The Grand Imam’s Word
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
All praise to Allah alone, and His peace and blessings be upon His messenger, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), his family and his companions.
By Allah’s will, we inaugurate the new informative website of the World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates (WOAG) that gathers all of al-Azhar scholars across the world, from South Africa to Europe, from Russia in the north, and from the USA in the west to to China and Japan in the east.
In the name of thousands of al-Azhar scholars, who have been registered and counted to add up to approximately forty thousand scholars, I welcome the website’s visitors who are searching for the truth of Islam and who are keen to gain knowledge about the Islamic studies, culture, morals and values via al-Azhar leading scholars. Al-Azhar had been established a thousand and fifty years ago; since then, such institution has been bearing the responsibility of protecting Islam and clarifying its message, as Islam has concluded all heavenly messages that preceded it. In fact, Islam is the last of a series of heavenly monotheistic religions, which was first conveyed through Adam, and then passed down by Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, peace be upon them all, and finally by our dear Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
This website aims, at the first place, to make people acquainted with Islam, as stipulated by the holy Quran and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). The website also aims to make readers familiar with Islam as a culture that addressed people’s realities all over the world. Indeed, the Islamic culture has contributed to building the human civilization, and has interacted with it over the centuries. In addition to that, Islamic culture’s tributaries include science, art, literature, philosophy, legislation, ethics, sports, medicine, astrology, music, and other treasures of the ancient and modern legacy of Islamic thinkers and scholars.
Moreover, this website does not aim, whatsoever, to attain any objective other than rightly defining Islam. Again, this website has no political or missionary agenda; our supreme objective is to present Islam as a religion and culture in a pure and honest manner, and away from scientific and historical misinterpretations that have distorted the true image and essence of Islam in the eyes of its seekers.
Al-Azhar has always been bearing the burden and the responsibility of protecting and preserving the purity, moderation, and modesty of Islam over ten centuries. Meanwhile, al-Azhar is powerfully nominated to continue its mission in clarifying Islam, the firm steps and innovative achievements it has achieved in all fields of knowledge and in developing the moral welfare of humanity.
While we inaugurate this website, we bear in mind the renewed tensions of late 20th century and early 21st century, that have negatively affected the relations between Islam and the West. These tensions created “a gap” between the East and the West, or a thick wall of mutual suspicion between the Westerners and Muslims. We were about to regenerate the medieval conflicts and the crises of the Imperial age, which both of the East and the West had forgotten long time ago.
Being the greatest reference for Muslims in the past and in present, al-Azhar is the only qualified institution to carry on the mission of bringing civilizations together, and to bridge this gap between Islam and the West. It is the only institution capable of building, mutually respectful, human relations everywhere and among all the different faiths, doctrines, ethnicities, and languages. As a matter of fact, our dear Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) declared that “people are equal like the teeth of a comb”, all humans are of the same origin, sons and daughters of the same father and mother; hence, all humans are equal, created from the same soul, and despite their different colors and races, they are all of the same origin.
In the light of this vision, concerning human equality in Islam, the website is launching depending on the Quranic fact that there is no room in Islam for any sort of discrimination, racism, or distinction, based on race or color; yet, the only thing that distinguishes people in Islam is disciplined good work, as Allah Almighty says:
“O people, fear your Lord, Who created you of a single soul, and from it created its mate, and from the pair of them scattered many men and women; and fear Allah by whom you claim [your rights] from one another and kinship ties. Surely Allah has been watchful over you.” [Q:4:1]
“O mankind! We have indeed created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes that you may come to know one another. Truly the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most Allah-fearing among you. Truly Allah is Knower and Aware.” [Q:49:13]
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) spent twenty-three years instilling in the Muslims’ consciousness the idea of equality among people; indeed, he tried to deepen and enhance this meaning in their hearts and in the way they treat others. In his farewell sermon, which was delivered during his final pilgrimage, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) stressed the concept of equality among people, as he said:
“O people, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again…you have only one God and all mankind is from Adam, and Adam was created from dust… An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white; [none have superiority over another] except by piety and good action… Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people.”
Dear visitor, we would like to welcome you once again on this website, which sets off from al-Azhar, and radiates from its minarets and domes that are rooted in the depth of all times and ages. We welcome you dear visitor as a brother in humanity, a colleague in the thirst for science and knowledge, a friend in mutual dialogue and a partner in achieving communication between the East and West.
May Allah Almighty bless us All.
Peace Be Upon You.
Prof. Dr. Ahmad at-Tayyeb
The Grand Imam of al-Azhar
President of the World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates (WOAG)