Prof. al-Mahrasawy, Vice-Chairman of al-Azhar Graduates pointed out that al-Azhar ash-Sharif headed by Prof. Ahmad at-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam, always seeks to support Malaysian students and provides all means of cooperation with its institutions and Embassy in Cairo regarding receiving international students for studying at the primary stage, undergraduate stage, or post-graduate stage. He added that al-Azhar is keen on providing all facilities to those students, in addition to the organization’s interest in training the preachers and Imams how to refute contemporary intellectual issues, especially issues of terrorism and extremism.
This came at the cultural salon held for the international students at the headquarters of the World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates for some Malaysian students at al-Azhar University, in the presence of Mohammad Khairy Ibn Abdullah, the Minister of Educational Affairs in the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo.
Furthermore, al-Mahrasawy said that the number of Malaysian students at al-Azhar University continues to increase every year and this is an indication that al-Azhar lives forever in the hearts of people of Islamic Ummah, especially in East Asia countries. Thus, al-Azhar ash-Sharif undertakes to care for its international students, as they are protectors of its global mission, and they are the best ones to deliver the message of moderate Islam to their families and relatives across the world.
Moreover, Osama Yaseen, Vice-Chairman of the organization said that al-Azhar is the first barrier against terrorist ideology because it teaches Islamic studies and will still teach and defend humanity and Islam, referring to the organization as one of al-Azhar branches that serve students from different nationalities.
It is worth mentioning that Abdulrahman Moussa, Advisor to the Grand Imam of al-Azhar on Foreign Relations, asserted that Muslims face considerable challenges, most importantly the challenges of confronting the extremist thought which keeps people out of their authentic creed; this is where the role of Azhari student who understands the true religion comes in to become guide and teacher for people around him.
For her part, Prof. Nahla El-Saidi, the Grand Imam’s Advisor for expatriate affairs, said that the organization is one of the al-Azhar branches whose role is not limited to serving Azhari students during the educational process, rather, its role extended to following students after graduation and helping them to overcome obstacles.
Besides, Prof. El-Saidi pointed out the communication and coordination mechanisms with the organization, advising students to follow its official pages on social media to know its latest developments and activities.
She added that the system of international students in al-Azhar has significantly developed and deals with students from about 137 countries worldwide. In addition, a website in Arabic and English has been launched to provide many services for the convenience of the students.
The meeting was attended by Prof. Abdel Dayyem Noseir, the Organization’s Secretary-General and Advisor to the Grand Imam, Hamed Sayed Ismael, Assistant Secretary-General for Education Affairs at al-Azhar University, and a high-level delegation of the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo.
