The First meeting of the Grand Council of the Scholars of Al Azhar after its legal amendment

Today marked the first meeting of the Grand Council of Scholars of Al Azhar al Shareef in its brand new form after being subjected to some necessary legal amendments which brought its prestigious status back to its golden age. Deep discussions have been conducted among the scholars to define the role and the specificities of the institution of the Grand Council of Scholars according to the legal amendment of the Azhar law number 103 for the year 1960. Also the issue of the complete legal independency of Al Azhar and its constitutional stance has been tackled to guarantee for the Azhar the continuity of its unique role which lasted for one thousand years in the field of local, regional and international humanitarian issues along with searching for a common word among world religions.

The council has discussed the two suggested additional laws in the new constitution which are related to the independence of Al Azhar al Shareef for being an essential element in the building of the Egyptian nation. The second suggested law has to do with the Council’s legal right to have the final saying in the debatable disputed issues of the Islamic Shari’ah. The Islamic Shari’ah guarantees for both Christians and Jews their full right to refer to their own religious laws in case of any legal disputes in their personal lives and religious practices.

At the end of today’s meeting the Grand Council confirmed its continued willingness to serve the Azhar, the Islamic nation and the world at large in all humanitarian fields.