“In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful”

 His Eminence, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar,

Distinguished scholars and imams,

Ladies and gentlemen

May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon you

Today, we gather to celebrate, along with the Islamic nation, the occasion of the birth of the Seal of Prophets and Messengers, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. On this blessed day, Allah the Almighty decreed that the sun of prophetic guidance dawns upon the world with his birth, peace be upon him.

It gives me pleasure, on this noble and redolent occasion, to extend greetings to the noble people of Egypt and all Arab and Muslim peoples, praying to Allah the Almighty to return it upon the Egyptian people, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the entire world, with goodness, blessings and prosperity.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The celebration of the Prophet’s noble birth inspires us to embrace the true essence of humanity, as his birth, peace be upon him, rejuvenated humanity and bestowed upon its great honour.

Our celebration today offers an opportunity to reflect on his inspiring journey, peace be upon him, and delve into Islam’s noble teachings, which have elevated humanity to its greatest levels.

His remarkable life charted a path of compassion and fraternity for humanity, guided by a moral code that unites rather than divides, and builds rather than tears down. It is a message that promotes coexistence, construction, and development. The verses of the Holy Quran have clearly stated that one of the loftiest purposes of creation is to foster a righteous human being, who can fulfill the divine mission entrusted to him by Allah the Almighty, namely to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the universe.

Undoubtedly, the task of developing, shaping, and preparing a human being is a shared and integrative responsibility that requires the concerted efforts of religious, scientific, cultural, youth, and media institutions, and foremost, the family. Let us work together to build a strong, conscious, and wise individual, capable of building his homeland in various domains, serving as a role model of the teachings of his religion. A resilient individual with a strong and balanced character, able to surmount impediments, confront challenges, and foster progress, civilization and development.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The saying of our noble Prophet, (Peace Be Upon Him): “I was sent to perfect noble character” is a call for all of us to embody the virtuous morals in all walks of life. In this regard, we strive to strengthen our efforts toward building the human being, morally, scientifically, culturally, intellectually and qualitatively, by harnessing all cutting-edge tools and innovative methods that align with the nature of the age and its progress.

Let people engage with one another on the basis of exalted principles; principles of goodness, benefit, compassion, mercy and kindness for all people. So that all peoples will live in an atmosphere of peace and security, and when differences arise, their approach is grounded in dialogue and persuasion, devoid of coercion and harm.

Finally, I reiterate the urgent and dire need for enhanced efforts by all state institutions, particularly religious institutions, to develop individuals, instill values, and promote enlightened moderate thought, in addition to confronting extremist and destructive ideologies. I further emphasize that the Egyptian State is fully committed to providing all necessary support and to creating a conducive environment to ensure the success of these endeavours.

Thank you

Many Happy Returns

May Egypt, the Islamic nation and all of humanity live in goodness, safety and prosperity