The 12th Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was held in Cairo from 6-7 February 2013. The Grand Imam, Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb, forwarded his message as the Shaykh of Al-Azhar to the leaders of the Muslim world.
Leaders of the Muslim world!
All praise is for Allah, and salutations of peace and blessings be upon the Last and Final Prophet Muhammad, and all other prophets and messengers, and upon the callers towards the truth in every age.
A graciously blessed occasion, and on a blessed day – Allah-willing – delegations of leaders from the Muslim world have gathered to serve the interests of the Islamic Nation and of humanity at large. Dear distinguished guests, you are all meeting in this country which welcomes you and is pleased in doing so, it loves you and you love it. This is Cairo which hosts the Arab League and is home to Al-Azhar Al-Sharif that is the largest of Islamic universities of the world today and which provides education and residence to your children, nearly thirty thousand students from Africa, Asia and other continents.
Indeed Al-Azhar, which considers itself the heart of the Islamic Nation as well as its intellectual home and beating conscience, lives the hopes and pains of the Nation. It defends its rights, values and sanctities as well as its academic and intellectual responsibilities in safeguarding the Sacred Law (al-Shari’ah al-Islamiyyah) and developing its sciences and disciplines. Moreover, it forwards the propagation of Islam and preserves the Arabic Language as the main instrument in understanding the Sacred Law and its sciences. Though Al-Azhar fulfils these intellectual and scientific tasks, it feels as though the duties are more than the potential; however, we – Allah-willing – will spare no effort in the service of our brothers who come to us, for the very first matter of duty is to carry the true religion, its sincere propagation and building with its thought of moderation.
Verily the brotherhood of faith is a sacred sanctuary which brings us together in its courtyard; it unifies our word and calls us towards collaboration and cooperation. The tradition reports that a Muslims is a brother of a Muslim, he does not betray him, nor oppress him, nor forsake him. Certainly Allah spoke the truth, “Indeed the believers are brothers.” [Al-Hujurat:10] Know, O distinguished brothers, that each person in Egypt desires to express the feelings of brotherhood and affection towards you and that Egypt will continue to provide for all her sister-states members of the OIC all that is obligatory upon a brother for his brother.
I am indeed confident that the worries that we are concerned about and the responsibilities of our present generation that we are to consider are the same as what you are all concerned about as well as the people of your countries whom your represent:The tragedy of our brothers in Palestine and our religious sacred places in Jerusalem which are being disturbed by the storms of international interests and illegal ambitions. It is incumbent upon us, rather upon each individual who loves the truth and freedom, that we provide assistance for this cause and we remove from it the oppression and aggression it faces. And this is a general human duty, before being a religious one as well.What our Muslim Rohingya brothers are subjected to in Southern Myanmar is a tragedy by all measures, as stated by the United Nations itself. It is immediately mandatory that the aggressors lift this barbaric racial oppression of the citizens of their country who were born there and have lived there since. The oppressive violators of human rights must be made to feel that their aggression will not pass without accountability and punishment.
- The tragedy of our brothers in Palestine and our religious sacred places in Jerusalem which are being disturbed by the storms of international interests and illegal ambitions. It is incumbent upon us, rather upon each individual who loves the truth and freedom, that we provide assistance for this cause and we remove from it the oppression and aggression it faces. And this is a general human duty, before being a religious one as well.
- What our Muslim Rohingya brothers are subjected to in Southern Myanmar is a tragedy by all measures, as stated by the United Nations itself. It is immediately mandatory that the aggressors lift this barbaric racial oppression of the citizens of their country who were born there and have lived there since. The oppressive violators of human rights must be made to feel that their aggression will not pass without accountability and punishment.
- We have to face the phenomenon of Islamophobia and work together collectively in presenting the purity of this religion and the message of the Qur’an to all of humanity such as the statement of the Lord Almighty, “O people! Indeed We have created you from one male and one female, and We have made you nations and tribes, so that you may know one another. Verily the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the righteous of you.” [Al-Hujurat:13]
- It goes without saying that we are advocates of tolerance and peace with justice and we are keen in all organisations and forums in which we participate to solve problems through peaceful means. Therefore, it is even more appropriate that we work in solving the problems found to be amongst and between us by virtue of brotherhood, peaceful spirit and constructive dialogue. In particular, the issue of Syria and the work towards an immediate end of bloodshed in this brotherly country.
- It is no secret to you, O brothers, that relations between countries and states are strengthened through economic, industrial and scientific cooperation and not by diplomatic traditions alone. The time has come to invest money and to remove obstacles that prevent its transmission between the Muslim countries and to serve through our hands of labour all projects no matter where they are in the Muslim world. We are to build a strong economy that cooperates with growing and promising economies in the East and the West.
The Nation, which is of a population of one and a half billion and is spread all over the world; they believe in one Lord, they follow one religion, they face towards one prayer-direction (qiblah), it has congregated here in one organisation capable of maintaining its prestige, safeguarding its rights and delivering justice and fairness towards others without discrimination. May Allah give you the strength required in this meeting of yours and in all meetings you have and may the truth and virtue be the outcome of this gathering.
Shaykh Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb
Grand Imam and Shaykh of Al-azhar
