A number of leaders active in Islamic work around the world praised His Excellency Abdelfattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic of Egypt, for awarding the State First Class Medal of Science and Arts to Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Alissa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, based in Saudi Arabia, and President of the Cairo-based League of Islamic Universities.

They consider this honor a great backing to the efforts of scholars who promote moderation, exert efforts to spread harmony and coexistence, interfaith dialogue and humanitarian work, and the promotion of love epitomised by "Alissa". From Makkah, the Muslim World League is active all over the countries of the world, affirming the Egyptian vision of the right choice to support those who provide benefit to humanity.

For his part, Dr. Muhammad Al-Bashari, Secretary General of the World Council of Muslim Communities, based in the UAE and known intellectual, he expressed his thanks and appreciation to President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's gesture in honoring science and scholars. This is not surprising coming from President Al-Sisi who always strives to serve the causes of Islam and Muslims. He believes honoring the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Mohammad Alissa, the SecretaryGeneral of the Muslim World League is a great tribute to the MWL’s great and continuous efforts in spreading the tolerance of Islam, the concept of moderation, and countering extremism, fanaticism and terrorism through its various activities. The vast relations of His Excellency Dr. Alissa, have garnered great benefits to all Muslims in various countries of the world, saying: we must congratulate ourselves with this honor and praise given by the generous, wise, and rational people. 

Ildar Aliyev, Director of the International Relations Department of the Mufti’s Shura Council of the Russian Federation, said: We Russian Muslims are very pleased with the positive developments in the Russian-Arab relations. We received the news during an official visit of a Russian delegation headed by Sheikh Rawi Ainuddin, Chairman of the Shura Council of the Russian Mufti Federation, that included a visit of a number of the Kingdom scholars and the country’s Mufti. We felt Arab-Russian solidarity; the honor was timely and appropriate.

Eldar emphasized that the historical relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Russia on one side, and Russia and Egypt on the other have borne fruits through their joint cooperation in all areas. Russian-Arab and Islamic relations are deeply rooted and growing. This cooperation is based on trust and mutual respect, and is founded on a rich legacy of cooperation, communication, reciprocal visits and common interests.The two parties display great willingness to develop and brace these relations, and to invest in the many and wide-ranging potentials and possibilities for growth and prosperity in various fields.

Aliyev quoted the head of the Mufti of Russia, saying: The Chairman of the Russian Mufti Shura Council and the Head of the Religious Administration of the Muslims Russian Federation Sheikh Rawi Einuddin - who is currently visiting the Kingdom - praised the depth and strength of the Arab-Russian relations, and the progressive level of joint cooperation in various fields. These, reflect the importance of the historical relations between the two countries, and their leadership keenness to upgrade these relations in order to realize excellent benefits and advantages of the two countries and two peoples.

Sheikh Muhajiri Zayan, Secretary General of the European Organization for Islamic Centers, based in Switzerland, praised Egypt’s reward to Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Alissa, saying, he is the man of the era, he is one of the best persons who served Islam, and emphasised its eminence and mercy. He informed the world that a Muslim who really and properly understood his religion is able to coexist with various components of the society. He is one of the best to have confronted terrorism and exposed the fragility of the texts upon which they are based; on corrupt interpretation. He is the one who conveyed messages of reassurance to the Western world, messages that show Islam as a religion of love that wishes good for all humanity. It is a religion of mercy. He believes in the ideas he calls for in full confidence of their validity, even if it contradicts the desires of some traditional scholars. He said: His Excellency won the respect, appreciation and honor of many international institutions in all continents of the world. Lastly, he has received the latest honor; the symbols of moderation in the Muslim world, from the hands of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Egypt, Mr. Abdelfattah Al-Sisi.

Sheikh Abdelhamid Metwally, head of the Supreme Council of Imams and Ifta in Brazil, said that honoring scholars came at a time when personalities who spread moderation must be honoured. We thank Egypt's efforts for establishing moderation throughout the world, and this is indeed the noble work that the President of the Republic is doing; Al-Sisi along with the Minister of Endowments, and the Sheikh of Al-Azhar.

This honor clearly demonstrates the value of this personality in the world propagating moderation. This also indicates that the honor is not limited to Egyptian scholars; rather, to everyone who spreads moderationin the world, and this also shows the leadership of Egypt and its president globally. We thank and congratulate him on the occasion of the birth of the Prophet.

Hussein Al-Daoudi, head of the Scandinavian Council for Relations, based in Sweden, said that the president's honor of this great scholar and his pioneering leadership, with such a high-profile award translates the Egyptian President’s awareness of the reality of the Arab and Islamic nation, and an appreciation for the role of such scholars in spreading moderation in the world for the sake of peace and harmony globally. 

Al-Daoudi added further: These efforts by the Muslim World League are very much appreciated in the Scandinavian countries. His Excellency held three vital humanitarian activities related to combating human trafficking, and the consolidation of human fraternity, love and peace in the world. He is an erudite scholar who deserves this honor, and Egypt deserves the leadership in sponsoring moderate thought and supporting human brotherhood, love and harmony.