UNIPATH STAFF
To advance peaceful coexistence in Egypt, a delegation from the Episcopal Church in Alexandria visited Al-Azhar in Cairo to promote the formation of a center for Islamic-Christian studies.
Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, sheikh of Al-Azhar, praised the church for its sponsorship of Together for Egypt, a national spiritual project that included dialogue between imams and priests to create a culture of tolerance in Egyptian society.
“We are all soldiers in the battle to defend our religions and our homeland as we are all equals in humanity,” Dr. Al-Tayeb told the delegation.
The new Archbishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Diocese in Alexandria, Bishop Samy Fawzi, is continuing the church’s work to establish a center that deepens Christian-Islamic dialogue, with the aim of introducing the lofty principles of the two religions to Egyptians and the world.
It would emphasize peaceful coexistence among followers of the two religions and debunk the misinterpretation of religious scriptures by extremists who practice violence in the name of God, many of whom have tried to exploit religious ignorance and social grievances to weaken the bonds of Egyptian society.
The church has also been active in Egyptian Family House, a Cairo-based socio-religious project established in 2011, under the chairmanship of the sheikh of Al-Azhar and the pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church. It enlists clergymen from several Christian denominations and Islamic scholars from Al-Azhar to help settle societal disputes.
Egypt emphasized its commitment to interfaith dialogue by hosting the 31st International Conference of the Islamic Affairs Supreme Council in March 2021. The theme of the conference was interfaith and intercultural dialogue. According to Egyptian Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) Dr. Mohamed Mukhtar Gumaa, more than 70 scholars from 35 countries attended the two-day event. Many had nothing but praise for Egypt’s efforts at promoting religious harmony.
“Egypt, with its religious institutions, has taken a great interest in spreading peace and educating people about it. Today, we are in dire need of dialogue, peaceful coexistence and tolerating pluralism,” Mufti of Albania Bujar Spahiu said. Source: Al Ahram