One hand preserves Al-Azhar's identity, and the other builds bridges of dialogue and peace.

Decisive international positions rejecting injustice, violence, death trade, and contempt for religions.

Since the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb assumed the position of Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, His Eminence has been keen to ensure that Al-Azhar Al-Sharif plays a pioneering role globally, fulfilling its moderate message throughout the world in the most effective manner, in light of the major regional and global challenges. His Eminence's efforts have yielded the following results:

- His Eminence has chaired the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE) since 2014, with the aim of unifying the efforts of the Islamic nation to promote the values of citizenship, coexistence, and confront extremism.

- Supervising the Zakat and Charity House since 2014, directing the disbursement of zakat funds to the purposes prescribed by Sharia, and promoting a spirit of solidarity and compassion among members of society.

- Dispatching medical and relief convoys inside and outside Egypt to alleviate the suffering of the needy and the pain of the sick, in addition to launching awareness convoys to instill the moral values and humanitarian principles advocated by the true Islamic religion.

- Developing the education of foreign students at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif by establishing the “Center for Developing Education for Foreign Students” to serve 70 thousand students from 120 countries.

- Leading the human rapprochement between religions in cooperation with Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican. Together, they signed the “Human Fraternity Document,” which is considered the most important document in the history of the relationship between Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the Vatican, and one of the most important documents in the history of the modern world.

- Expanding the global presence of the “World Organization of Al-Azhar Graduates” in Egypt and the world, as the number of its branches reached 22 around the world, in addition to the spread of its branches in most of Egypt’s governorates.

- Establishing the Egyptian Family House to preserve values, spread peace, defend human rights, affirm citizenship, and work together for a better future.

- Establishing “Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism” in 13 languages, to be Al-Azhar’s eye on the world.

- Establishing Al-Azhar Fatwa Global Center to eliminate the chaos of fatwas and provide a conscious and immediate response to deviant and extremist fatwas.

- Establishing Al-Azhar Translation Center, to translate books that illustrate the true image of Islam into eleven languages and send them to foreign embassies and international organizations in Egypt and abroad.

- Establishing Al-Azhar Center For Interreligious Dialogue, as a new initiative that embraces intellectual, religious, and cultural dialogue with followers of other religions and civilizations, and as a path to harmony and coexistence.

- Establishing the “Bayan Unit” affiliated with Al-Azhar Global Center for Electronic Fatwas to dismantle the ideas that distort the teachings of Islam and confront irreligious thought. Additionally, the “Family Reconciliation Unit” was established to mend rifts within Egyptian families and promote their stability, with nearly 2.5 million citizens benefiting from its efforts.

- Dispatching international peace convoys to numerous countries around the world, in cooperation with the Muslim Council of Elders, to promote peace and spread the culture of tolerance and coexistence.

- Sending “Al-Azhar missions” to more than 80 countries to spread moderate, enlightened Islamic knowledge.

- Launching the “East-West Dialogue” project which serves as the core foundation for the concept of pluralism and integration between East and West. One of its most important activities was the “First Muslim-Christian Youth Forum,” in which fifty young people from various countries around the world participated.

- Establishing Al-Azhar Academy for Training Imams, Preachers, and Fatwa Researchers to promote and disseminate the moderate teachings of Islam—through Al-Azhar’s moderate ambassadors—throughout the world.

- Accreditation approximately 20% of Al-Azhar institutes by the Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation Authority.

- Opening 1,250 study programs for Al-Azhar Mosque across the country, so that education there can be free for everyone. Also, 198 Azhari study programs were also opened for adults, to teach them the Holy Quran, in addition to establishing a global platform for memorizing the Holy Quran, to which more than 5,000 students applied from 65 countries in a short time. In addition, private classes for memorizing the Holy Quran were expanded to reach 11,000 memorization classes.

Over the course of 15 years, His Eminence the Grand Imam has taken decisive international positions rejecting injustice, violence, death trade, and the violation or insulting religious sanctities. Foremost among these was his categorical rejection of an official request from US Vice President Mike Pence to meet with His Eminence. This came as part of his firm stance against the US administration's invalid decision to declare Jerusalem the capital of the Zionist occupation entity and to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, in a provocative challenge to the feelings of Muslims around the world. 

- His Eminence also categorically rejected plans to displace Palestinians, in addition to condemning the crimes and practices of the Zionist occupying entity against the Palestinian people. Furthermore, he launched a global campaign to aid the people of Gaza. This campaign contributed to sending 10 relief convoys, with the participation of more than 85 countries from the Zakat and Charity House, which he supervises. His Eminence also condemned the burning of the Quran by far-right groups in Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. With international pressure exerted by Al-Azhar and the Grand Imam, European parliaments passed laws criminalizing the burning or tearing of the Quran. He also condemned the scenes of abuse that dominated the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, where an image of Jesus Christ (PBUH) was depicted in an offensive manner.

