Sisi urges formation of distinguished generation of enlightened imams, preachers

CAIRO – 26 August 2021: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi urged the formation of a distinguished generation of enlightened imams and preachers so that to formulate a disciplined religious public opinion.

This should come “in a way that takes into consideration the developments, pursues the jurisprudence of reality,” while preserving the principles of the true Islamic Sharia, the Presidency said in a statement.

The president’s remarks came in a meeting on Thursday with Minister of Religious Endowments Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa and President’s Advisor for Financial Affairs Mohamed Amin, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

The meeting reviewed the efforts of the Ministry of Endowments in developing the Al-Awqaf Egyptian Authority as well as training and qualifying imams, the spokesman said.

The meeting also tackled the ministry's activity in the field of authorship and translation, Radi added.

During the meeting, Gomaa presented the ministry’s efforts in managing the Al-Awqaf Authority’s funds, in order to ensure the development of the ministry’s investments and to achieve the highest return from them.

In this regard, the president urged continuing the efforts made to preserve, develop and manage the endowment funds.

Gomaa, during the meeting, also presented the role of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and its success in the field of authorship and translation.

He also presented the ministry’s efforts to intensify communication with moderate religious institutions around the world to contribute to spreading moderate thought, achieving global peace and consolidating the foundations of coexistence based on mutual respect between countries and peoples.

The ministry’s communication with these global institutions also aim to consolidate the concept of the national state and respect of citizenship rights, Gomaa added.

The president was also briefed on the executive position of the ministry’s plan regarding the training of imams, urging to strengthen efforts to support the financial conditions of imams.

Sisi also urged intensifying high-level scientific and cultural training programs allocated for them, whether at the International Awqaf Academy or in cooperation with institutions concerned with awareness-raising and character-building.

This comes within the framework of enhancing the state’s strategy to spread rational, moderate thought and the principles of true religion and correct misconceptions, through the formation of a distinguished generation of enlightened imams and preachers.