At the Headquarters of Al-Azhar, HE Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, received Mr. President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to discuss ways to strengthen relations between Azerbaijan and Al-Azhar.
The Grand Imam welcomed the Azerbaijani President and the honorable delegation accompanying him to Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, stressing the depth of the historical relations binding Al-Azhar and Azerbaijan. He also noted that Azerbaijani students enrolled at Al-Azhar represent a key pillar in this relationship. He added that Al-Azhar is ready to increase the scholarships offered to Azerbaijani students in Al-Azhar is in line with Azerbaijan’s requirements, host Azerbaijani Imams and preachers for training in the Al-Azhar International Academy for the Training of Imams and Preachers, through a program specifically designed for the nature of Azerbaijan and its future aspirations.
The Grand Imam also affirmed Al-Azhar’s readiness to harness all its capabilities to achieve Muslim unity, which is the most prominent challenge facing our nation at present, stressing that the unity of the Muslim ranks is the only way for Muslims to regain their position and assume a key role in the new world order.
Imam At-Tayyeb expressed Al-Azhar’s readiness to raise the level of cooperation with Azerbaijan, through the cooperation with the Caucasus Muslims Board led by HE Sheikh Allahshükür Pashazade and establishing an Arabic language center in Baku to help Azerbaijani Muslims learn the language of the Holy Qur’an. He also indicated that he is following up on the activities of the Council of Muslim Elders (MCE) and its key initiatives related to Azerbaijan. He then noted that he looks forward to having more initiatives and coordination between Azerbaijan, Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif, and the MCE, especially with the approach of the UN Climate Conference in Baku this year.
For his part, President Aliyev underscored his pleasure to be in Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif Headquarters, and his readiness to boost cooperation between Al-Azhar and Azerbaijan towards achieving Muslim unity. He noted that Azerbaijan is making practical efforts to upgrade its relations with and coordination between Muslim countries. He added that Azerbaijan has adopted a strategy for rapprochement between the Islamic world countries. On the other hand, Imam At-Tayyeb expressed his appreciation for these initiatives that aim to achieve Muslim rapprochement, calling on Allah Almighty to grant Azerbaijan success in its noble endeavors.
President Aliyev explained that Azerbaijan hosted several events to consolidate the values of religious diversity and promote dialogue between cultures and religions. He pointed out that Muslims live in stability, peace, and understanding side by side with representatives of other religions. He further indicated that Azerbaijan represents a model of interfaith and intercultural coexistence.
President Aliyev extended an official invitation to Imam At-Tayyeb to visit Azerbaijan, participate in the two UN climate summits; COP29 and the Global Faith Leaders Summit, and hold meetings with representatives of religious bodies in Azerbaijan. The Grand Imam welcomed the invitation to visit Azerbaijan and participate in the COP29 Summits and the Global Faith Leaders’ Summit, praying to Allah that these summits will be crowned with success. He also prayed Azerbaijan make great strides towards development and prosperity and that it would continue to provide a pioneering model for Muslim countries. He hoped there would be coordination between global political decision-makers and leaders and symbolic religious figures regarding the climate change crisis, especially in this period of global chaos. For him, in which the roles of international institutions have faded, and in which we need strategies that are binding on everyone for the future of future generations.
President Aliyev was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hikmet Hajiyev, Foreign Policy Advisor to the President, Sheikh ul-Islam, Director of the Caucasus Muslims Board, and Grand Mufti of Azerbaijan, Allahshükür Pashazade, and Mr. Ramin Mammadov, chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, and Mr. Alkhan Polokhov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Cairo.
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