Al-Azhar Initiative of Bayt al-ʿĀʾila (the House of the Egyptian Family) as a Model of Promoting Peaceful Coexistence

One of the outstanding contributions of Al-Azhar is in proactively launching an important initiative titled “the House of the Egyptian Family” in collaboration with the Egyptian Coptic Churches. Dr Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, had decided to launch the initiative of “the House of the Egyptian Family” following the criminal accident against the Church of Saydat al-Najah (or the Lady of Salvation) in Baghdad. Subsequently, when the terrorist incident against “al-Qiddisayn” or the two Saints church in Alexandria took place on the 1st of January 2011 C, the Sheikh of al-Azhar resurrected once more a call that is most dear to heart of Egyptians, namely “the unity of the crescent and the cross,” the symbols of Islam and Christianity, in support of Egypt and humanity. This strong relation between the adherents of the two great religions; Islam and Christianity has been highlighted in the Glorious Quran, which unequivocally expressed, “you are sure to find that the closest in affection towards the believers are those who say, ‘We are Christians,’ for there are among them people devoted and ascetics. Those people are not given to arrogance.” (5: 82)

During the visit of Al-Azhar’s delegation, headed by the Grand Imam, to his Holiness Pope Shenouda III, on the 7th of January 2011, the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar proposed the idea of “the House of the Egyptian Family,” an initiative that united the voices of al-Azhar, the Egyptian Coptic Church and other national powers in support of unity and cooperation against the plights of extremism and terrorism.

Not only does “The House of the Egyptian Family” bring together Al-Azhar & the Coptic Church but it also comprises the voices and representation of the Orthodox Church, the Coptic Catholic Church, the Evangelical Church, and the Anglican Episcopal Church. It also includes a number of important figures who are not affiliated to Al-Azhar or the churches; dignitaries that represent Muslim and Christian figures, specialists in the fields of civilizations, religions, history, sociology, Law, jurisprudence or Shari‘ah law, and education. “The House” has a board of trustees concerned with implementing the general policy and following upon its various activities in addition to an executive board concerned with implementing its general policy and with affiliation from all over Egypt.

Experience has shown that the fanatic and extremist groups manipulate the teachings of religions to achieve their hidden agenda. One of their principles in their strategy is to spread dissent and discoed between the followers of Islam and Christianity which represent the major components of the populations of Egypt that is why we are in urgent need to such initiative of the House of the Egyptian Family. This will be very clear when we refer to the goals of this initiative.

The Ultimate Goal

The ultimate goal of this hub of dialogue and understanding is to uphold moderate ideals and principles, to restore Muslim and Christian values of compassion, empathy and understanding, to cultivate common grounds between Muslims and Christians and build upon them, among many other goals. Finally, the Family House aims at rejecting violence and discord and preventing such occurrences in the future in addition to focusing on rephrasing the Islamic-Christian religious discourse, and discussing the common supreme values between the two religions.

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