Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Awqaf, stated that the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday holds a special significance compared to the usual annual celebrations.

This was during Egypt’s celebration of the Prophet’s birthday held on Wednesday at the Al-Manara International Conference Center, attended by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

He added that today’s celebration marks 1500 years since the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, noting that the start of a new century reminds directly of the Prophet’s saying: “Allah will send to this nation at the head of every hundred years someone who will renew its religion.”

He pointed out that after decades of suffering from the ideology of terrorism that destroyed countries and exhausted minds, perhaps God willed for us good to witness the start of a Muhammadan century that may herald the birth of religious renewal that extinguishes the fires of extremism and reveals the essence and beauty of religion.

He explained that for years he has been following writings on the issue of renewal, alongside scholars’ discussions on the start of the hundred years—whether it is the Prophet’s birth, his mission, or his migration, and whether it is the beginning or end of the century—but the understanding is a hopeful sign opening the door to ambition and zeal.

He noted that God, in His wisdom, decreed that most of those described as innovators and renewers were Egyptians, such as Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz, Imam Al-Layth Ibn Saad, Imam Al-Shafi’i, Imam Al-Izz Ibn Abdessalam, Imam Al-Suyuti, and others.

He wished that the process of renewal at the start of this century would originate from Egypt as a gift to its brothers and to the world.

The event was attended by Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister; Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar; Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Awqaf; Dr. Nazeer Mohamed Eyad, Grand Mufti of Egypt; alongside the heads of the House of Representatives and the Senate, 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 Allah” and “Muhammad Our Prophet.”