Who is Shaikh Ahmad Tayyeb?

He is Egyptian Sunni Muslim scholar, he is the current Grand Imam of al-Azhar and former president of word renown university; al-Azhar University.

Shaykh Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmad Tayyeb has been
emphasizing on the need for Shia-Sunni unity on
various occasions. In this regard, his various
statements, interviews and writings also have
been coming earlier. The questions he has
answered regarding Shia religion, on a leading
channel of Egypt recently, those will prove very
useful to improve the atmosphere of unity among
Muslims.

Question: In your opinion is there any problem in
Shiite beliefs?
Answer: No, there is no problem, fifty year ago,
ShaykhShaltut had issued a verdict that like other
Islamic sects, and Shia is the fifth Islamic sect.
Question: Many of our youth are converting to
Shia, what should we do?
Answer: let it be, if any person opts Maliki sect
from Hanafi sect, then do we object on him? So
these people have converted from fourth to fifth
sect so what difference does it make.
Question: Shias are becoming our relatives and
getting married with our children?
Answer: What is wrong with it, there is freedom
to marry among various Islamic sects.
Question: It is said that Shias have different
Qur’an?
Answer: Such things are myths of old women,
there is no difference between our and Shia
Qur’an. Even the script of their Qur’an is also
similar to our Qur’an.
Question: Twenty three religious scholars of a
country have issued a verdict that Shias are
Infidels and heretics?
Answer: Only Al-Azhar can issue any verdict for
Muslims of the Islamic world, there is no status of
those verdict.
Question: So what are those differences which are
stated between Shia and Sunni?
Answer: These differences are generated by
foreign politics; they want to divide Shia and
Sunni.
Question: I want to ask an important question
that Shia who do not accept Hazrat Abu Bakrr.a
and Hazrat Umar r.a, how do you call them
Muslim?
Answer: Yes, they do not accept, but is to have
belief on HazratAbu Bakrr.a and Hazrat Umar r.a
of the principles of Islam? The issue of HazratAbu
Bakrr.a and Hazrat Umar r.a is a historic issue
and there is no relation of history with the
principles of beliefs.
Question: There is an objection on Shias as they
say that their Imam Zamana has been still alive
since one thousand years?
Answer: It is possible and why it is not possible,
however, it is not necessary that we also have
the same belief.

Read the complete interview here: albasirah.com/en/articles/religious/382-an-important-interview-of-shaykh-al-azhar,-dr-ahmad-tayyeb,-about-shia-religion.html

Nice interview. Shi'a-Sunni rivalry all started because of leadership. All I know is if you follow the principle of Islam and the sunnah of the prophet, then you are a Muslim

The truth of the matter is that Muslims can only unite under truth. I cannot unite with someone who curses the Sahabah, curse mother of believers, etc. This is the truth, I cannot unite support Ghulu and oppression!

Saladin25:
Nice interview. Shi'a-Sunni rivalry all started because of leadership. All I know is if you follow the principle of Islam and the sunnah of the prophet, then you are a Muslim

Yes this Sunnah includes; respecting the sahabas, not speaking bad the mother of believers, not engaging in takkiyyah.