The Egyptian president’s religious affairs advisor, Dr. Osāma al-Azharī, has described al-Azhar as a gift to the Arab and Muslim world, and as a great credit to Egypt. Dr. al-Azhaī made the comments whilst speaking on the television program ‘Rijāl Sadaqūʾ’, in which he discussed the ‘Encyclopedia of al-Azhar Scholars’. He drew attention to the large number of heads of state, academics and dignitaries, from across the Middle East and North Africa, who had graduated from al-Azhar throughout the years.