JAKARTA: The grand imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif met Indonesia’s incumbent and upcoming leadership on Wednesday, during the Jakarta part of his tour of Southeast Asian nations.
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb has visited Malaysia and Thailand on the regional tour that began on July 2, making Indonesia his last stop.
“We are very happy with His Excellency’s visit, which coincides with the Islamic new year,” Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin said during his meeting with Al-Tayeb.
Amin highlighted Indonesia’s close cooperation with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, which was “an important part in the history of relations and cooperation between Indonesia and Egypt,” his office said in a statement.
On Wednesday, Al-Tayeb also held talks with Indonesia’s president-elect and defense minister Prabowo Subianto and attended an interfaith event organized by Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama.
Indonesia-Egypt cooperation in education and interfaith initiatives were discussed when President Joko Widodo and Al-Tayeb met on Tuesday.
“On Indonesia-Egypt relations, the president highlighted how Egypt has historically been a destination for many Indonesian students,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after the meeting.
About 15,000 Indonesians live in Egypt, about 95 percent of whom are students.
As grand imam, Al-Tayeb heads the Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Al-Azhar Mosque, and by extension the Al-Azhar University. He is also responsible for official religious matters, along with the Grand Mufti of Egypt.
Al-Azhar Al-Sharif is one of the world’s most prestigious Islamic scientific bodies and the largest religious institution in Egypt.
Muhammad Zainul Majdi, who heads the Indonesian chapter of the international organization of Al-Azhar University alumni, said that Al-Tayeb’s visit would have a positive impact on the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country and was “also an important momentum to strengthen Indonesia’s relations with Al-Azhar, which is (one of the) oldest Islamic academic institutions with a significant global influence.”
