English 
Dr. Shawky Allam, Grand Mufti of Egypt, Major General Mohamed El-Sherif, Governor of Alexandria, and Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, inaugurated the first training program organized by the Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta to prepare and qualify those who are about to get married in Alexandria Governorate, in the Grand Conference Hall at the Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, in the presence of scholars from Al-Azhar and the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf), as well as several young men and women from Alexandria.
The program began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Sheikh Mahmoud El-Toukhi, followed by an introductory video showing the efforts of the Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta in developing the Egyptian family.
In his speech, Dr. Shawky Allam stressed the importance of this program to build awareness among young people who are about to get married, especially at the present time, stressing that building awareness is one of the most important constants upon which the work in the Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta is based, especially in the field of family counselling. Dr. Allam pointed out that the Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta is working on building awareness to establish a family on scientific foundations that bear fruit to serve society and the world as a whole. He added that the Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta has established a free centre for marital counselling and has launched an electronic page entitled (Family Development) in order to facilitate ways of communication and interaction with the Egyptian family, and to provide all information that is of interest or concern, regarding religious consultations and detailed issues related to the marriage contract, its premises and outcomes, in addition to issuing the book “The Family Guide for a Stable Life” in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice. Dar Al-Ifta intends to distribute copies of this book to legal marriage officials all over the country, to give it to the spouses at the conclusion of the marriage. Dr. Allam stated that a radio program explaining this book was broadcast on Radio Misr station, and he also announced the expansion of Dar Al-Ifta through opening new branches in all Egyptian governorates, and the launch of training and rehabilitation programs for those about to get married, stressing that these programs are outcome of the questions received by Dar Al-Ifta. At the end of his speech, Allam confirmed that the Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta is cooperating with all Egyptian universities to spread awareness among young men and women, and he thanked the University of Alexandria headed by Professor Konsowa, for hosting this vital and important program for youth who are soon to be married.
While Major General Mohamed El-Sherif, Governor of Alexandria, stressed that the family is the first nucleus for building society, pointing to the importance of this program at the present time, especially with the high divorce rates in recent years, especially in the first years of marriage. He stressed the need to achieve the conditions of equal marriage between the two parties, to reduce divorce rates, praising the measures taken by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for the necessity of examining those who are about to get married psychologically and physically to reduce the phenomenon of divorce that has spread in Egyptian society. El-Sherif added that the Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta plays an important role in building awareness for those planning to get married, through the books and programs it publishes to serve the Egyptian family. He stressed that the program is very important for those planning to get married and married couples as well to correct their concepts.
Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa welcomed the Grand Mufti, Dr. Shawky Allam, and Major General Mohamed El-Sherif, on the campus of Alexandria University, and he confirmed in his speech that marriage is a responsibility and a decision, giving advice to young people about to get married on the necessity of enduring difficulties and challenges, patience and keeping secrets inside homes, because life is not as easy and simple as some believe, but rather full of challenges and troubles that must be borne by both parties. He pointed out that establishing a stable and successful family is not easy, but rather requires enduring hardships and effort in order to create a generation fit for society, stressing that if the family is reformed, the whole society will be reformed, because the family is the basis of society, and creating a family that instils values in the hearts of its children must be a primary goal for our dear homeland Egypt to be in the highest position.
