GI: “Scholarly Unity” is sought to unite icons of Islam and close doors to differences

 

GI: The unity of the nation’s scholars will necessarily lead to an agreement among its leaders and serve the Arab and Islamic interests

 

The Grand Imam calls on the Arab nation for achieving a decisive transformation and ushering a new era to restore its proper place in history

 

GI: The state of conflict and division to which the Arab nation has become accustomed has caused everyone to lose balance in the face of grave matters

 

GI: The Arab approach to the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif does not reflect the magnitude of Allah’s blessings on this nation

 

His Eminence, Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Al-Azhar Grand Imam (GI), affirmed that the state of conflict and division that peoples of the Arab nation have been accustomed to for a long time has afflicted everyone with what resembles a state of imbalance in the face of important matters, and has made them unable to confront successive crises carefully. He added that whoever carefully looks at the map of the Arab and Islamic worlds will grieve for a long time over what has become of the situation in Palestine, and other Arab countries dear to our hearts, and quickly comes to the undoubted realization, which is that we will not regain our ability to rise and progress, confront our crises responsibly, and overcome them except by achieving Arab unity. His Eminence explained that it is necessary to implement the policy of economic integration, give priority to public interests, and agree on future visions and joint plans that are well-considered and implementable.

 

During his speech today, Saturday, at Laylat Ul- Qadr celebration, in the presence of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar called for the need to pay attention to the Arabic response to what is happening in Palestine, and said, “Our approach towards the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif does not reflect the extent of the enormous human and natural resources that Allah has bestowed upon us, nor does it reflect the inexhaustible potential, the creative minds in all fields of contemporary life whether scientific, social, political or economic, and above all, the firm faith in Almighty Allah and unshakable confidence in His mercy for the weak and the oppressed. Furthermore, the Almighty is aware of what the tyrannical and the arrogant people do, yet He gives them respite and provides for them until He seizes them, and does not let them go.”

 

His Eminence said that the tragedies that the region is rife with today must be a decisive turning point between a past Arab era and a new era in which the Arab and Islamic nations adopt the means of strength and invincibility backed by faith in Almighty Allah and in the values of Islam and divine religions, so that they may regain their proper place in history and among civilizations. He pointed out that the first correct step on this path is following the Almighty’s saying: “and do not dispute with one another, or you would be discouraged and weakened. Persevere! Surely Allah is with those who persevere” (Qur'an 8:46), which denotes becoming cowardly and losing one's homeland and civilization in case of disunity.

 

During his speech, the Grand Imam called on the nation’s scholars to achieve - without delay - scholarly unity that brings together the symbols of Sunnis, Shiites, Ibadists, in a meeting of hearts - before minds and knowledge - to set clear boundaries between what must be agreed upon and what it is permissible to disagree about, and to follow the conduct of the Companions and their successors in case of disagreement which enriched the Islamic sciences and turned them into an inexhaustible source of ease, kindness and mercy, and to close the door in the face of our contemporary differences, which have left us with a lot of discord, conflict, grudges, and made us an easy prey for enemies.

 

His Eminence concluded his speech by emphasizing his confidence that the agreement of the nation’s scholars will necessarily lead to harmony among its leaders and will push them to achieve regional interests within the framework of Arab and Islamic interests. Indeed, they are able to do so with the grace and help of Almighty Allah.