“He did not seek any worldly gains. He lived devoted to seeking and spreading knowledge.”

Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, mourns, on behalf of the Arab and Islamic nations, the passing of the esteemed scholar of rhetoric, Prof. Mahmoud Tawfiq Saad— member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar and Professor of Rhetoric and Criticism at Al-Azhar University, who passed away today, Thursday, after a life full of knowledge, which he dedicated to serving the Holy Quran, spreading knowledge and religion, educating generations, and working tirelessly to call people to Allah Almighty.

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar affirms that the late scholar was well versed in the Arabic language. Allah Almighty bestowed upon him knowledge, which he conveyed to his students. He spared no effort in serving and teaching them, and they spread throughout the world, disseminating knowledge. He was an excellent scholar and teacher who enriched Al-Azhar and Islamic and Arabic libraries, with his scholarly works and projects, which contributed to the development of scholars and students of knowledge.

The Grand Imam recalls the late scholar as a conscientious person who refrained from indecent language and never spoke except to say something good. He was distinguished by the energy of youth and the wisdom of the elderly, and he never sought worldly matters. He devoted his life to seeking and spreading knowledge.

The Grand Imam extends his sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the family of the late scholar, and to scholars and students of knowledge on this great loss. He turns to Allah Almighty to bless the deceased with His infinite mercy and pleasure, to grant him the highest level of Paradise, to comfort the hearts of his family, students and loved ones, to compensate Muslims and Al-Azhar for his loss with good, and to place his efforts to spread knowledge and serve Al-Azhar Al-Sharif among his good deeds. “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.”