Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Praises Malaysian Model of Pluralism

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, received His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, along an accompanying delegation. The Prime Minister expressed Malaysia's deep appreciation, both from its leadership and its people, for the Grand Imam's pioneering efforts in promoting and enhancing the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim remarked that Malaysia consistently follows the views and stances of His Eminence the Grand Imam, using them as a guiding light in making decisions and taking positions on various issues concerning the Islamic world. He expressed his nation's desire to strengthen cooperation between Malaysia and Al-Azhar, which is rooted in a shared belief in spreading the message of tolerance, coexistence, and plurality. The Prime Minister praised His Eminence for representing these values, particularly given Malaysia's diverse and multicultural society. He also commended the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders in promoting peace and fostering dialogue, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.

For his part, His Eminence the Grand Imam expressed his profound appreciation for the leadership and people of Malaysia and praised the Malaysian model of diversity, plurality, respect, and acceptance of others. His Eminence acknowledged Malaysia's supportive stances on issues of concern to the Islamic nation, particularly the Palestinian cause and emphasized that Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders have consistently advocated for the cessation of wars and conflicts.

The Grand Imam also highlighted the numerous initiatives undertaken by the Muslim Council of Elders to promote and enhance the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence. Among these initiatives is the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity and the establishment of the Faith Pavilion at COP28, a first in the history of the Conference of the Parties. His Eminence also noted the Council's significant efforts, in collaboration with international organizations, particularly the United Nations, to uphold the values of justice and equality as well as its focus on numerous initiatives concerning youth and women.

His Eminence also noted his visit to the Darul Quran JAKIM institution, where he observed the keen interest in Quran memorization and the encouragement given to students to understand and reflect on its meanings. He praised the Malaysian students studying at Al-Azhar, whose numbers exceed 7,000, describing them as exemplary models of moderation and resistance to extremist ideologies. These students, he noted, serve as ambassadors of Al-Azhar's enlightened and moderate approach in Malaysia and the broader Southeast Asia region.