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.
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Secretary‑General of the Academy Visits the Consulate General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan His Excellency Professor Dr. Qutb Mustafa Sano, Secretary‑General of the Academy, paid an official visit on 29 Sha‘ban 1447 AH, corresponding to 17 February 2026, to the Consulate General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Jeddah. His Excellency and his accompanying delegation were received by His Excellency Ambassador Mohammed Salah Sobhi Hameed, Consul General and Permanent Representative of Jordan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, who welcomed him warmly and expressed his pleasure at the visit. He praised the distinguished intellectual efforts undertaken by the Academy under His Excellency’s leadership in addressing numerous religious and intellectual issues of concern to the Islamic world, affirming his personal honor in meeting His Excellency again and Jordan’s keenness to strengthen channels of communication and cooperation with the Academy, especially in areas of mutual interest. For his part, His Excellency expressed his deep gratitude and great appreciation to the Ambassador for the warm reception and generous hospitality. He commended the tremendous support, gracious care, and continuous attention the Academy has received from the leadership and people of Jordan since its establishment. He also conveyed his sincere appreciation for the Ambassador’s recent visit to the Academy, affirming the Academy’s full readiness to do everything that would enhance partnership, cooperation, coordination, and communication between the Academy and Jordanian religious and academic institutions. His Excellency was accompanied by Mr. Mohammed Al‑Mundhir Rida Al‑Shawk, Director of the Office and Protocol; Mr. Mohammed Waleed Al‑Idrisi, Director of Media and Public Relations; Ms. Sarah Amjad Badawi, Director of the Department of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly; and Mr. Amjad Ibrahim Al‑Mansi, Head of the Protocol Section.
