Al-Azhar’s Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb.

In response to a video issued by ISIS showing the bomber behind the explosions that targeted a cathedral in Cairo in December, Al-Azhar said that while the group is trying to export propaganda to seem in control, it is actually in a process of decay.

“ISIS is using sectarian strife as a new trick but the group is nearing its end,” The Sunni Muslim world’s highest theological institution said in a statement.

“It was clearly obvious that ISIS’ video aims at exaggerating the group’s actual might, especially after the heavy losses it recently suffered by losing most of its controlled territories in Mosul in Iraq, Al-Raqqa and Deir Zour in Syria and Sirte in Libya.

“ISIS is trying to send a misleading message that the group is still capable of carrying out terrorist attacks in order to deceive and recruit some of the Muslim youth,” the statement added.