Egyptian grand imam calls for unity in face of terrorism

Grand imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed El Tayyeb, who is responsible for official religious matters along with the grand mufti of Egypt, Thursday called for the unity of the Islamic nation in the face of terrorism, media reported.

Tayyeb, during the awqaf ministry's celebrations of Prophet Muhammad's birth anniversary, reiterated Al Azhar scholars' commitment to spread moderate teachings of Islam away from any misleading ideology, MENA news agency reported.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab were among those attending the event.

Tayyeb expressed happiness over the development achieved so far under President Sisi.

Awqaf Minister Mohamed Mokhtar Guma, meanwhile, stressed that the ministry would continue efforts to renew religious discourse and spread moderate teachings of Islam.

The minister said he has already contacting with Muslim and Christian thinkers to set up a national library comprising all their writings to be distributed in schools, universities and palaces of culture.