Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Endowments, emphasized Egypt’s firm stance under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in rejecting aggression and the forced displacement of Palestinians, affirming that Egypt exerts every possible effort to extinguish the fires of war in Gaza and the West Bank, based on its belief in the values of justice and rejection of oppression and aggression.

Al-Azhari said during his speech at the Mawlid al-Nabawi celebration attended by President El-Sisi at the Al-Manara Conference Center that Egypt “categorically rejects the displacement of our brothers no matter the heavy sacrifices,” stressing that the only solution to the Palestinian crisis is the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Minister of Endowments added that history bears witness to Egypt’s pioneering role in supporting justice, referring to what Imam Al-Izz ibn Abdessalam said about 800 years ago when he considered that the objectives of Sharia, if gathered in one word, are “excellence” (Ihsan).

Al-Azhari explained that he reflected on this meaning while contemplating the Holy Quran and found three pivotal words that God taught us to link to everything: excellence (Ihsan), perfection (Itqan), and mercy, citing the verses: “Who perfected everything He created,” “God made everything in perfect measure,” and “My mercy encompasses all things.”

He pointed out that these verses confirm that a person must do good in everything, perfect everything, and show mercy to all. Then he clarified the difference between excellence and perfection, explaining that perfection is doing what is required as it should be, while excellence is the peak and summit of perfection, i.e., perfection mixed with love, where work turns into art, creativity, and continuous quality.

Al-Azhari said that perfection alone may be limited or sterile if accompanied by boredom or despair, but when mixed with love it produces “excellence,” which represents the pinnacle of civilizational construction.

The Minister of Endowments concluded his speech by affirming that his message this year revolved around three words: renewal, morals and values—especially the values of initiative—and then excellence, considering that they represent the essence of the message of our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, on the 1500th anniversary of his noble birth, and confirming that the mission of the Ministry of Endowments and all religious institutions worldwide is to serve these prophetic legacies and present them to Muslims and all humanity.