The Islamic Centre in the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, organised a public meeting for Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, with Thai Muslims.

Thousands of Thai Muslims from 45 provinces attended the event, along with Sheikh Aaron Boon Shum (Mohammed Jalaluddin Bin Hussein), Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars of Thailand, and other senior religious leaders and imams from Thailand.

The Grand Imam expressed his happiness at being among this gathering of scholars, thinkers, and Thai imams and noted that when he sees thousands of Thais who have studied at Al-Azhar, he feels as though he has not left Al-Azhar.

He expressed his joy that this visit coincides with the celebration of the Islamic New Year, allowing him to celebrate this cherished occasion with Thai Muslims. He prayed for continued security, peace, progress, and stability for everyone.

The Grand Imam emphasised that the doors of Al-Azhar are open to Thai Muslims, mentioning that Al-Azhar offers 160 scholarships annually for Thai Muslims to study at Al-Azhar University. He expressed Al-Azhar’s readiness to increase these scholarships to meet the needs of the Muslim community in Thailand.

He explained that since its inception, Al-Azhar has been dedicated to explaining and interpreting the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad for Muslims worldwide, including non-Muslims. Al-Azhar’s mission is to spread the message of Islam, which is based on peace among all people, as well as peace between humans and the plant, animal, and inanimate worlds.

The Grand Imam pointed out that the Quran not only promotes peace among Muslims but also explicitly advocates for peace between Muslims and non-Muslims. The relationship between Muslims and others is based on mutual understanding and coexistence, as indicated by the verse “to know one another,” which means to exchange goodwill and good treatment.

He highlighted that the Quran established the foundations for relationships between different civilisations and religions, based on understanding, respect, and acceptance of diversity. Al-Azhar has recognised the need to practically implement this concept by taking serious steps to establish local, regional, and global peace.

The Grand Imam explained that Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders aim to promote peace and affirm the culture of coexistence and mutual respect. He highlighted the local peace initiative “The Egyptian Family House,” launched by Al-Azhar in cooperation with Egyptian churches to eradicate sectarian strife and unite the national fabric of Egypt.

On a regional level, Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders have adopted an approach to unify the Islamic Ummah through Islamic dialogue that brings together different schools of Islamic thought, particularly Sunnis and Shiites.

On a global level, Al-Azhar has opened up to religious and cultural institutions in the West, such as the Vatican, Canterbury Cathedral, and the World Council of Churches. These efforts culminated in the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity between Al-Azhar and the Vatican in 2019.

In his speech, Sheikh Aaron Boon Shum (Mohammed Jalaluddin Bin Hussein), Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars of Thailand, expressed, on behalf of Thai Muslims, their scholars, imams, and Islamic centres spread across the country, his great joy at this historic visit of the Grand Imam to Thailand.

He conveyed their immense gratitude for the significant support and unlimited services provided by Al-Azhar to Thai Muslims, including scholarships, sending Al-Azhar emissaries to Thailand, hosting Thai imams for training at the Al-Azhar Academy for Training Imams and Preachers, and establishing a branch of the World Organisation for Al-Azhar Graduates in Thailand to spread knowledge and Islamic teachings.

He noted that thousands of Thai people have graduated from the prestigious Al-Azhar University, holding prominent positions in various ministries and institutions. He praised Al-Azhar for its authenticity and the dedication of its scholars in serving Sharia and spreading enlightened, moderate thought worldwide. He highlighted that the wise leadership of the Grand Imam plays a significant and active role in promoting the values of fraternity and coexistence among followers of different religions.