The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb in his meeting with Head of Chinese State Administration for Religious Affairs Chen Ruifeng on Thursday in Cairo. Photo : Al-Azhar Al-Sherif
In a meeting with Ruifeng and a high-level delegation of Chinese officials, including the Chinese Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang, on Thursday in Cairo, the Grand Imam inquired about media reports concerning restrictions imposed on Muslims in China, such as prohibitions on communal prayers and fasting.
He asserted that Islamic teachings instil in Muslims the culture of peaceful coexistence within any society and encourage them to contribute to developing their communities and countries. Islam’s principles, El-Tayeb added, promote coexistence and acceptance of others.
"We encourage the positive integration of Muslims into the societies in which they live, but at the same time, we reject negative integration that seeks to strip Muslims of their religious identity and erase it,” he said, adding that it was important to recognize that this only happens when some try to interfere with the fundamentals and rules of religions by restricting believers from practising their religious rituals.
“Just as we reject this for Muslims, we also reject it for all believers of various religions in all communities," El-Tayeb added.
Furthermore, the Grand Imam emphasized that Al-Azhar's relationship with China is longstanding, noting that Chinese students at Al-Azhar have always played a significant role in enhancing this relationship.
He noted that Al-Azhar is pleased to host approximately 300 Chinese students at various educational stages, including 32 doctoral researchers. Al-Azhar, he added, offers 32 scholarships for Chinese Muslim students to study at its prestigious university and institutes.
El-Tayeb expressed Al-Azhar's readiness to increase scholarships offered to Chinese Muslim students and to host Chinese imams for study and training at the Al-Azhar International Academy for Imams and Preachers, which would enhance their skills in countering extremist ideologies and promoting values of coexistence and acceptance of others.
In response, the Head of the Chinese State Administration for Religious Affairs expressed his pleasure at visiting the Grand Imam and being at this prestigious Islamic institution, which enjoys a prominent global status.
He noted his country’s keenness to enhance cooperation and communication with Al-Azhar, stressing that Chinese students studying at Al-Azhar are proud to be part of this venerable university, which promotes moderate and centrist thought and plays a significant role in fostering religious tolerance and acceptance of others.
Chen Ruifeng reiterated his invitation for the Grand Imam to visit China to observe the conditions of Muslims there firsthand.
He emphasized that Chinese values ensure the protection of freedom of worship, religious pluralism, and the practice of religious rituals for both believers and non-believers.
The Chinese constitution protects the rights of all believers to practice their religious rituals and ensures the integration of their values with Chinese values to achieve prosperity, democracy, justice, fairness, and development, Ruifeng added.
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