Prof. Shouman: The Organization Welcomes all Institutional and Community Entities’ Efforts to Establish Moderate Islamic Thought in the World
Head of Sultans’ Assembly in Somalia: Al-Azhar is a Beacon of Moderate Thought and Backbone in Confronting the Ideology of Terrorist Groups
Prof. Abbas Shouman, President of the World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates and Secretary General of al-Azhar Council of Senior Scholars, and Major General Wael Bekhit, Vice-President of the Organization, received King Burhan Musa Othman, President of the Sultans’ and Tribal Chiefs Assembly in Somalia and his accompanying delegation. The visit aimed at discussing means of cooperation, increasing the Organization’s efforts in Somalia, and supporting the provision of cultural, scientific, and religious services to Somali students.
Shouman stated that al-Azhar has strong historical relations with Somalia and that international students were an important factor in strengthening and developing this relationship. He affirmed that al-Azhar supports cultural movements, promotes the Arabic language for Somali students, and supports students in need by providing scholarships.
In addition, he emphasized that the Organization welcomes all institutional and community entities’ efforts worldwide to consolidate cooperation, raise awareness of the al-Azhar’s moderation and develop a spirit of fraternity and cooperation among al-Azhar graduates through the Organization’s foreign branches. These efforts also endeavor to provide training courses for Muslim imams and preachers facilitate the enrollment of students in distance learning projects and teach Arabic to non-native speakers.
King Burhan Musa Othman said that al-Azhar is a beacon of moderate thought and the backbone in confronting the ideology of terrorist groups and the poison they spread in the Islamic world, especially through the training programs provided by the Organization to refute extremist ideologies. He emphasized his pride in the academic and dawah level achieved by Somali graduates, who became preachers and imams in Somali and global centers, thanks to the religious sciences they learned at al-Azhar.
