His Eminence Dr. Nazir Mohamed Ayyad, Grand Mufti of Egypt and President of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, received Bishop Mouneer Hanna, Archbishop Emeritus of the Anglican Church and Director of the Christian-Islamic Center for Understanding and Partnership, along with a delegation of diplomats from foreign embassies in Egypt.

Welcoming the delegation, the Grand Mufti emphasized the importance of such meetings in fostering cooperation and strengthening dialogue on shared concerns. He commended Bishop Mouneer Hanna’s role in promoting interfaith understanding and collaboration.

His Eminence provided an overview of Dar Al-Ifta’s mission and departments, highlighting its role in issuing verbal, electronic, and written fatwas, offering marital counseling, resolving disputes, and engaging in interfaith dialogue to counter extremism and atheism. He also discussed the institution’s training programs aimed at producing well-structured fatwas that align with Islamic jurisprudence while addressing contemporary realities. Furthermore, he outlined the work of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, which includes 111 members from 108 countries, and its initiatives such as the Salam Center for Countering Extremism and Islamophobia, the Global Fatwa Index, and the Translation Center, which aims to expand its linguistic coverage to 15 languages.

During the meeting, the Grand Mufti conveyed several key messages:

1.Religious Harmony in Egypt: He underscored the deep-rooted coexistence between Muslims and Christians in Egypt, citing the collaboration between Islamic institutions such as Al-Azhar, the Ministry of Endowmwnts, and Dar Al-Ifta, alongside Christian churches, through the Egyptian Family House initiative.

2.Shared Responsibility: His Eminence emphasized that this religious and social integration fosters a collective sense of responsibility, leading to ongoing discussions and initiatives that address societal challenges through a balanced academic and religious approach.

3.Egypt as a Cradle of Religions and Civilizations: He affirmed that Egypt has long been a hub of religious and cultural diversity, where coexistence is built on mutual respect and shared responsibility. He stressed that diversity should not be seen as a barrier to unity but rather as a foundation for peaceful coexistence.

4.The Tragedy in Gaza: The Grand Mufti urged free-thinking individuals and people of conscience worldwide to recognize their moral responsibility toward the Palestinian people, who are facing collective punishment. He called on the diplomatic delegation to serve as advocates for Gaza and to counter biased media narratives that distort reality by portraying aggressors as victims and victims as aggressors.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Bishop Mouneer Hanna and the accompanying delegation expressed their deep appreciation for the Grand Mufti’s warm reception and commended his efforts in fostering interfaith cooperation and strengthening national unity.