Dr. Youssef Al-Qaradawi expressed his appreciation and all Muslims’ appreciation of the Azhar as the greatest Islamic reference. In an exclusive statement to Al-Liwaa Al-Islami, Al-Qaradawi denied that the World Union of Muslims Scholars whose creation was announced last month in London would compete with or serve as a substitute for any institution working in the area of Islamic education, Iftaa [issuing of fatwas] and Da’wa [call to Islam]. “Muslims today are in need of the cooperation of all institutions to achieve progress, so it does not make sense that anyone would belittle the Azhar and its role,” Sheikh Al-Qaradawi said.