Al-Azhar preachers deliver first sermon to Cairo Metro

CAIRO – 29 May 2017: The Azhar Islamic Research Academy (AIRA) delivered the first religious sermon to Cairo Metro stations on Saturday, according to a statement issued by the AIRA.

Sheikh Hany Shams al-Din, head of Public Relations at the AIRA, delivered the sermon to the passengers of Cairo Metro Line 2 via the internal radio station of Cairo Metro. The speech of Shams al-Din comes within the cooperation protocol signed between the AIRA and the Metro Company to broadcast daily religious programs at Cairo Metro stations during the holy month of Ramadan.

The AIRA, affiliated to Al-Azhar University, deals with controversial Islamic issues and holds regular international Islamic conferences in Egypt to spread moderate Islamic principles.

The agreement is part of the academy’s strategy to reach larger numbers of people and present accurate Islamic concepts and morals, Mohy el-Din Afify, secretary general of the AIRA, said.

The 10 minute speech tackled the wave of violence that has hit the country in recent years, most recently the Minya attack which killed at least 28 Coptic Christians on 26 May. Shams al-Din condemned the attack and extended condolence to the victims’ families, stressing the importance of unity among Egyptians in the face of terrorism.

Moreover, the Metro Company will open a permanent office at the Shohadaa Metro station where a group of al-Azhar preachers can offer fatwas (Islamic decrees) for Metro passengers, the spokesman of the Metro Company, Ahmed Abdel Hady told Masrawy news agency.