- In a historic stance during his reception of Mrs. Veronica Alcocer Garcia, the First Lady of Colombia, he called for a serious stance toward limiting the arms industry, considering it the main cause of the tragedy taking place in the world. The Grand Imam did not differentiate between the victims, whether Muslim or non-Muslim; all are equal in humanity. His Eminence condemned the terrorist attack carried out by the Pakistani Taliban on a school in Peshawar. He also condemned the far-right's attacks on Muslims and their targeting of mosques in Britain, as well as the horrific car-ramming attack that occurred in a market in the German city of Magdeburg. He also denounced the terrorist attack that targeted the St. Mark and St. Samuel the Confessor Coptic Orthodox Monastery, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the targeting of an event hall near the Russian capital, Moscow.

- While many turned a blind eye to the events in Sudan, His Eminence condemned the brutal massacres there, calling for the perpetrators to be held accountable. He also strongly denounced the agreement between the Democratic and Republican parties in America to support Israel, and condemned the German Foreign Minister's statements supporting the bombing of civilians in Gaza. His Eminence expressed his appreciation for the British government's position and the statements of Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, and Yvette Cooper, the British Home Secretary, to reassure Muslims and their commitment to protecting them and enhancing the protection of mosques.

- To promote peace and build bridges of communication and coexistence between civilizations, the Grand Imam began his foreign tours. His first tour was in April 2013, when he visited the United Arab Emirates to receive the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, marking his selection as the Cultural Personality of the Year, at Abu Dhabi Book Fair. In May, he participated in the official opening of the Arab Media Forum, one of the most important initiatives witnessed by the Arab media sector in the region each year, where His Eminence delivered the keynote speech.

- The year 2014 witnessed three foreign visits by His Eminence. The first was to Kuwait, in response to an invitation from its former Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may Allah have mercy on him, to discuss ways to enhance the role of Al-Azhar in the Islamic community. The second was in March to the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, to participate in the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies. The third was in June to the Kingdom of Bahrain, to participate in the Conference on Civilizations and Cultures in the Service of Humanity, in response to an invitation from the Bahraini monarch, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

- The year 2015 witnessed six foreign visits by His Eminence the Grand Imam. In early February 2015, His Eminence visited the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, to chair a meeting of the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE). In late February, His Eminence visited Saudi Arabia to participate in the “International Islamic Conference on Combating Terrorism,” organized by the Muslim World League. Then, His Eminence followed this by another visit to the UAE in late April, to participate in the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies. This was followed by a visit to the Italian city of Florence to participate in the opening of the Conference of Elders of East and West, hosted by the Community of Sant'Egidio. The fifth visit was in June to the United Kingdom, where His Eminence met with Prince Charles to discuss practical steps to educate youth and new generations about the importance of accepting others and tolerance among followers of different religions. His Eminence concluded his 2015 tours with a visit to the Kingdom of Jordan in October, where he met with His Majesty King Abdullah II to discuss the Zionist violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque.

- The year 2016 was the year of His Eminence's greatest foreign tours, with eleven tours. In January, His Eminence visited Kuwait to participate in the celebration of choosing Kuwait as “the Capital of Islamic Culture,” where he met with His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait. This was followed by a visit to Indonesia in mid-February, where His Eminence chaired the seventh session of the Muslim Council of Elders and the third forum of the World Association of Al-Azhar Graduates. During the visit, His Eminence delivered a global speech from the University of Indonesia in Jakarta.

In March, His Eminence visited the German capital, Berlin, and delivered a speech from the podium of the German parliament, which resonated widely around the world. Live discussions took place between His Eminence and members of the German parliament. In May, His Eminence visited Nigeria, where he met with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the presidential palace in the capital, Abuja, to discuss ways to confront extremist ideology. In May, His Eminence met with Pope Francis in Rome, Italy, with the papal headquarters to discuss ways to promote peace and coexistence.

In late May, former French President Hollande broke protocol in France on the steps of the Élysée Palace to receive His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, amidst a warm welcome and fervor. During the visit, His Eminence delivered a global speech to the people of Europe and Muslims around the world, explaining to them the true image of Islam. In August, His Eminence visited Chechnya to participate in the “Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah” conference was met with great official and popular acclaim.

In September, His Eminence chaired the eighth regular meeting of the Muslim Council of Elders in Bahrain, during which he met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain. During the visit, he delivered a speech to the Islamic nation from the Bahraini capital, Manama. This was followed by a visit to Switzerland to chair the third round of the East-West Dialogue. 

In early November, His Eminence visited the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, to chair the fourth round of the East-West Dialogue. This was followed by a separate visit to the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, in December to participate in the “World Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament in the UAE.”

The year 2017 witnessed five foreign tours by His Eminence. He began in May with a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in the “Tweeters” forum in Riyadh. During this visit, His Eminence addressed Arab and Muslim youth with an important speech entitled “Hatred and Extremism and Their Impact on Youth.”

