India renews its invitation to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to visit it

His Eminence, Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, received today, Monday, at Al-Azhar Headquarters, Mr. Ajit Guptih, the Indian Ambassador to Cairo, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and mutual coordination in cultural, academic and Da'wah-related fields.

His Eminence, the Grand Imam, said that the relations between Al-Azhar and India are historically profound. Such relations are based on deep and strong Egyptian-Indian relations, as there has been constant communication between Al-Azhar scholars and many Muslim scholars in India over the centuries. The Grand Imam expressed his high appreciation and respect for the Muslim Indian scholars for the great efforts they make to serve the Islamic religion and publicize its tolerant principles. The Muslim Indian scholars have significantly contributed to establishing peace inside their home country through their students and academic publications widely read in India and neighbouring countries, the Grand Imam said.

His Eminence the Grand Imam also expressed his appreciation of the Indian civilization and the human and moral aspects it shares with the Islamic and Arab civilizations. The Grand Imam stressed that Al-Azhar is pleased to receive nearly 450 students from India to study at Al-Azhar University. He also added that Al-Azhar receives Indian imams at Al-Azhar Academy to Train Imams and Preachers to train and educate them on contemporary issues, refine their skills and enrich their knowledge to address these issues and to significantly contribute to the renaissance of their home country and the maintenance of its security and stability.

For his part, the Indian Ambassador expressed his country's appreciation of the efforts made by Al-Azhar and its Grand Imam in service of world peace, coexistence, and respect for religious and cultural diversity. The Ambassador indicated that the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, had expressed his appreciation of Al-Azhar's efforts to disseminate peace and to promote the culture of dialogue and positive coexistence, which came during the latter’s meeting with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, on sidelines of India's celebrations of the Indian National Day.

Both sides discussed ways to strengthen relations between Al-Azhar and India through concluding a cooperation agreement for the exchange of academic visits between scholars and professors of Al-Azhar University and professors of universities in India, as well as a mutual delegation of students for purposes of exchanging experiences and academic and cultural communication. India, represented by its Ambassador in Cairo, renews its invitation to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to visit it, as such a visit will have a positive impact on the relations between India and Al-Azhar, as well as promote Egyptian-Indian relations.