| |
SINGAPORE : Singapore leaders have expressed their condolences on the death of Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, the Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar University.
The prominent cleric died of a heart attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday at the age of 81.
In a letter to Sheikh Tantawi's son, President S R Nathan called his passing "a great loss to Egypt and to Muslims worldwide".
Mr Nathan recalled his meeting with Sheikh Tantawi in 2006, when the religious leader delivered the first MUIS lecture in Singapore. The two met again when the President visited Egypt.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was deeply impressed by the cleric's views on Islam and inter-faith dialogue.
He also noted that Sheikh Tantawi was warmly received by both Muslim and non-Muslim Singaporeans.
Writing on his Facebook page, Foreign Minister George Yeo called him a "thoughtful leader and courageous in taking positions which were sometimes unpopular".
- CNA/al
|
