Ashrsf AboArafe
In a meeting steeped in the fragrance of wisdom — where the breeze of Cairo intertwines with the spirit of Samarkand — His Eminence Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, welcomed Mrs. Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan and member of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity jury.
A visit illuminated by a shared vision: to safeguard Islamic heritage and renew its pathways for generations to come.
The Grand Imam warmly greeted his distinguished guest, sending his sincere regards to His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, recalling the gracious hospitality extended to him during his visits to Uzbekistan in 2018 and 2020.
He affirmed that the Islamic intellect, in its most radiant form, continues to hold Uzbekistan in profound esteem — that blessed land which gave the world towering scholars whose influence shaped the very fabric of Islamic civilisation: al-Maturidi, al-Tirmidhi, al-Zamakhshari, al-Farabi, al-Khwarizmi, and countless other luminaries whose light travelled beyond the borders of their homeland and enriched humanity as a whole.
His Eminence expressed his joy in witnessing Muslim women — embodied proudly in the figure of Mrs. Saida — assuming high state leadership roles, after having long been restrained by traditions that bear no root in Islam. He praised her efforts in defending human rights, empowering women, protecting children, and promoting education, culture, and initiatives to preserve Islamic heritage.
For her part, Mrs. Saida expressed her deep honour at meeting the Grand Imam, describing him as a singular moral and spiritual voice whose global efforts foster fraternity, coexistence, and the preservation of Islamic heritage while confronting extremist ideologies.
She conveyed the greetings of President Mirziyoyev and his wishes for the Grand Imam’s continued health and blessings, and she expressed her pride in the honorary doctorate granted to His Eminence by the Uzbekistan Islamic Academy in 2018. She noted her keen interest in his speeches and writings, and her appreciation for his unwavering support of women’s dignity and rights.
With a vision rooted in knowledge, Mrs. Saida reaffirmed her country’s intention to deepen cooperation with Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders through:
- joint academic projects with Al-Azhar University and the Uzbekistan Islamic Academy,
- restoring and publishing over 100,000 Islamic manuscripts,
- reviving the scholarly legacy of Imam al-Maturidi,
- exchanging researchers and students,
- and strengthening coordination between Al-Azhar Observatory and Uzbekistan’s religious institutions to rehabilitate individuals influenced by extremist ideas and reintegrate them into society.
The Grand Imam affirmed Al-Azhar’s readiness to support all these valuable initiatives, directing that a joint committee be formed to begin implementation without delay.
At the close of the meeting, Mrs. Saida extended an official invitation to the Grand Imam to visit Uzbekistan and attend the opening of the Islamic Civilization Center in Tashkent, the largest of its kind in Central Asia.
His Eminence warmly welcomed the invitation, congratulating the Uzbek people on this monumental achievement — a beacon that continues the proud legacy of the scholars of Ma Wara’ al-Nahr and carries their heritage into a luminous future.
