RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar received a delegation of Quran reciters and preachers who graduated from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Egypt, at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Office in Jakarta on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The delegation, representing the Muslim Legal Council (Majelis Hukama Muslimin), will undertake a multi-day religious outreach tour program in various regions of Indonesia during Ramadan 1447 AH.

The visit is part of religious diplomacy that strengthens intellectual and spiritual ties between Indonesia and the Islamic world, particularly Egypt. Indonesia has long maintained strong historical connections with Al-Azhar, one of the oldest centers of Islamic scholarship.

During the meeting, Nasaruddin Umar appreciated the contributions of the Muslim Legal Council and Al-Azhar in promoting moderate and harmonious Islamic values. He noted that many prominent Indonesian scholars emerged from the Al-Azhar tradition.

“Egypt is a country with a strong tradition of Islamic scholarship. Many imams, reciters, and prominent scholars in Indonesia are alumni of Al-Azhar,” Minister Nasaruddin said, as quoted on the ministry's official website.

The reciters and preachers are scheduled to carry out da’wah activities in several regions, including South Sumatra, South Sulawesi, East Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, Jakarta, and West Java. Their placement is intended to reinforce the message of religious harmony that characterizes Indonesian society.

The Minister of Religious Affairs also emphasized that Indonesia’s diverse Islamic culture and traditions provide valuable experience for the visiting scholars. “Don’t worry if you can’t speak Indonesian yet. God willing, there will be many good people to help,” he said.

The program is regarded as a cultural and intellectual bridge between Muslim communities across countries. The presence of Al-Azhar scholars is expected to provide religious guidance, strengthen Islamic brotherhood, and broaden understanding of Indonesia’s cultural diversity.

Delegates from the Muslim Legal Council are scheduled to attend activities at major mosques and Islamic outreach centers during Ramadan. Their presence in East Kalimantan also carries symbolic significance, reflecting international support for the development of religious life in Indonesia’s capital region.

The Muslim Legal Council is a transnational organization of Islamic scholars founded on Ramadan 21, 1435 AH (July 19, 2014), and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In 2021, the organization opened a virtual office in Indonesia, which was later inaugurated as a permanent branch office in October 2023 in Central Jakarta by Secretary General Mohamed Abdelsalam.