenges, with a focus on consolidating the values of brotherhood, coexistence, and acceptance of the different others.

For his part, Mr. Ibrahim expressed his appreciation for the Grand Imam’s role and his significant stances in supporting the causes of the Muslim nation, consolidating the values of world peace, brotherhood and humanity, and presenting the pristine image of Islam. He also expressed his appreciation of Al-Azhar’s role in conducting training courses for the imams of Malaysia and enhancing their abilities to debunk the ideology of radical and extremist groups, as well as educating Malaysian students.

Mr. Ibrahim further stressed his country's keenness to benefit from Al-Azhar's expertise in the areas of combating radicalism and extremism, and promoting the values of positive coexistence, noting that Malaysian graduates from Al-Azhar win the great respect and appreciation of Malaysians and hold leadership positions in many Malaysian entities and institutions.