Today, Monday, at the Headquarters of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, received Sheikh Muhammad bin Aida, the Yemeni Minister of Endowments and Guidance, accompanied by a high-level delegation of the ministry’s leaders to discuss the possibility of opening Al-Azhar institutes in Yemen and ways to enhance Al-Azhar’s academic and Da’wah support for the people of Yemen. The Grand Imam welcomed the Yemeni delegation to Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, stressing that Yemen and the Yemeni citizens harbor a special affection for Arabs and Muslims, and that Al-Azhar Yemeni alumni had a role in strengthening relations between the two countries, since they serve as ambassadors for Al-Azhar in Yemen and promote the moderate approach and upright intellectual thought there. The Grand Imam announced Al-Azhar’s readiness to establish Azharite institutes in Yemen to serve the people of Yemen and meet the Yemeni society’s need for an Azharite curriculum. He also expressed willingness to increase the number of Al-Azhar University scholarships offered to the Yemenis and to host the Yemeni imams for training at the Al-Azhar International Academy for the Training of Imams and Preachers. Grand Imam At-Tayyeb noted that Al-Azhar is ready to design a special training program for the Yemeni preachers and imams that is tailored to address Yemen’s priorities, its needs and internal challenges, and that focuses on enhancing the imams’ skills in refuting extremist ideas through intellectual argumentation and logic.

For his part, Sheikh bin Aida expressed his pleasure to meet the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and his country’s appreciation for His Eminence’s great efforts in serving the causes of the Arab and Muslim nations. He stressed that Al-Azhar’s curricula promote coexistence, love, peace, security and safety, as witnessed by the Yemenis themselves. He also noted that a large number of Yemenis have received their education at Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif and in consequence the Yemeni people have become immune, thanks to Allah and by dent of Al-Azhar alumni who promote the Azharite approach. He finally underscored Yemen’s dire need at the present time for the presence of Al-Azhar, its message and its curricula.