His Eminence, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, received His Excellency Éric Chevallier, the French Ambassador to Egypt, to discuss ways of bolstering bilateral cooperation and strengthening cultural and academic ties between Al-Azhar and France.
The Grand Imam emphasized the profound scientific and cultural bonds shared with France, highlighting the pivotal role of the French Department at the Faculty of Languages and Translation, alongside the Al-Azhar Center for French Language Teaching (CEF Alazhar), in cultivating and advancing these relations. Reflecting on his personal journey with the French language and his time spent in France, His Eminence remarked: “My generation and I grew up with a deep appreciation for the French language, inspired by our professors at the Faculty of Usul al-Din (Theology) who had studied at French universities and encouraged us to master this beautiful language. I have personally translated several works on Sufism and Islamic philosophy from Arabic into French. I truly hope that young researchers will prioritize translation as a vital bridge to transmit our immense scientific and cultural legacy”.
His Eminence further addressed the current global crises, stating: "The crisis of our world today is one of hubris and arrogance, rooted in reliance on materialistic might and the power of arms. The wars currently erupting in the East for no justifiable cause have impacted both the East and the West alike, yet they have failed to achieve any of their proclaimed objectives. The primary and ultimate reason for this is that those who instigate these conflicts act in total disregard for the humanitarian values and principles derived from religion. Consequently, the world is suffering under the weight of these forces, which have broken free from the constraints of morality and ethics. While there are indeed voices of reason, they remain faint and marginalized in the face of these chaotic forces."
For his part, the French Ambassador expressed his honor in meeting the Grand Imam, expressing his deep appreciation for His Eminence’s tireless efforts in disseminating the values of human fraternity and global peace. The Ambassador hailed the ongoing academic cooperation between France and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif—represented by the Faculty of Languages and Translation and the CEF Alazhar—reaffirming his commitment to strengthening these academic and cultural ties in pursuit of their shared educational objectives.