WAAG UK holds first annual round-table conference of Al-Azhar Graduates in the UK presided by Professor Dr al-Qasabi Zalat
On Sunday 17 June 2012, a respected Al-Azhar delegation led by Professor Dr al-Qasabi Mahmud Zalat, Deputy of the Grand Imam, former President of Al-Azhar University and current Academic and Intellectual Advisor to the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates (WAAG International), arrived at the head office in Retford, Nottinghamshire, for the First Annual Conference for Al-Azhar Graduates in the UK organised by the UK Branch of the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates (WAAG UK).
Leadership of WAAG International from Al-Azhar that presided over the round–table conference included Professor Dr al-Qasabi Mahmud Zalat as well as Mr Usama Yasin, the Vice President of WAAG International, and also Dr Abdel Dayem Nusaer, the Secretary General of WAAG International.
The office bearers of the UK Branch of WAAG present included Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada (President), Bakhtyar H Pirzada al-Azhari (Vice President), Zein Hud al-Azhari (Administration Manager), Haseeb Akhtar al-Azhari (Executive Assistant) and Mahboob Hussain al-Azhari (Secretary).
Other dignitaries who attended and demonstrated their support and appreciation for Al-Azhar included Shaykh Yusuf Abu Snineh, the Imam of al-Masjid al-Aqsa (Jerusalem, Palestine) and the Egyptian Qur’an reciter, Shaykh Yasir Abd al-Basit Abd al-Samad.
The conference began with the recitation of the holy Qur’an by Shaykh Yasir Abd al-Basit Abd al-Samad. This was followed by nasheeds in honour and praise of the holy Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
Bakhtyar H Pirzada al-Azhari welcomed all attendees and provided a detailed report regarding the global project of WAAG of the Grand Imam, Shaykh al-Azhar, Professor Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb, as well as the progress report of the UK Branch. He congratulated the Azhari Scholars in the UK on the success of the Gateway to Divine Mercy 2012 Conference entitled Illuminating our World which was held at the New Bingley Hall in Birmingham on Saturday 16 June 2012 and which was attended by over three and a half thousand young male and female Muslims of the UK. He announced the launch of the UK Branch’s website (www.waag-azhar.org.uk) and also that the membership drive had begun to collect data of all Azharis in the UK. The Vice President also introduced the latest e-learning initiative of WAAG International and Al-Azhar University.
The conference was attended by many Al-Azhar graduates and scholars who travelled from different parts of the UK to attend and including the following:
Imam Zulfqar Haider Pirzada al-Azhari
Hafiz Irfan Shahzad al-Azhari
Imam Kaleem Haider al-Azhari
Qari Muhammad Rizwan al-Azhari
Imam Abu Bakr Ali al-Azhari
Muhammad Ayaz al-Azhari
Zein Hud al-Azhari
Hafiz Gul Muhammad al-Azhari
Hafiz Mahboob Hussain al-Azhari
Imam Imran Muhammad al-Azhari
Imam Muzzamil Hussain al-Azhari
Imam Iftikhar Daad al-Azhari
Hasseb Akhtar al-Azhari
Qari Muhammad Abdul Rahman Khan al-Azhari
Sahibzada Munir ul Hassan Rabbani al-Azhari
Mansoor ul Haq Mahmood al-Azhari
Imam Syed Azmat Shah al-Azhari
Imam Muhammad Asim Hussain
Imam Hafiz Tahir Rafiq al-Azhari
Zagham Ali Mohammed al-Azhari
Kesser Hussain
Asim Mirza
Faisal Ali Khatab
Ayaz Rehman Irfani
Ahtiram-ul-Haq Arif
Hafiz Ahmad Siddique
Hafiz Shuaib Hassan Hussain
Those who were present introduced themselves, how they benefited from Al-Azhar University and their current roles in the UK society. Some of the Al-Azhar graduates are serving their communities as Imams of main mosques in the UK, teachers in private and governmental schools and as Muslim Chaplains in the prison and health services. During the discussion, Al-Azhar graduates had the unique opportunity to discuss issues with the Al-Azhar leadership. This discussion was beneficial and inspiring as Imams and Chaplains provided great insight to their line of work in the UK and the role of Al-Azhar in the modern world.
Following the open discussion, Dr Abdel Dayem Nusear discussed and introduced the recent activities of Al-Azhar University and the new on-line accredited and non-accredited courses available from September 2012 (http://azharegypt.net). Shaykh Yusuf Abu Snineh paid a rich tribute to the tradition of Al-Azhar University and its historical and global significance. He also emphasised the need for Al-Azhar to remain independent in its affairs.
The main talk was given by the guest of honour Professor Dr al-Qasabi Mahmud Zalat who discussed with the graduates of Al-Azhar and the 
guests about respect towards difference of opinion between sects, groups and scholars as this is the methodology of Al-Azhar and other great scholars such as Imam al-Shafi’i and Imam Abu Hanifah. He explained that there is no place in Islam for any discrimination or prejudice between people on the basis of race or colour and, in fact, the standard of distinction within Islam is only one and that is righteous deeds and taqwa. He also said that the Prophet of Islam, the Messenger Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) spent twenty three years instilling into the depths of the hearts of the Muslims the reality of equality between people and the manner of dealing with others. Dr al-Qasabi further went on to discuss the role of Al-Azhar scholars in the UK in bringing civilisations together, to bridge this gap between Islam and the West and to build mutual respect between fellow human beings wherever they are. As the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Human beings are equal like the teeth of a comb”.
President of WAAG UK, Shaykh M I H Pirzada spoke very briefly thanking the Al-Azhar leadership who came on behalf of the Grand Imam, Shaykh al-Azhar, Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb as well as the other notable attendees. The conference was concluded with a prayer and a meal at the head office of WAAG UK.
