Leading Sūfis and Sharifs called for meetings to calm the current tension between Muslims and Copts following Bishop Bīshūy’s comments which they say do not represent the official Christian opinion. They requested that Grand Shaykh of the Azhar Ahmad al-Tayyib work together with church leaders on national unity.

Key Words: Bishop Bīshūy – Dr. Ahmad al-Tayyib – Muhammad ‘Alā‘ Mādī Abū al-‘Azāyim – ‘Abd al-Bāqī al-Hubaybī – Mahmūd al-Sharīf