Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University in the United States and one of the most prominent thinkers in the world, visited the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo on Tuesday, 11 November 2025. The trip also included a meeting with the Grand Imam, Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb Shaykh al-Azhar at his residence in Al-Qurna, Luxor Governorate on Thursday, 13 November 2025.
Dr Muhammad al-Duwaini, the Undersecretary of Al-Azhar and Member of the Board of Directors of the World Organisation for Al-Azhar Graduates, accompanied Professor Jeffrey Sachs on a tour of the Al-Azhar Mosque. During his visit, Professor Jeffrey Sachs was acquainted with the intellectual and scholarly activities at the mosque, including the academic activities of the Al-Azhar study areas. He also observed groups of students engaged in memorising the Qur’an, studying Arabic, and deepening their understanding of Islam. He listened to a detailed explanation of these activities and their role in instilling the values of moderation and balance. The importance of the Al-Azhar Mosque was underscored by its ability to attract visitors from around the world, serving as a global platform for promoting the principles of moderation and balance.
Professor Sachs expressed his great pleasure with the visit, thanking the Grand Imam for granting him the opportunity to visit the Al-Azhar Mosque, one of the oldest and most prestigious mosques in the Islamic world. He affirmed that Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the most beautiful and unique places of worship he has ever seen. He also commended the scholarly and cultural activities he saw within the mosque and expressed his admiration for the intricate Islamic decorations adorning its corners, which reflect the richness of Islamic heritage and the distinctive aesthetics of its art.
The meeting with the Grand Imam in Al-Qurna, included a cordial exchange of views on major global developments, particularly the challenges facing the region. The Grand Imam expressed his appreciation for Professor Sachs’s fair-minded positions and writings, which reflect a wise and conscientious intellect that understands well that the message of all religions calls for supporting the oppressed—regardless of faith, gender, or ethnicity—and for promoting genuine coexistence founded on equality, rights, and human dignity.
For his part, Professor Sachs expressed his great joy and honour at meeting the Grand Imam, praising his courageous efforts to promote global peace and human fraternity. He affirmed that the Grand Imam’s voice represents truth and humanity, and that the world should pay close attention to his vision. He also expressed his pleasure in visiting Egypt and Luxor.
