Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, stated that it is time to remember the lessons of the past and learn from the rulings of history in this region and on the proud land of Palestine, which is rich with a history of struggle and steadfastness.

This came during Egypt’s celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, held today Wednesday at the Al-Manara International Conference Center, in the presence of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

He added that Palestine was occupied by the Crusaders for a full century, during which thousands of Muslims, Christians, and Jews were killed, and Crusader states were established, until the Arabs and Muslims united behind the leader Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi, and the Crusaders returned from where they came, and the land returned to its owners.

He pointed out that no one doubts that the only solution is Arab solidarity supported and strengthened by Islamic solidarity.

At the same time, he emphasized that this is not a call for war or conflict but a call for justice, fairness, and mutual respect, affirming that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, forbade wishing to meet the enemy but encouraged steadfastness when meeting them.

He noted that the Prophet ordered to ask God for protection from war, stressing that justice and peace are conditional on fairness, respect, and the retrieval of rights that cannot be sold, bought, or bargained away.

He explained that this justice and peace do not know humiliation or submission, nor do they allow any harm to the soil of homelands and sanctities. They are justice and peace made by the power of will, knowledge, education, sound economic development, market control, and armament that enables its holders to respond strongly and repel any hand that tries to harm the land and its people.

The event was attended by Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister; Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Endowments; Dr. Nazeer Mohamed Eyad, Grand Mufti of the Republic; alongside the heads of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and several ministers and senior state officials.

The celebration program also included the recitation of a poem titled “1500 Years Since the Birth of Our Master Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him,” and the audience listened to two songs titled “Muhammad, O Messenger of God” and “Muhammad Our Prophet.”