Date of source: 15 Jan 2024
Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy, Dr. Naẓīr ʿAyyād, said that Islamic scholarly science was founded through communication between the Islamic sharīʿa and the understanding of reality, which includes theology, Ṣūfīsm, and logic as theories that embody this understanding.
“The...
Date of source: 12 Jan 2024
Thousands of Catholic Christians attended the Epiphany mass and the annual pilgrimage of al-Maghṭas, Arabic for baptism or immersion. This is officially known as the Baptism Site, “Bethany Beyond the Jordan,” and lies on the eastern bank of the Jordan River. It is reputed to be the original...
Date of source: 7 Jan 2024
Pope Tawāḍrūs II said that Egypt, the biggest in the Middle East region with all its historical and cultural leverage, is handling the Palestinian crisis wisely and accurately.
“Egypt is offering aid to the Palestinian people and acts as the outlet for aid coming from all over the world,” said Pope...
Date of source: 7 Jan 2024
Pope Tawāḍrūs said that the inhumane scenes and massacres taking place on the lands of Palestine are reminiscent of Herod’s killing of the innocent children of Bethlehem.
“On this festivity, we are praying for the agonized and wounded people of Gaza,” said Pope Tawāḍrūs during his Christmas sermon...
Date of source: 7 Jan 2024
The Saint Mark Cathedral in the Cairo district of al-ʿAbassīya opened its gates today (January 7) for Eastern Christmas well-wishers. Pope Tawāḍrūs received them outside the Papal Residence, where he handed out sweets to the congregation and visitors.
The pope received the well-wishers with...
Date of source: 7 Jan 2024
Pope Tawāḍrūs II said the visit by President ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ al-Sīsī to the church on Christmas eve was a beautiful gesture that had great influence over all Egyptians, and not just Christians, adding that the president was congratulating all Egyptians over the new year and Christmas.
The pope made...
Date of source: 18 Jan 2024
The Coptic Orthodox Church is celebrating Epiphany on January 19 and 20, with Pope Tawāḍrūs leading a mass on Friday (January 19), and Copts celebrating the occasion that is associated with baptism on Saturday (January 20).
Coptic Christians have certain types of food with symbolic religious...
Date of source: 4 Jan 2024
Rev. Andrea Zakī, the president of the Coptic Evangelical community in Egypt, said that President ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ al-Sīsī’s visit to the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral on Christmas Eve is a model of bringing true citizenship from words into action, and confirms that all Egyptians from all religious...
Date of source: 7 Jan 2024
The Holy Book tells us that a little after the birth of Jesus, he was forced to flee to the lands of Egypt as a refugee. Upon his birth, the Magi, or the Three Wise Men, came from the East to ask about his birthplace, and were guided by a star leading them to the spot where this king was born.
The...
Date of source: 9 Jan 2024
Dr. Aḥmad Karīma, a professor of comparative fiqh (jurisprudence) at al-Azhar University, congratulated Copts over Eastern Christmas, adding that the Prophet Muḥammad had advised his people to treat the Christians of Egypt well.
“The Egyptian people have not had grudges or hatred towards anyone...
Date of source: 7 Jan 2024
Al-Bayt al-Muḥammadī (Muḥammadan House) foundation for Ṣūfīsm studies and heritage science wrapped up preparations to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the pioneering Imām, Shaykh Muḥammad Zakī Ibrāhīm, at the foundation’s headquarters in the Cairo district of al-Moqaṭṭam.
The event will be...
Date of source: 7 Jan 2024
Pope Tawāḍrūs II of the Coptic Orthodox Church said that Egypt, the biggest country in the Middle East region with all its historical and cultural leverage, is handling the Palestinian crisis wisely and appropriately.
“Egypt is offering aid to the Palestinian people and is acting as an outlet for...
Date of source: 1 Jan 2024
Islamic preacher, ʿEṣām al-Rūbī, affirmed that all the personal status laws in Egypt are 100% based on the provisions of the Islamic sharīʿa, adding that the law on khulʿ was mentioned in the Holy Qurʾān.
[DAB Editorial Note: Khulʿ is a procedure based on traditional jurisprudence that allows a...
