Minister Osama Al-Azhari Addresses Graduates of the Third Cohort of Awqaf Imams

Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, the Minister of Awqaf, delivered a speech during the graduation ceremony for the third cohort of Awqaf Imams, named after Imam Hassan Al-Attar, held at the Egyptian Military Academy.

In his address, Dr. Al-Azhari stated: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, a mercy to all worlds, and upon his family and companions. Distinguished guests, today is a joyous and proud day for me as I witness my sons, the preachers, graduating in the presence of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and esteemed state officials. After six months of rigorous training, my sons have gained immense knowledge and skills from various experts in different fields. They were nurtured by the Egyptian Military Academy, a prestigious institution that fosters patriotism through a comprehensive training program rich in both religious and human sciences.”.

He continued: “This cohort carries the name of Sheikh Al-Azhar Imam Hassan Al-Attar, a figure who significantly contributed to civilization and promoted openness to world cultures. Their graduation project was recently discussed and approved, focusing on Imam Rifa’a Al-Tahtawi—a prominent Azhar scholar who journeyed from Egypt to France and returned proud of his faith and nation while championing education and cultural exchange.”.

Dr. Al-Azhari highlighted that this graduating class consists of 259 graduates who were selected based on high standards of competence. Among them are 15 graduates with reading certificates, 26 with exceptional voices, 20 holding master’s degrees, two with doctoral degrees, and 11 proficient in at least one foreign language aside from Arabic. This selection exemplifies our vision for creating a new generation of preachers through meticulous talent identification followed by comprehensive training that enriches their knowledge in religious sciences while equipping them with contemporary understanding.

He expressed gratitude towards the Egyptian people: “This is our methodology for developing individuals who proudly serve their country. Our commitment extends beyond just our Ministry; it reflects Egypt’s dedication to building competencies across various state ministries as part of our practical implementation of human development initiatives.”.

In closing his speech, Dr. Al-Azhari thanked the Egyptian Military Academy for their support in hosting this graduating class and congratulated the graduates on their achievement. He urged them to carry forward their responsibilities with integrity and wisdom: “May you become beacons illuminating paths for others in your great nation and beyond. May Allah make you lights shining across lands as you uphold values against extremism while promoting ethics and civilization.”.

He concluded with a prayer for success: “May you speak words that resonate deeply within souls while inspiring thoughts towards creativity; may people listen in admiration to your message—indeed Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty.”.