Al-Azhar grand imam accepts invitation to visit Lebanon, vows to reopen Beirut institute - Foreign Affairs
The grand imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed El-Tayyeb, has accepted an invitation from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to visit Lebanon and reopen Al-Azhar's Beirut institute, which had closed amid the country's recent turmoil.
El-Tayyeb received Aoun and a delegation at Al-Azhar's headquarters in Cairo, where he pledged to visit 'at the earliest opportunity,' according to a statement released by the institution.
He also committed to reviving the Al-Azhar Institute in Beirut, promising to send qualified envoys and supply educational resources and curricula.
'Lebanon resides in the heart of every Arab and every Muslim,' the grand imam said, describing the country as a symbol of coexistence and diversity.
President Aoun, currently on an official visit to Cairo, said he was 'honoured' to visit Al-Azhar for the first time.
He praised El-Tayyeb's efforts in advancing interfaith dialogue and combatting extremism.
He also thanked Al-Azhar for its longstanding support of Lebanese students during difficult times.
The meeting also touched on the importance of the Document on Human Fraternity — co-signed by El-Tayyeb and Pope Francis in 2019 — and Al-Azhar's broader efforts to build dialogue between religious and cultural institutions.
Discussions also reaffirmed Al-Azhar's commitment to promoting equal citizenship and rejecting sectarian terms such as 'minorities,' in line with the institution's foundational principles.
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