“We are not more precious than those lost by this grieving lady;” such were the words of the Grand Imam who hurriedly stepped out of his car, leaving his guards and assistants behind, despite the life-threatening move, to console a grieving woman, in a noble humanitarian gesture.

In early April, 2017, the Grand Imam paid a visit to Al-Rawda Mosque in Bir al-Abed, North Sinai, to perform Friday prayers in the mosque that witnessed the brutal terrorist incident on November 24, 2017, which left behind more than three hundred martyrs, as well as hundreds of wounded and injured citizens. Then, Grand Imam At-Tayyeb defied all the security precautions, and insisted on passing through the houses of the village to personally offer condolences and solace to its people. Meanwhile, the Grand Imam made several important decisions in favor of the people of the village, including paying a monthly pension to the families of the martyrs, sponsoring free pilgrimage trips for them, expanding and building an integrated Azhari complex to serve the people of the village, housing Al-Azhar University students from Bir al-Abed in university hostels, as well as dispatching missionary and medical convoys to the people of North Sinai, especially Bir al-Abed, and opening a direct contact channel with the governor, tribal sheikhs and Al-Azhar Headquarters in order to meet the needs of the village.

After completing the mourning tour, and while the motorcade of His Eminence was preparing to leave the village for Cairo, the Grand Imam heard the story of a “grieving woman,” whom the people of the village called the “mother of the martyrs.” The designation was a result of the lady’s loss of 12 members of her family, including her husband, children, grandchildren, and other family members, in the brutal terrorist incident that befell the village. The Grand Imam then insisted on stopping by her house. There, being indifferent to the dangers besetting his move, he stepped out of the car and headed for that grieving woman. When the guards pointed out that it was dangerous for him to leave the car, Grand Imam At-Tayyeb replied, “We are not more precious than those lost by this grieving lady.” He approached the grieving woman and offered condolences and solace to her, noting that it was an honor for him to serve her; “The women of Al-Rawda serve as role models in patient endurance; the likes of you teach us patience. So, allow me the honor of serving you.” So, the bereaved woman expressed her desire to do pilgrimage, so the Grand Imam immediately ordered that her request be fulfilled and paid for by Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif in the same year. The Grand Imam then saluted and cheered the woman’s granddaughter who had lost her father in the attack, praying mercy for the martyrs who had lost their lives while prostrating to their Lord in prayer. He also asked Allah Almighty to dwell them in the highest paradise and inspire patience and solace in all the people of the village.