Date of source: 7 Jan 2024
Al-Azhar Fatwā Global Center published a report on Saturday (January 7) to shed light on the biography of Grand Imām of al-Azhar, Dr. Aḥmad al-Ṭayyīb, on his birthday, which falls on January 6.
Imām Aḥmad Muḥammad Aḥmad al-Ṭayyīb al-Ḥassānī was born on January 6, 1946 in the village of al-Qurna,...
Date of source: 5 Jan 2024
Indonesian President Joko Widodo received the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Salām, to discuss means of boosting cooperation and the roles of the Muslim nation’s scholars and elders in facing the challenges of today’s world.
The Indonesian president expressed...
Date of source: 10 Jan 2024
The year 2023 has seen strenuous efforts by the Muslim Council of Elders, led by Grand Imām of al-Azhar, Dr. Aḥmad al-Ṭayyīb, with the aim of activating the role of religious leaders in confronting global challenges and contributing to finding concrete solutions, namely in the climate change issue...
Date of source: 4 Jan 2024
In 2023, the Muslim Council of Elders presented more than 200 publications aimed at enhancing the values of tolerance and fraternity at book fairs around the world. Locations included Cairo, New Delhi, Alexandria, Abu Dhabi, Rabat, Jakarta and Istanbul.
The council began its contributions to...
Date of source: 7 Jan 2024
The Copts of Egypt stand by the Muslim community in their rejection of Israeli aggression and display of solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine in general.
Press releases and statements by the top clergymen of the church were made one week after the attacks to condemn the aggression and...
Date of source: 30 Dec 2023
The year of 2023 witnessed an important visit by Grand Imām of al-Azhar, Dr. Aḥmad al-Ṭayyīb, to the German capital of Berlin to participate in the International Peace Conference, which was organized by the Sant Egidio Association from the 10-12 of September. During the visit, there were many...
Date of source: 30 Dec 2023
Religious institutions in Egypt rejected “seasonal unofficial fatwās” prohibiting congratulating Christians for Christmas, adding that whoever promotes these opinions is considered to be a hardliner who has nothing to do with Islam. Al-Azhar said in a statement that people who deem congratulating...
Date of source: 28 Dec 2023
Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy, Dr. Naẓīr ʿAyyād, said that the academy attached special importance to the Palestinian issue during 2023, as al-Azhar’s great interest in this cause is pivotal for both the Arab and Muslim nations. He said that al-Azhar has exerted tremendous...
Date of source: 31 Dec 2023
Throughout 2023, al-Azhar magazine has published several articles by renowned scholars of al-Azhar in Egypt and the Arab world on a host of important topics, such as studies of the Qurʾān and the Sunnah, heritage, discourse renewal issues, scholarly studies of the sharīʿa, history, and the Arabic...
Date of source: 30 Dec 2023
The year 2023 witnessed strenuous efforts and activities by Al-Azhar Global Fatwā Center to spread awareness and correct misconceptions of Islam through integrated programs by scholars of the center and maintaining an intensive presence on all media platforms.
During 2023, the center continued its...
Date of source: 27 Dec 2023
As controversy renewed with the beginning of a new Gregorian calendar year, al-Azhar and Dār al-Iftāʾ issued fatwās related to the greeting of non-Muslims over their holidays. Some pages re-published a video for Grand Imām of al-Azhar, Dr. Aḥmad al-Ṭayyīb, urging Muslims to congratulate non-Muslims...
Date of source: 31 Dec 2023
Pope Tawāḍrūs II of the Coptic Orthodox Church said the number of Copts in Egypt are up to 15 million, which is nearly 15% of the population of Egypt, adding that Copts outside Egypt are close to two million in 100 nations.
“The church has something called ‘Church Membership,’ where each child born...
Date of source: 2 Jan 2024
Pope Tawāḍrūs II of the Coptic Orthodox Church received Dr. Andrēa Zakī, President of the Coptic Evangelical Community in Egypt, along with a high-level delegation of the Evangelical denomination, who congratulated the pope over the Eastern Christmas.
Dr. Zakī emphasized the authentic joy and love...
Date of source: 31 Dec 2023
Hours before the beginning of the new year, al-Azhar prayed for God Almighty to grant victory to the people of Gaza against the Zionists.
The official Facebook page for al-Azhar read, “One year has passed, and the Palestinian people have suffered from violent terrorist aggression: they have...
