Cairo: Al-Azhar Al-Sharif's Imam Al-Ash'ari Center is set to hold its inaugural scientific forum under the patronage of His Eminence Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb. Scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the event will take place at the Al-Azhar Conference Center in Cairo and is titled 'Imam Al-Ash'ari and Intellectual Approaches to Islamic Sects: From Doctrinal Disagreement to the Horizon of Dialogue and the Establishment of Moderation.'

According to State Information Service Egypt, the forum aims to shed light on Imam Al-Ash'ari's scholarly methodology in the study of Islamic sects, fostering constructive dialogue and promoting rapprochement among various Islamic sects and schools of thought. It also seeks to renew perspectives on doctrinal and intellectual differences, contributing to the intellectual unity of the Ummah.

The forum will feature participation from Al-Azhar scholars and international specialists. The opening session will include speeches by prominent figures such as Prof. Dr. Hassan Al-Shafi'i, Member of the Council of Senior Scholars and Director of the Imam Al-Ash'ari Center; Prof. Dr. Mohamed Al-Duwaini, Deputy of Al-Azhar; Prof. Dr. Nazir Ayyad, Grand Mufti of the Republic; Prof. Dr. Salama Dawoud, President of Al-Azhar University; and Prof. Dr. Sher Muhammadov Kamiljan, Director of the International Maturidi Research Center.

The event will include three academic sessions focusing on the Ash'ari methodology and approaches to doctrinal disagreement within a framework of objective understanding and dialogue. Discussions will also address challenges related to translating Ash'ari theological concepts into European languages and examine issues of theological renewal and the prospects of contemporary Ash'ari discourse in addressing intellectual challenges. The forum will conclude with a final statement detailing its key outcomes and recommendations.