Grand Imam of al-Azhar
{{Short description|Religious leader in Egypt}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Grand Imam of al-Azhar
| image = Ahmed_el-Tayeb_1.jpg
| incumbent = Ahmed el-Tayeb
| incumbentsince = 10 March 2010
| first = Muhammad al-Kharashi (traditional)
Mahmud Shaltut (official)
| formation = 1679 (traditional)
1961 (official)
| residence = {{ill|Sheikhdom of Al-Azhar|ar|مشيخة الأزهر}}
| appointer = President of Egypt
| website =
| native_name = {{lang|ar|الإمام الأكبر}}
}}
The Grand Imam of al-Azhar ({{langx|ar|الإمام الأكبر}}), also known as Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar ({{langx|ar|links=no|شيخ الأزهر الشريف}}), is a prestigious and a prominent official title in Egypt and the Islamic world.{{harvnb|Beattie|2000|p=225}} The current Grand Imam is Ahmed el-Tayeb, who assumed the role on 10 March 2010.
The Grand Imam of al-Azhar is considered, by most Muslims, to be the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought and Islamic jurisprudence{{harvnb|Bennett|2005|p=220}} and holds great influence on followers of the theological Ash'ari and Maturidi traditions worldwide. The Grand Imam heads the Al-Azhar Al Sharif, al-Azhar Mosque, and by extension al-Azhar University, and is responsible for official religious matters along with the Grand Mufti of Egypt.
History
The title of the Grand Imam of al-Azhar was officially established in 1961. In the 14th century the head of al-Azhar was granted the title of Mushrif of al-Azhar, then later Nazir of Al-Azhar{{harvnb|Dodge|1961|p=83}} and, during the Ottoman Empire, the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar. Today the bearer of the title also carries the title of the Grand Sheikh.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{citation|last=Dodge|first=Bayard|title=Al-Azhar: A Millennium of Muslim learning|publisher=Middle East Institute|year=1961}}
- {{citation|last=Beattie|first=Kirk J.|title=Egypt during the Sadat years|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2000|isbn=978-0-312-23246-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWdf3pVg2jgC}}
- {{citation|last=Bennett|first=Clinton|title=Muslims and modernity: an introduction to the issues and debates|publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group|year=2005|isbn=978-0-8264-5481-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D0vYYovH7OQC}}
{{Al-Azhar|state=collapsed}}
{{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Islam |portal3= Egypt}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Muslim scholars of Islamic jurisprudence