Egypt s Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb met on Wednesday with officials from the Christian-Muslim forum, originally established in the UK in 2006, to discuss challenges currently facing religious clerics all over the world.
He explained that the main challenge facing clerics, especially in the west, is to spread the true teachings and values of religions, as many societies are subject to a consumer lifestyle far from religious ethics and values.
Among attendees at the Wednesday forum was Egypt s Coptic Archbishop of London Anba Angaelos as well as many other leaders from different UK churches.
Members of the forum stressed that the partnership between Muslim and Christian scholars and clerics makes it possible to work together despite many differences.
Al-Tayeb arrived to the UK last Thursday for a several-day visit, which also included participating in the Emerging Peacemakers Forum, organized by Al-Azhar, in cooperation with the Anglican Church.
El-Tayeb and the United Kingdom s Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby held the forum on Tuesday, partaking in an open dialogue attended by Egyptian and British youth in the UK.
The Archbishop of Canterbury tweeted on Tuesday “it s a great joy to meet the Grand Imam in the context of the #Emerging Peacemakers forum of young Christians and Muslims from around the world at Lambeth Palace – as they explore leadership, peace and reconciliation as people of faith.”
The Egyptian and British attendees were youth interested in the “religious leadership and potential of young leaders."
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Al-Azhar Grand Imam in the UK at the Christian-Muslim forum on Wednesday July 18 (Photo: Courtesy of the Archbishop of Canterbury Twitter account)
During the forum, the Grand Imam and the Archbishop responded to a number of questions from students of both countries, giving the message that they should become peacemakers in their countries.
Al-Tayeb advised young people on Tuesday “to avoid speaking and arguing about and comparing different faiths, stressing that it is not a dialogue that is important in religion and faith, but human values, such as tolerance, advocacy, wisdom and good advice.”
Egypt s Immigration Minister Nabila Makram, British Ambassador to Cairo John Casson, Ali Al-Nuaimi, secretary general of the Council of Muslim Elders, Jihad Amer, member of parliament, as well as a delegation from Al-Azhar were also among the attendees.
After the event, the Archbishop of Canterbury tweeted “this morning we had an excellent meeting with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University to discuss how religious leadership can be re-imagined for the greater good of the world.”
The Archbishop also thanked the Grand Imam “for an honest and hope-filled conversation about the role of religious leaders in our world today.”
