Mansoura University President Receives Egypt’s Grand Mufti to Defend a PhD Thesis at the Faculty of Arts

Prof. Cherif Youssef Khater, President of Mansoura University, received on  January 8, 2025, Prof. Nazir Muhammad Ayyad, Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt, during his visit to the university to defend a PhD thesis at the Faculty of Arts in Islamic Philosophy and Sufism, in the presence of Prof. Muhammad Abd al-Azim, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Research Affairs, and Prof. Mahmoud al-Gaidi, Dean of the Faculty of Arts.

During the meeting, Prof. Cherif Khater welcomed Prof. Nazir Ayyad to the university, praising his great efforts in spreading the true religion and the moderate Al-Azhar methodology, which preserves the stability of societies, expressing his great appreciation for his kind visit to the university and his participation in discussing the PhD thesis at the Faculty of Arts.

The President of the University praised the pioneering role played by the Egyptian Dar Al-Iftaa, which is one of the oldest religious institutions and is at the forefront of Islamic institutions in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Arab world. It plays its historical and civilizational role by connecting contemporary Muslims with the fundamentals of their religion and clarifying the features of moderate Islam throughout the ages by publishing fatwas enlightened by the approach of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, confronting extremist ideas, and protecting society from intellectual and social challenges, which enhances Egypt's pioneering fatwa role in the Islamic world.

Prof. Nazir Ayyad, Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt, expressed his pleasure with this meeting and the warm reception, expressing his great appreciation for this meeting at Mansoura University, and from within the city of Mansoura and Dakahlia Governorate, which he pointed out his spiritual connection to, as his first work was as a teaching assistant and then an assistant professor at the Faculty of Fundamentals of Religion in Mansoura, Al-Azhar University. He also stressed the importance of the university's research and educational role and community service, wishing the university and its leadership all success and progress.

At the end of the meeting, Prof. Cherif Khater presented the university shield to Prof. Nazir Ayyad, in appreciation and honor of him, as he is one of the most important religious symbols that Egypt and the Islamic world are proud of.

It is noteworthy that the Grand Mufti of Egypt discussed the doctoral dissertation submitted by the researcher/ Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed Al-Abidi, in Islamic philosophy and Sufism under the title: "Spiritual education between Rene Guénon (Abdel Wahid Yahya) and (Abdel Halim Mahmoud) -A comparative analytical study".

The discussion and judgment committee was formed by Prof. Ibrahim Mohamed Yassin, Professor of Islamic Philosophy and Sufism "Supervisor and Chairman", Prof. Nazir Mohamed Ayad, Professor of Doctrine and Philosophy - Faculty of Islamic Studies, Al-Azhar University - Kafr El-Sheikh and the Grand Mufti of Egypt "Discussant and Member", Prof. Abdel-Ghani Al-Gharib Taha Rajih, Professor of Doctrine and Philosophy, Faculty of Fundamentals of Religion and Da'wah in Zagazig - Al-Azhar University "Discussant and Member".

The discussion was attended by Sheikh Dr. Safwat Nazir, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments in Dakahlia, Sheikh Sami Agur, Director General of the Dakahlia District at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, a group of faculty members from Mansoura University and Al-Azhar University, scholars of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and the Egyptian Iftaa House.

The researcher Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed Al-Abidi obtained a PhD in Islamic Philosophy and Sufism with honor, with a recommendation for exchange between Egyptian universities.