Egypt's PM opens Al-Azhar's Int'l Conference on Renewal of Islamic Thought Monday

Ahram Online , Monday 27 Jan 2020

The conference, due to be held on Monday and Tuesday, focuses on means of renewing religious discourse, refuting misconceptions about Islam, and discussing women and family issues

Sisi, El-Tayyeb
File Photo: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi meets Al-Azhar grand imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb in the presidential palace in Cairo, 12 November 2019 (Photo courtesy of Al-Azhar)

Egyptian prime minister to deliver the president's speech at  Al-Azhar's International Conference on the Renewal of Islamic Thought on Monday, presidency spokesman Bassam Rady told state run MENA agency.

The conference, due to be held on Monday and Tuesday, focuses on means of renewing religious discourse, refuting misconceptions about Islam, discussing women and family issues, as well as the roles of the religious, academic, and international institutions in this regard.

It is scheduled to also include representatives of the Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf), Dar Al-Efta, the highest institution tasked with deciding religious questions and affiliated with Egypt's Al-Azhar, as well as Muslim councils from 46 Muslim countries.

The grand imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayyeb, said in earlier press statements that the conference will help achieve the institution’s message in demonstrating the tolerance of Islam and renouncing extremism.

The Egyptian President has repeatedly stressed in recent years the importance of having balanced religious discourse to confront extremism and radical ideology, blaming outdated religious discourse for holding Egypt back, and often calling on Islamic clerics to reform their religious speech to confront extremist ideology.

 

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