Date of source: 31 Dec 2023
The International Organization for al-Azhar Alumni and the Islamic Convoy for Daʿwa (calls) and Relief, in association with al-Azhar Institutes Sector and the Islamic Research Academy, launched an awareness-raising convoy in southern Sinai, in addition to distributing clothing to the families of...
Date of source: 31 Dec 2023
Between inspiring and decisive humanitarian positions to stop disputes and to protect feelings and sanctities, al-Azhar has spent the year of 2023 leading campaigns on all religious and political levels, from protecting the Holy Qurʾān when it was burned in a number of European nations, to assuming...
Date of source: 1 Jan 2024
Pope Tawāḍrūs II has praised the Egyptian President's ability to separate religion from politics, stating: “I love that President Sīsī distances himself from religion.”
During the program “Fī al-Masāʾ maʿ Qaṣwāʾ” (In the Evening with Qaṣwāʾ), on channel CBC, he added, “Despite this, I have never...
Date of source: 31 Dec 2023
Pope Tawāḍrūs II said that the beginning of Christianity dates back to the first century AD.
On Sunday evening, during the program “Fī al-Masāʾ maʿ Qaṣwāʾ” (In the Evening with Qaṣwāʾ), aired on the channel CBC and presented by the media personality Qaṣwāʾ al-Khalālī, Pope Tawāḍrūs said that...
Date of source: 1 Jan 2024
The Grand Imām of al-Azhar, Dr. Aḥmad al-Ṭayyīb, has declared that what is happening on the ground in Palestine is a hideous atrocity and a crime of unprecedented magnitude, stressing that these events cannot be described as war, since war is typically fought between two equal sides. He described...
Date of source: 31 Dec 2023
Pope Tawāḍrūs II said that it is not correct to use old ways of thinking when it comes to solving current issues. Although they may have worked out well in the past, they are inapplicable in the present and since each era has its own needs and visions, it is therefore important for the individual...
Date of source: 23 Dec 2023
A company was established with the responsibility of legitimizing the theft of Palestinian land — which was central to the colonial project — and inventing a narrative that the colonial countries, along with the most knowledgeable of the twentieth century, would approve for the sake of making this...
Date of source: 15 Dec 2023
The Maronite denomination emerged in Egypt in 1745, when the Aleppo monk, Mūsa Hilāna, consecrated al-Bārija, the first Maronite church in Damietta (Dumyāṭ), as well as in Egypt and Africa.
Archbishop George Shīḥān of the Maronite denomination in Egypt made a statement to al-Yawm al-Sābiʿ, saying...
Date of source: 15 Dec 2023
Coptic Christians are awaiting the president’s decisions to resolve their issues, which have remained unsolved over the years under successive governments.
The official spokesman for the Coptic Catholic Church of Egypt, Anbā Bakhūm, emphasized that the concerns of Copts are not exclusive to them...
Date of source: 17 Dec 2023
On December 17, 1273, Jalāl al-Dīn al-Rūmī, a poet, Ṣūfī mystic, and scholar of the Ḥanafī doctrine, passed away.
The shift in the life of al-Rūmī took place in the year 1244, when he met a wandering Ṣūfī named Shams al-Tabrīzī. At the time, Rūmī was 37 years old and a traditionalist Islamic...
Date of source: 11 Dec 2023
The Ṣūfī Council in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan held a scholarly symposium on interpretation of the Holy Qurʾān, moderated by the council’s secretary-general, Dr. Muḥammad al-ʿĀydī.
The event discussed the means of interpreting the Qurʾān and examined the historical role played by Ṣūfī scholars...
Date of source: 13 Dec 2023
Today, December 13, marks the death anniversary of Shaykh Maḥmūd Shaltūt, an imām who was responsible for some of the largest religious discourse renewals in the 20th century, with illuminating and unprecedented contributions made in the service of the Islamic sharīʿa.
Born in 1893 in al-Buḥayra...
Date of source: 16 Dec 2023
The province of al-Ismāʿīlīya, situated approximately 120 kilometers northeast of Cairo, received a daʿwa (call) convoy, launched by al-Azhar under the auspices of Grand Imām, Dr. Aḥmad al-Ṭayyīb. The primary objective of this initiative was to propagate the accurate concepts of Islam by...