President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Monday underscored the importance of strengthening human development, stressing that this responsibility lies with families and institutions, including religious, educational, cultural, and media organisations.
The president’s remarks came as he delivered a keynote speech during the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday at the Al-Manara International Convention Centre in Cairo.
During his address, President Sisi extended heartfelt congratulations to the Egyptian people, as well as to Arab and Islamic nations, praying for peace and prosperity for all.
In his speech, the president highlighted the profound significance of the occasion, marking the birth of the Prophet as a time to reflect on the values of humanity, unity, and morality.
The president reiterated the urgent 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 ideas.
The state, he added, is fully committed to providing all necessary support and to creating a conducive environment to ensure the success of these efforts.
He called for collaborative efforts to foster a generation of conscious, resilient individuals capable of building their country, overcoming difficulties, confronting challenges and spreading reconstruction and advancement.
The president also referenced Prophet Muhammad’s words, “Verily, I have only been sent to perfect righteous character”, urging Egyptians to embody good ethics in all aspects of life. He emphasised the need for a modern approach to human development that integrates advanced methods and knowledge while maintaining the core values of kindness, compassion, and dialogue.
In closing, President Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at promoting enlightened thought, countering extremist ideologies, and upholding moral values. He expressed optimism for the future and wished the Egyptian people, the Islamic world, and humanity at large continued peace and prosperity.
“May Egypt, the Islamic nation, and all of humanity continue to thrive in safety and abundance,” President Sisi concluded.
As part of the ceremony organised by the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) to mark the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi), President Sisi honoured a number of distinguished Egyptian scholars.
Among the honorees were Shawki Allam, former Grand Mufti of Egypt, Hisham Abdelaziz, head of the political communications group at the Ministry of Endowments, and Magdy Abou Eid, former head of the engineering department at the ministry. Other recipients included Sheikh Sami al-Shaarawi, son of the renowned scholar Sheikh Mohamed Metwally al-Shaarawi, Mansour al-Rifai Ubaid, former deputy of the Ministry of Awqaf, and preacher Fatma Antar.
From outside Egypt, the president also honoured Somalia’s Minister of Religious Endowments for his contributions. During the event, President Sisi engaged in cordial conversations with the honourees, including Sheikh al-Shaarawi’s son.
Representatives from Al-Azhar, the Ministry of Awqaf, and members of the Egyptian parliament were present at the meeting.
The event began with a recitation of verses from the Qur’an, followed by a speech by Dr Osama al-Azhari, Minister of Religious Endowments, who highlighted the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the significance of commemorating this occasion.
The ceremony concluded with President Sisi’s presentation of awards to scholars who have dedicated their lives to the promotion of knowledge, Islamic scholarship, and the spread of moderate religious teachings.
