Al-Azhar Grand Imam: I pray to Allah to ease the suffering of our brothers in Gaza and unite Muslims in word and deed.

His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad al-Tayyeb extends his sincere congratulations to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, to the Arab and Islamic nations, and to all Muslims around the world, on the occasion of the New Hijri Year 1447 AH.

On this occasion, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar calls for drawing inspiration from the meanings of sacrifice, determination, and persistence in the pursuit of truth, and adhering to the value of homelands in Islam. He emphasizes that the “Prophet's Migration” is a great occasion and a turning point in Islamic history and the life of our Prophet (PBUH). This pushed Muslims to emulate him (PBUH) in his strong trust in Allah, his endurance of hardships in the path of his message, and his setting the most wonderful example of peaceful coexistence with non-believers.

His Eminence also calls on the entire Islamic nation to adhere to the path of moderation and balance, reject the causes of division and discord, and work to strengthen Islamic unity as a single body. His Eminence calls for enhancing cooperation between all the countries of our Arab and Muslim nations, in a way that achieves peace, prosperity, and progress for our countries and our nation.

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar prayed to Almighty Allah to make the new Hijri year a year of goodness and blessings, security and safety, to lift the affliction from our brothers in Gaza, to unite the ranks of Muslims, to protect our beloved Egypt and our Arab and Islamic nations from all harm and evil. He beseeched Allah to perpetuate the blessings of security, stability, peace, and prosperity for all humanity, and to guide world leaders to adhere to the values of truth, justice, and equality among people.