The Human Fraternity Foundation congratulates Mr. Mohammed Hassan on obtaining his Master's degree with honors in Italian from the Pontifical Institute for Islamic and Arab Studies in Rome.

With Honors, First Egyptian and Azhari Receives Master's Degree in Italian from the Pontifical Institute for Islamic and Arab Studies in Rome

Rome, February 7, 2024

Under the title: "Heritage and Renewal between Imam al-Tayeb and Dr. Hassan Hanafi: An Analytical Study," researcher Muhammad Hassan Abdel Ghaffar Shiha obtained a Master's degree in Italian language from the Pontifical Institute for Islamic and Arab Studies in Rome, Italy. The final discussion of the thesis was held in the presence and honor of His Excellency Ambassador Mahmoud Talaat, Egyptian Ambassador to the Vatican, and Monsignor Dr. Youannis Lahzi Gaid, former secretary to Pope Francis and president of the Egyptian Human Fraternity Foundation.

It is worth noting that researcher Muhammad Hassan Abdel Ghaffar Shiha is a member of the Council of Advisors of the Egyptian Human Fraternity Foundation and the former envoy of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif to the largest Islamic center in Europe, known as the Great Mosque in Rome, for three years. He continued his academic career and also obtained a Higher Diploma in Christian Sciences in English and a Postgraduate Diploma in Interreligious Studies in Italian, both with honors.

The importance of the thesis "Heritage and Renewal between Imam al-Tayeb and Dr. Hassan Hanafi: An Analytical Study" lies in the fact that it provides an analysis and comparative study between Imam al-Tayeb's intellectual project regarding the issue of heritage and renewal and Dr. Hassan Hanafi's project called "Heritage and Renewal." The thesis emphasized that despite the positive aspects of Dr. Hanafi's project and the near consensus among researchers of different affiliations on the depth of the project's contradictions, the Arab and Islamic nations are in dire need of projects that actually solve their crises instead of projects that increase the scene's confusion and contradiction.

The importance of the message also lies in the fact that it is an important bridge for dialogue between East and West and interfaith dialogue as well, and in that it is an important intellectual confrontation against terrorism, extremism, extremism, and extremist cries that kidnap some young people who are not protected religiously and intellectually. The message also focuses on clarifying the true Islamic religion and the importance of permanent renewal in thought, religious discourse, and its language, especially since the renewal project is closely related to the Arab and Islamic renaissance project. The letter is also concerned with Islamic-Christian relations, as it showed the latest innovation achieved by Al-Azhar and its documents, which is that it rejects, for example, three terms related to non-Muslims, as Al-Azhar and its imam refuse to apply the word "dhimmis" to non-Muslims, as well as the word "minorities," as well as the term "tribute," where Imam Al-Tayeb considers that the best term now is "citizenship," as all citizens are equal in rights and duties. Therefore, the letter presented the "Egyptian Family House" project between Al-Azhar and the Egyptian churches as a model that should be emulated in countries with religious and cultural pluralism, and it also highlighted the importance of reforming religious institutions from within.

The researcher made a great effort in translating from Arabic to Italian many of Al-Azhar's ideas and modern documents, focusing on the ideas of Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb himself and presenting them to the academic and scientific world in Italy and the Vatican, focusing on the current path of renewal at Al-Azhar, especially with regard to Al-Azhar's documents, starting with the document on the future of Egypt, passing through the Document on Human Fraternity in 2019 and ending with the Document on Renewal in Islamic Thought and Sciences 2020.

The researcher drew attention to the importance of developing Islamic sciences, especially Islamic studies curricula, to keep pace with the times, and that jurisprudential renewal alone is not sufficient, and that we still have a lot to do until we actually reach a faithful practical translation of the term or idea of renewal of religion. The researcher dedicated this humble work to Egypt and its people, stressing that love of the country is part of faith.

The thesis received great acceptance and interest from the Pontifical Institute in Rome, where a tripartite committee was formed consisting of the director of studies at the institute in addition to two other supervisors, namely Dr. Waseem Salman, the main supervisor and follower of the thesis from the beginning. He is a professor specializing in Islamic thought, especially the thought of political Islam and its interpretations, from which the researcher found all respect and appreciation for the Islamic religion, and the second supervisor, Dr. Christopher Clohessy, is a professor specializing in the history of Islamic-Christian relations.

His Excellency Ambassador Mahmoud Talaat affirmed his great pleasure in attending the discussion of the thesis, which he considered an important step on the path to rapprochement and cooperation between Muslims and Christians and between Al-Azhar and the Vatican, and in clarifying the truth of the Islamic religion and that it is a religion of moderation and moderation. 

Father Younis Lahzi also expressed his great pleasure and joy in this important message in its timing and content, and considered it a practical step on the path of human brotherhood, which is now considered like Noah's Ark, whoever boarded it survived, towards greater understanding and rapprochement between the East and the West and between Islam and Christianity. He added that we are truly in dire need of such cultural, scientific and academic bridges that establish a relationship of brotherhood and love between all human beings. 

The Egyptian Human Fraternity Foundation is proud and honored by one of the members of the Foundation's Board of Advisors, and extends its sincere congratulations to researcher Mohamed Hassan Abdel Ghaffar Shiha, wishing him continued success and success.