Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Egypt to Deliver His Speech at UIN Jakarta
Jakarta – The Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, Prof. Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, is scheduled to deliver a public lecture at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN), Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
The Grand Sheikh is expected to give his lecture at the Harun Nasution Auditorium of UIN Jakarta after visiting the State Palace and meeting with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo.
The Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, welcomed the planned visit of the Grand Sheikh to Indonesia. He noted that the good relationship between Egypt and Indonesia has been established since the independence of the Republic of Indonesia, with Egypt being one of the countries that supported Indonesia's independence. Additionally, the relationship in the field of education is also very close.
“Thousands of Indonesian students study in Egypt. Many prominent scholars in Indonesia have pursued their studies in the land of the Prophets. Even the 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia, KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gusdur), also studied in the land of kinanah,” said Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
To ensure the success of this event, the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia invited all Rectors of State Islamic Religious Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN) and Religious Higher Education Institutions in Indonesia, as well as Interfaith Leaders, to attend the public lecture at UIN Jakarta.
The Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, Ph.D., stated that the arrival of this esteemed guest is a blessing for the academic community. “We will certainly gain knowledge and insights from the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar,” said Asep S. Jahar.
According to the Rector of UIN Jakarta, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar will deliver a public lecture on the theme "strengthening religious moderation to build tolerance and harmony." This theme, explained Asep S. Jahar, is highly relevant to the current context. “Islam, as a religion of peace for all worlds, always emphasizes religious moderation in everyday life,” said Asep S. Jahar.
The Chair of the Organizing Committee for the Grand Sheikh's Public Lecture at UIN Jakarta, Dr. Yuli Yasin, mentioned that the committee has coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Jakarta, and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Cairo to ensure the success of this event.
Every day, according to Dr. Yuli Yasin, since the announcement of the Grand Sheikh's arrival and the plan for the public lecture at UIN Jakarta, the committee has been holding meetings both online and offline. “The committee also coordinates through the WhatsApp Group to address technical matters,” said Dr. Yuli, who also serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Dirasat Islamiyah at UIN Jakarta.
The Grand Sheikh's Public Lecture is expected to be attended by Prof. Dr. K.H. Al-Habib Muhammad Quraish Shihab, Lc., M.A, who will give his remarks. Prof. Dr. Quraish Shihab is an alumnus of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, has served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Cairo, Egypt, and has also served as the Rector of UIN Jakarta (for the period of 1992 to 1998).
Contact Persons:
- Dr. Yuli Yasin: 0857-7222-7486
- Zaenal Muttaqin, MA: 0899-8147-515