In his speech at the “Citizenship, Identity, and Shared Values of Coexistence” conference currently taking place in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Nazir Mohammed Ayad, Grand Mufti of Egypt and President of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, affirmed that Islam has established a sophisticated human civilization grounded in timeless values that resonate with universal principles—such as justice, mercy, mutual understanding, human dignity, and freedom of belief.
He emphasized that these values were clearly embodied in the Constitution of Medina, which set a genuine precedent for coexistence under the framework of citizenship.
Dr. Ayad warned of the dangers posed by extremist groups that have distorted the image of religion due to ignorance and misinterpretation of sacred texts. He called for a balanced approach that harmonizes authenticity with modernity in order to counter the challenges of westernization, extremism, and cultural alienation.
He highlighted the historic role of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in championing moderation and fostering a culture of dialogue and tolerance under the leadership of the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb.
He further noted that Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta adheres to the same Azharite methodology in confronting extremist ideologies and correcting misconceptions through scholarly, well-grounded fatwas that take contemporary realities into account and promote societal peace.
Dr. Ayad also underscored the global role of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide in coordinating efforts to combat isolationism and fanaticism.
He concluded his remarks by expressing gratitude to Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities for its warm hospitality and for organizing this important conference, which plays a vital role in advancing shared values and spreading Islam’s message of moderation.
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