The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to the King of Belgium: The Document on Human Fraternity Seeks to Rescue Humanity from Today’s Crises and Challenges
The King of Belgium Praises the Grand Imam’s Efforts to Promote Global Peace
His Eminence the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmad at-Tayyeb, received His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium at Mashyakhet al-Azhar during his visit to attend the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday.
His Eminence welcomed the King of Belgium to al-Azhar ash-Sharif, the prestigious institution that has long been dedicated to promoting the sciences of Islam and the values of peace, brotherhood, and coexistence among people of all backgrounds and differences. He further noted that al-Azhar is proud to host tens of thousands of international students from around the world who return to their countries carrying the moderate Azhari approach, spreading the true values of Islam and the message of peace. He also spoke about the Document on Human Fraternity, which he signed with Pope Francis, emphasizing that it addresses the challenges facing humanity. Likewise, he explained that the document serves as a humanitarian charter guiding people toward the values of mercy and goodness and aims to rescue humanity from the crises and challenges of our time.
His Eminence stressed that al-Azhar has not stood idly by in the face of the extremist ideas promoted by groups that falsely claim affiliation with Islam—ideas that deviate from the essence and message of this true religion. He emphasized that confronting such misconceptions requires joint, sustained, and concerted efforts. To this end, Al-Azhar has established numerous research and preaching centers, as well as an international academy to train preachers from around the world.
For his part, His Majesty the King of Belgium expressed his sincere appreciation to the Grand Imam of al-Azhar for his efforts to promote global peace, as well as his gratitude for the warm welcome he received from His Eminence, and his delight at visiting this venerable institution. He particularly valued this meeting, which took place in an atmosphere of friendship, mutual respect, and deep dialogue on various issues related to establishing peace, fostering understanding and coexistence among peoples, promoting dialogue among followers of religions, and affirming the concept of human dignity as a fundamental foundation for building a more just and cooperative world.
