On the sidelines of the International Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 17-18 September 2025, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met His Eminence Dr. Nazir Mohamed Ayyad, Egypt’s Grand Mufti.

During this meeting, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s key initiatives pertaining to dialogue and intercultural understanding, most notably the “Read it, to Understand it,” which is a qualitative initiative that underlines the importance of understanding the Holy Quran before any interpretation or judgment, seeking to establish a deep knowledge-based approach to address religious texts. He also pointed to the ongoing preparations for the International Conference on “Imam Al-Bukhari: His Life and Legacy,” to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, later this year, stressing the importance of the participation of Egyptian religious institutions in enriching this major scientific conference.

For his part, His Eminence Dr. Ayyad expressed his pride in the close cooperation with ICESCO, pointing out that the two parties share many common interests, which opens up broad prospects for strengthening cooperation on issues of mutual interest. He also stressed Dar Al-Ifta’s keenness to actively contribute to the initiative “Read it, to Understand it” and take part in the Al-Imam Al-Bukhari Conference.

At the close of the meeting, His Eminence the Mufti extended an official invitation to ICESCO Director-General to visit Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta at the earliest opportunity. Dr. AlMalik underscored the importance of involving Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta in ICESCO’s programs and seminars on religious and intellectual matters, given its potential to consolidate the values of moderation and coexistence.