Al-Azhar: Our message aims to reflect the true image of Islam

During a recent meeting with a delegation of students from George Washington University and the American University in Cairo (AUC), Dr. Mohamed al-Duwini, the deputy Imam to the Grand Imam of the famous Egyptian university Al-Azhar, the most outstanding seat of Sunni Islam, said that the University's message to humanity aims to consolidate the values of peaceful coexistence, dialogue and love among all humanity, regardless of any kind of gender or creed difference.

Al-Azhar University, the imam added, aspires to be a world leader in providing true Islamic thinking based on moderation, achieving merits and excellence in the field of university education and scientific research, and preparing cadres at the local, regional and global level in a climate characterized by independence, freedom, democracy and equality.

Cairo university is attended by students from all over the world. It has over 11,000 members with 90 faculties and 27 research centres. The university was initially a Center of Study and Teaching of the "Ismaili" creed but, after the reconquest of Sunnism in Egypt by Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb, known as Saladin, over time it became the most prestigious seat of elaboration of Sunni thought, followed in authority by the al-Qarawiyyin University of Fez and the al-Zaytūna mosque in Tunis.

Dr. Mohamed al-Duwini also presented the Al-Azhar website "Fatwa Global Center" as a channel for the dissemination of moderate thinking, opposed to all forms of extremism and sectarianism. The International Fatwa Center was established in 2016 to counter the chaos prevailing on the fatwa web, and to correct the misconceptions about Islam and Sharia. The center's approach to the Fatwa fits into a framework of moderation aiming at achieving stability and social security, and dismantling extremist and terrorist ideas. The Center aims at social cohesion and restoration of the spiritual values of Islam.

Editorial