Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, stated that Muslims celebrate the anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth, the best, most generous, merciful, and greatest of people.

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

He added that this year’s celebration marks a deeply rooted anniversary spanning a long period, commemorating 1500 years since the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him.

He pointed out that this Mawlid anniversary is called the centennial, completing 1500 years since the Prophet’s birth, an event that only occurs every 100 years.

He expressed hope that this anniversary would bring relief to the distressed, the miserable, and the oppressed, emphasizing that the Prophet’s birth was not just the birth of a leader or a great man or a reformer or a brave conqueror, although he was all of these and more, but he had the greatest share and portion of all.

He noted that the Mawlid was the birth of a final divine message sent by the last prophet, who was tasked with inviting people to it with a call based on equality among peoples and races.

He confirmed that the prophetic message is broad enough to address all peoples regardless of their times, places, conditions, abilities, and differences.

Al-Tayeb highlighted that logically, special preparation must precede this prophet and his mission, both spiritually and physically, to enable him to bear the heavy burden.

The event was attended by Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister; Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Endowments; Dr. Nazeer Mohamed Eyad, Grand Mufti of Egypt; along with 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 God” and “Muhammad Our Prophet.”