Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Sunday that Egypt will continue "building awareness and reforming religious discourse as a collaborative, participatory responsibility."
In a speech during a celebration of Moulid El-Nabi - Prophet Muhammad's birth anniversary - at Manara International Conference Centre in New Cairo, the president urged religious authorities to double their efforts to spread tolerance and correct religious misconceptions.
"This is a collaborative, participatory responsibility that requires concerted efforts so that we build together a bright and wise intellectual path that forges a virtuous character that is capable of facing challenges and building the future state," El-Sisi said.
He congratulated the Egyptian people and the Islamic nations of the Moulid El-Nabi anniversary, praying that "All Mighty God bestows his Mercy and blessings on people worldwide."
The president said Islam instructions spread by Prophet Muhammad call for achieving coexistence, social peace among people, and ensuring the right of all people in decent life.
Sunday’s event commemorated the Moulid El-Nabi, which comes every year on 12 Rabi' Al-Awwal – the third month of the Islamic calendar –, falls this year on 19 October on the Gregorian calendar.
The celebration, which started with reciting verses of Holy Quran and hosted by the Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf), was attended by Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly, state officials, and religious scholars.
Minister of Religious Endowments Mokhtar Gomaa presented El-Sisi a series of Ro'ya (Vision) publications issued by the ministry to correct religious misconceptions.
During the celebration, El-Sisi honored a number of religious figures from Egypt and the Islamic world for their intellectual contributions.
The president urged religious institutions and scholars to intensify their efforts to spread the values of coexistence, intellectual diversity, acceptance of others and tolerant Islamic instructions.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