In late May, the Grand Imam visited Germany to participate in the celebration of the “Reform Movement in Europe,” during which he delivered an important speech on tolerance and peaceful coexistence. In July, he traveled to the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, to chair an emergency meeting of the Muslim Council of Elders, during which he discussed the Zionist violations against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. In September, he participated in the World Peace Paths Conference in the German city of Münster, during which he delivered an important speech on interfaith dialogue. His Eminence concluded 2017 with a visit to Italy in mid-November to participate in the third scientific forum, “East and West Towards a Civilizational Dialogue.” During the visit, he met with the Catholic Pope and delivered a speech on dialogue between civilizations and emphasizing the values of peace.

The year 2018 witnessed ten foreign tours by His Eminence, beginning in March with a visit to Portugal at the invitation of President Marcelo de Sousa, to participate in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Islamic Association of Lisbon.

 In the same month, His Eminence visited Mauritania to participate in a scholarly symposium entitled “The Duty of Scholars to Confront the Phenomenon of Extremism and Intellectual Deviation.” During the symposium, he delivered the opening speech, followed by a meeting with the Mauritanian President at the Mauritanian presidential headquarters. 

In early May, the Grand Imam visited Indonesia to participate in the Global Consultative Meeting of Scholars and Intellectuals on the Moderation of Islam, amidst a warm welcome and a reverent public and official reception.

This was followed by a visit to Singapore, where His Eminence delivered the annual lecture of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (IRCS) on the 50th anniversary of its establishment, during which he met with the President of Singapore, Halimah Yacob. He concluded his Asian tour with a visit to Brunei Darussalam, during which he met with the Sultan of Brunei. 

In July, the Grand Imam visited Britain to participate in the “Emerging Peacemakers Forum,” during which he met with Queen Elizabeth. In October, he visited Kazakhstan to participate in the opening of the 6th session of the Conference of Religious Leaders. This was followed by a visit to Uzbekistan to meet with the Uzbek President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In October, he also visited the Italian capital, Rome, to participate in the “Religions, Culture and Dialogue” conference, during which he met with the Pope of the Vatican. His Eminence concluded 2018 with a visit to the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, in mid-November, to participate in the “Interfaith Alliance Forum: Child Dignity in the Digital World” in the presence of religious leaders.

After six years of dedicated service, during which His Eminence the Grand Imam spared no effort or sacrifice, the year 2019 marked a moment of crowning achievement and the fruit of his international efforts. In early February 2019, he signed the Human Fraternity Document with Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

In November, His Eminence the Grand Imam visited the Italian capital, Rome, to participate in the activities of the Religious Leaders Summit, under the title: “Promoting the Dignity of the Child in the Digital World,” with the attendance of 80 international figures of religious leaders.

In March 2020, His Eminence the Grand Imam visited Uzbekistan to participate in the scientific conference “Imam Abu Mansur Maturidi and the teachings of Maturidi: the past and the present.” In 2021, His Eminence made one trip to Germany to resume his scholarly activities by participating in the Interfaith Leaders Summits on Climate and Education.

In 2022, His Eminence made two trips: the first to Kazakhstan to participate in the opening of the Seventh Conference of Religious Leaders, titled: “The Role of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in the Spiritual and Social Development of Humanity.” The second trip was to the Kingdom of Bahrain to participate in the Bahrain Dialogue Forum: “East and West for Human Coexistence.” 

In 2023, His Eminence the Grand Imam made an important visit to the German capital, Berlin, to participate in the International Peace Conference, organized by the Sant'Egidio Community from September 10 to 12. The visit included several important meetings with a large number of leaders, officials, and those interested in interfaith dialogue, peace issues, and coexistence.

The year 2024 witnessed a series of visits by His Eminence, contributing to strengthening Al-Azhar's position as one of the most prominent religious and intellectual institutions on the Arab and international levels. His Eminence began his visit to Malaysia, in response to an official invitation from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He was warmly received by King Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor. His Eminence followed this visit with a visit to Thailand on July 5-8, 2024, which received a distinguished official and popular welcome, reflecting his status as a global symbol of Islam.

The tour concluded with a visit to Indonesia on July 8-11, 2024. The visit featured a packed schedule of events and meetings, emphasizing Al-Azhar's pivotal role in promoting moderation and Islamic cooperation.

The second tour in 2024 was an official visit to the UAE, from September 15-17, during which he met with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, President of the UAE. They discussed ways to enhance cooperation in spreading the values of tolerance and establishing a culture of coexistence, civilized dialogue, and peace among different cultures and peoples around the world. 

On November 11, 2024, His Eminence the Imam accepted an official invitation from President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29).

The year 2025 witnessed a historic event and an important round, with the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference, under the title: “One Nation, Common Destiny,” February 19-20, which was held in response to the invitation of His Eminence the Grand Imam during the Bahrain Dialogue Forum, in November 2022, and under the generous patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, with the participation of more than 400 figures including scholars, leaders, Islamic authorities, thinkers, and intellectuals, from all over the world.