His Eminence, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, extends his heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and to the great Egyptian people on the occasion of the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. This monumental cultural landmark reflects Egypt’s unique position in human civilization throughout the ages. It affirms that Egypt has always been, and will remain—God willing—a beacon of heritage, culture, civilization, and humanity. His Eminence commends the efforts of the Egyptian state in preserving national heritage, strengthening the value of belonging to the homeland, and instilling in new generations an appreciation for beauty and refined taste.
The Grand Imam also expresses his pride in Egypt’s wealth of civilizational treasures, historical legacy, and unique human heritage, emphasizing the importance of drawing inspiration from the spirit of pride embodied by the ancient Egyptian, who astonished the world with an exceptional civilization whose mysteries across various arts continue to elude full comprehension, despite the remarkable technological and scientific advancements of the modern age.
On this auspicious occasion, Al-Azhar reminds all people of the statement made in the final communiqué of its World Conference on the Renewal of Islamic Thought, affirming that the preservation of heritage and antiquities is both a religious and humanitarian duty, and that Islam calls for the protection of all manifestations of construction and cultivation on earth. Antiquities, it emphasized, are a cultural legacy that reflects the history of nations and civilizations, and must neither be violated nor altered in their original form. Rather, they must be protected as living testaments to the civilizations, stories, and journeys of humankind.