Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Egypt celebrates unity and peace on Islamic New Year
In a celebration marking the beginning of the Islamic New Year, Egypt’s Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf) hosted a multifaceted event at the historic Imam Hussein Mosque in Cairo, gathering senior religious leaders, government officials, ambassadors, and scholars from across the Muslim world.
The ceremony was led by Prof. Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Religious Endowments, joined by distinguished guests representing Egypt’s highest national and religious authorities.
Notable participants included representatives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the Governor of Cairo, the leader of Egypt’s Sufi orders, members of Islamic research academies, and diplomats from Indonesia, Morocco, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Sudan. This remarkable gathering reflected a spirit of unity and shared heritage, not only for Egypt but for the wider international Muslim community.
The event opened with a resonant recitation from the Holy Qur’an by Dr. Ahmed Nuaina, filling the mosque with an atmosphere of reverence and contemplation.
Speakers throughout the ceremony drew from the profound lessons of the Prophet Muhammad’s historic migration—known as the Hijra.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Naggar, a prominent member of Egypt’s Islamic Research Academy, highlighted the deep connection between spiritual journey and love for one’s homeland, reminding the audience that the Hijra was not an abandonment of the Prophet’s birthplace, Makkah, but a noble transition to establish a just and inclusive community founded on faith, freedom, and justice—values that continue to inspire across generations.
In his address, Prof. Alaa Janib, Dean of the Faculty of Arabic Language at Al-Azhar University, commended the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to preserve Islamic heritage, especially through architectural restoration projects honouring the descendants of the Prophet.
He praised the Ministry’s commitment to reforming religious discourse, nurturing a message that is both deeply rooted in tradition and responsive to the modern world—making it accessible to all people, in every language, and across all cultures.
This year’s commemoration also featured the launch of the “Digital Hijra Exhibition”, a pioneering initiative using cutting-edge technology to bring the story of the prophetic migration to new generations around the globe. Visitors can explore key milestones of the journey, presented in an engaging, interactive format online for the very first time.
Prof. Osama Al-Azhari concluded the evening with heartfelt prayers for Egypt and its people, as well as for peace and well-being throughout the wider region—including steadfast hopes for relief and security for the people of Palestine and Gaza.