President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has reaffirmed that building nations begins with building human capital, cultivating enlightened generations capable of confronting the challenges of our time, and ensuring that Islam remains a living religion aligned with the realities of life and the developments of the modern age.
He also emphasised that responsible religious teachings are essential for societal stability, national development, and preparing citizens to contribute meaningfully to the progress of their countries.
The president’s remarks came during his meeting with ministers, muftis from various countries, heads of Islamic councils and organisations, and a select group of scholars participating in the 36th International Conference of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, hosted by Egypt on January 19–20, 2026.
Minister of Waqfs (Religious Endowments), Dr Osama al-Azhari, and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr Ahmed Nabawi Makhlouf, attended the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, President Sisi welcomed the participants and expressed hope that the conference would achieve its objectives, including formulating unified strategies to counter extremist ideology, exploring the role of religious institutions in promoting societal cohesion, and leveraging digital tools to enhance contemporary Islamic outreach.
The Egyptian leader described the conference as a bridge connecting deeply-rooted Islamic values with the horizons of a digital future, highlighting that Egypt prioritises developing human capital and fostering a generation capable of supporting sustainable national development, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed el-Shennawy said.
President Sisi outlined Egypt’s vision for religious discourse based on firm foundations: preventing the exploitation of religion for conflict or extremism, empowering scholars to confront terrorism and radical ideologies, and ensuring religious guidance contributes to security, societal development, and human capital.
In his remarks, President Sisi emphasised the importance of paying due attention to the selection and training of preachers as well as to developing mosques into religious and educational centre with integrated community service. The president also stressed the necessity of promoting a religious discourse characterised by awareness and comprehensiveness, capable of confronting extremism and terrorism, safeguarding nations and fostering growth, Spokesman Shennawy said.
In an interactive dialogue with participants, the president highlighted the necessity of promoting moderate thought and countering extremism and terrorism. President Sisi also called for instilling a holistic understanding of Islam on individual and societal levels as well as on the level of Islamic countries, emphasising in this connection Egypt and Al-Azhar’s leading role in the Arab and Islamic worlds, Spokesman Shennawy said.
