Al-Azhar Alumni UK extends its warmest congratulations and appreciation to the Grand Imam, Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb Shaykh al-Azhar, on accomplishing fifteen years of unwavering service as the Grand Imam and esteemed Shaykh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb assumed the office of the Grand Imam in 2010, having previously served as Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt as well as President of Al-Azhar University.
On behalf of Al-Azhar Alumni UK, which is the UK branch of the World Organization for Al-Azhar Graduates, President Bakhtyar Pirzada al-Azhari extended heartfelt well-wishes and prayers, paying tribute with these words: “It is indeed an honour to be part of the Al-Azhar framework, especially under the leadership of one of today’s most profound thinkers – an Imam embodying Islam’s wisdom and peace – Shaykh Ahmad al-Tayyeb. His unwavering dedication to Al-Azhar’s mission and his visionary leadership in guiding the institution, its scholars, and the wider community through the challenges of the 21st century’s first quarter are both inspiring and reassuring.”
In recognition of his efforts, the Grand Imam has been bestowed with several awards and medals over the years from numerous states and universities, including the Islamic Personality of the Year Award for services to the Qur’an in 2013, the State of Kuwait’s Order in 2016, the Grand Record Medal from the University of Bologna in 2018 and honorary citizenship of Samarkand, Uzbekistan in 2020. In view of his efforts to promote peace, spread the culture of dialogue and coexistence among followers of different religions, universities from around the world have sought to appreciate these efforts by granting him honorary doctorate degrees. Some of the notable universities include the University of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur in 2012, the Maulana Ibrahim University of Indonesia in 2016, the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan in 2018 and the Eurasia National University of Kazakhstan in 2018. Several universities around the world are honoured to have the patronage of the Grand Imam, including the International Islamic University of Islamabad in Pakistan, the University of Qatar and the University of ‘Ayn in the United Arab Emirates.
See the slides in this report for more on the Grand Imam’s achievements and his recognition around the world. May Allah Almighty protect Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb Shaykh al-Azhar, and may He grant him a long and healthy life, as he continues to be a beacon of hope and calm in an increasingly challenging world.
