Grand Imam reaches out to Saudis

Al-Azhar Mosque Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb’s visit to Saudi Arabia has been interpreted as a first step in the Egyptian Sunni authority’s aim to reunify the Arab and Islamic worlds. Adviser to the sheikh and head of the Arabic Language Academy, Hassan El Shafei, has told Arabstoday the visit demonstrates “al-Azhar’s firm place in the hearts of our Saudi brothers.” Al-Tayeb and accompanying delegates will visit Bahrain after Saudi Arabia, calling for “brotherhood, solidarity and love,” El Shafei stated. The grand imam left Cairo on Friday on the invitation of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. Other scholars and religious officials form the accompanying delegation to Riyadh. Senior scientist Mohamed Emara welcomed the move as “coming at the right time to solve relations between Sunnis and Shiites.” “This visit will be a building block for Arab and Islamic unity,” he argued. The Riyadh delegation marks Ahmed al-Tayeb’s first official visit since taking office three years ago.