His Eminence Prof. Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, received Prof. Nazir Ayad, the Grand Mufti of Egypt on Thursday at Al-Azhar's headquarters, leading a delegation of guests attending the Egyptian Dar Al-Iftaa conference held under the theme "Family Challenges Amid Major Transformations."
The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar welcomed the conference's guest Muftis and scholars from around the world, stressing the importance of the gathering given the family's role as a key pillar in preserving the nation's identity. His Eminence noted that the threats surrounding the family are a shared concern that has moved beyond worry into a matter of responsibility before God, saying: "The question we must ask and seek answers to is: what will we do for the Muslim family in the face of this sweeping challenges coming from from East and West, which targets the nation's sanctities and normalizes social and behavioral ills among young people?"
He added that social media has occupied much of the minds of the youth and even drained the energies of scholars, leaving people preoccupied with some issues that increase turmoil and distance them from religious values and moral standards. Serious steps, His Eminence stressed, must be taken to confront this global wave aimed at eroding identity, uprooting heritage, isolating youth from their nation's history, and excluding them from the realities of their homelands and societies.
The Grand Imam also addressed what he called the major cause of the Arab and Muslim world, the Palestinian issue, describing it as "a wound that has not healed and a bleeding that does not stop," and noting that the situation has worsened due to the Ummah’s fragmentation and division. He emphasized the role of scholars and Muftis worldwide in promoting awareness of the Palestinian cause and spreading historical facts, saying this role is no less important than diplomatic efforts. He told the assembled scholars: "I look to you to play your part in leading the battle of narratives against the counter-narrative that the enemy seeks to spread and normalize, despite its falseness. Is there a way forward on this?!"
For their part, the visiting delegation expressed their pleasure at meeting the Grand Imam and their appreciation for his efforts in promoting an accurate image of Islam, telling him: "We thank you, Grand Imam, for your strong support of Muslim communities around the world. Al-Azhar is a beacon of moderation for Muslims everywhere, and its approach shields young people from extremism and protects them from the dangers surrounding them."
The delegation further praised the Grand Imam's steadfast position on the causes of the Islamic nation, particularly the Palestinian cause, noting that Al-Azhar, through its clear stances, has been a voice for truth and justice, defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, consistently rejecting aggression and forced displacement, and calling on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities toward the violations that the Palestinians face — reflecting Al-Azhar's historic role in supporting the Ummah’s causes and upholding the values of humanity, justice, and peace.