His Excellency Prof. Mohammad Al-Mahrasawi, President of Al-Azhar University, welcomed His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), and his accompanying delegation, on Wednesday, 27 Dhu al-Qa’dah 1442 corresponding to July 7, 2021, at the headquarters of the University’s presidency in Cairo.

His Excellency the President of the University began the meeting by congratulating His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Sano on his appointment as Secretary General of the Academy, expressing his full confidence in His Excellency’s intellectual ability and vast experience to advance the Academy and achieve the hopes placed on this prestigious institution. His Excellency also made it clear that the Al-Azhar institution, mosque and university headed by the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, spares no effort in providing scientific and intellectual support to all institutions in the world in general, and to IIFA in particular, through the participation of Al-Azhar University scholars with their various specializations in the Academy’s various conferences and symposia, pointing out that cooperation between Al-Azhar University and the Academy is not new, but rather old since the establishment of the Academy forty years ago. His Excellency also explained that Al-Azhar has many efforts in the field of research, study, and correcting concepts, manifested in the establishment of a distinguished global scientific observatory in Al-Azhar that works in 15 languages all year long, to confront extremist ideas in the native language of many peoples. This is in addition to the efforts made by the branches of the world organization of Al-Azhar alumni inside and outside Egypt, to expose the danger of recruiting children by terrorist groups, such as Boko Haram and other extremist groups, to which Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and all its institutions fight against, locally, regionally, and internationally.

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary General of the Academy expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the President of the University, the Vice Dean of Al-Azhar, the Vice Presidents of the University, the Deans of Faculties, and Senior University Officials, for the warm reception and excellent welcome to him and his accompanying delegation, noting in the meantime the distinguished scientific position and the ideological leadership of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, both as a mosque and as a university, and praising the impressive record of this esteemed institution in the field of spreading science, thought and culture all over the world over the centuries. Adding that His Excellency himself is one of those people who were brought up by Al-Azhar educational missions that were and still teach successive generations all over the world, spread useful knowledge, and promote a culture of moderation, tolerance, and openness.

His Excellency also took this opportunity to express his aspiration to conclude a solid and sustainable strategic partnership between the Academy and Al-Azhar University, in order to sustainably benefit from the distinguished scholars of Al-Azhar in the various activities and programs of the Academy. His Excellency also expressed the Academy’s readiness to sign a cooperation agreement or memorandum of understanding soon between the two institutions to deepen the bonds of communication and coordination.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohammad Abdul Rahman Al-Dhawini, Vice-Dean of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Dr. Mahmood Siddik, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, General Supervisor of the University Hospitals Sector at Al-Azhar University, Dr. Mohammad Al-Sherbiny, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, Dr. Mohammad Fikri Khedr, Vice President of the University for the Girls’ Branch, Dr. Abdo Ibrahim, Dean of the Faculty of Arabic Language in Cairo, Mr. Majdi Abdel Aziz, Secretary General of the University, Dr. Abdullah Al-Najjar, former Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, member of the Islamic Research Academy, and Major General Ayman Al-Dardiri, Head of the Central Administration of University Campuses and Security at the university.

The meeting was also attended by Prof. Abdullah Mabrook Al-Najjar, member of the Academy in Cairo, Mrs. Sarah bint Amjad Hussein, Director of Family and Women’s Affairs Department at the Academy, and Mr. Amjad Mustafa Al-Mansi, Head of Protocol Section in the Cabinet and Protocol Affairs Department at the Academy.