His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, received today, Wednesday, the students participating in the program “Supporting Indonesian Scholars of the Istiqlal Mosque” on the occasion of their graduation from the program. He also received 44 new students enrolled in the “Linguistic Coexistence” program from the Muhammadiyah Society in Indonesia, as well as 76 male and female students from As-Syifa Al-Khoeriyyah Foundation.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Muhammad Al-Duwaini, Undersecretary of Al-Azhar, and Dr. Nahla Al-Saidi, Advisor to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar for International Student Affairs, and Prof. Nazir Ayyad, Secretary General of the Islamic Research Academy.

 

 

His Eminence the Grand Imam said that Al-Azhar does not hesitate to provide scientific and da’wah support to Muslim youths around the world, whether by hosting foreign students to study at Al-Azhar institutes and colleges, or by sending its envoys to teach Al-Azhar curricula. He added that Al-Azhar also receives imams and preachers from various countries to train them at Al-Azhar Global Academy for Training Imams, Preachers, and Fatwa Researchers and to provide them with the necessary scientific skills to deal with contemporary religious issues.

 

 

 

His Eminence added that Al-Azhar seeks to consolidate scientific and cultural relations with different countries through joint scientific programs and programs for exchanging MA and PhD students and researchers of multiple disciplines. He stressed that the Center for Development of International Student Education at Al-Azhar is making great efforts in this regard, by arranging activities, coordinating the presence of delegations inside Egypt, identifying the most prominent challenges, and working to overcome all the obstacles they face. It also seeks the assistance of Al-Azhar’s senior professors and scholars to prepare educational programs and specialized courses that contribute to building up the knowledge of foreign students, and qualifying them academically, and behaviorally, at various levels.

 

 

For their part, the students expressed their happiness for being in Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, the great scientific institution, and for their meeting with His Eminence the Grand Imam. They expressed their appreciation to His Eminence for the great effort he exerts in serving Islam and Muslim issues, expressing their pride in belonging to Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, affirming that Al-Azhar, its scholars and students are held in high esteem in their country.

 

 

It is worth noting that the “Supporting Indonesian Scholars of the Istiqlal Mosque” program was held specifically for MA and PhD researchers and students of the Istiqlal Mosque in Indonesia to help them complete their scientific dissertations through attending intensive training courses in which senior scholars and professors of Al-Azhar lecture in various scientific disciplines. The students learn about theoretical materials related to their majors, and train in writing scientific research, in addition to enhancing their Arabic language skills.

 

The “Linguistic Coexistence” program was launched on January 21 and will continue until February 8. It aims to qualify non-Arabic speaking Indonesian male and female students, train them in several linguistic skills, and practice some linguistic activities that facilitate their dealings in various areas of life and their mastery of the Arabic language. It highlights the strength of Al-Azhar’s influence and Egypt’s seven thousand-year-old civilization, and confirms its global position in exporting science and knowledge.